每日英語跟讀 Ep.K569: Galactic Gobble: Star Devours a Planet in One Gulp
In a first-ever observation, astronomers have witnessed a star engulfing a planet in one big gulp, like a giant swallowing a grape. The star, similar to our sun, had expanded over time and was now so huge that it consumed the Jupiter-sized gas giant. The event took place between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago near the Aquila constellation when the star was around 10 billion years old. When the planet was consumed, a swift hot outburst of light followed, along with a long-lasting stream of dust shining brightly in cold infrared energy.
天文學家首次觀測到恆星像巨人吞葡萄一樣，一口吞噬了行星，這是一個前所未有的觀測。這顆與太陽相似的恆星，隨著時間的推移，逐漸膨脹，現在已經變得如此巨大，以致於它吞噬了類似木星大小的氣態巨行星。這一事件發生在約100億歲的恆星附近的天鷹座附近，發生在10,000至15,000年前。當行星被吞噬時，隨之而來的是迅速的熱流、閃光和長時間的塵埃流，以冷紅外光明亮地照亮。
The findings of the study, published in the journal Nature, suggest that while astronomers had previously observed planets being nibbled by stars, this is the first time a planet has been seen being completely consumed by its star. It provides a glimpse into the future of our solar system when our sun transforms into a red giant and swallows the four inner planets. The study’s co-author, Morgan MacLeod, said that this event would occur in about five billion years, so there’s no need to worry now.
這項發表在《自然》雜誌上的研究發現表明，儘管天文學家以前曾觀察到恆星啃食行星的現象，但這是第一次看到行星被其恆星完全吞噬。它使我們得以窺見太陽系的未來：當我們的太陽變成紅巨星並吞噬四顆內行星時。該研究的合著者摩根麥克勞德（Morgan MacLeod）表示，這種事件將在約50億年後發生，現在不必擔心。
The star’s lifespan, which lasts billions of years, meant that the swallow itself occurred in one fell swoop, which was brief. However, astronomers do not know if there are other planets that are circling this star at a safer distance. If there are, they might have thousands of years before being consumed by the star. Researchers can now keep an eye out for more cosmic gulps because they suspect that thousands of planets around other stars will experience the same fate as this one.
這顆恆星的壽命長達數十億年，這意味著吞嚥發生在短暫的一瞬。然而，天文學家不知道是否有其他行星在更安全的距離圍繞著這顆恆星。如果有的話，它們在被恆星吞噬之前可能還有數千年的時間。研究人員現在會留意更多宇宙吞噬現象，因為他們懷疑其他恆星周圍的數千顆行星將經歷與這顆行星相同的命運。
Carole Haswell, an astrophysicist at Britain’s Open University who was not involved in the research, said that the discovery was “very plausible.” She led a team in 2010 that used the Hubble Space Telescope to identify the star WASP-12 in the process of eating its planet. She stated that “This is a different sort of eating. This star gobbled a whole planet in one gulp,” while contrasting the finding with previous discoveries where hot Jupiters were being delicately licked and nibbled.
英國開放大學的天體物理學家卡羅哈斯威爾（Carole Haswell）未參與此研究，她表示這項發現是「非常可信的」。2010年，她領導了一個團隊使用哈伯太空望遠鏡，發現了恆星WASP-12正在吞噬其行星。她說：「這次是一種不同的吃法。這顆恆星一口吞下了整顆行星。」與此前發現的熱木星被細膩地舔和啃咬相比，形成了對比。
The researchers’ findings demonstrate the fleeting yet intense nature of cosmic phenomena. They remind us that everything we see around us and everything we’ve built will be gone in a flash, as the star demonstrated in consuming the planet. Nevertheless, the study’s findings provide valuable insights into the life cycles of stars and planets, and the future of our own solar system.
研究人員的發現展示了宇宙現象轉瞬即逝又強烈的本質。提醒了我們，我們看到的一切和我們建造的一切都將在一瞬間消失，就像這顆恆星在吞噬行星時展示的一樣。並且，該研究的發現也提供了有關恆星和行星的生命週期以及我們太陽系未來的寶貴見解。
Reference article: https://apnews.com/article/star-eats-planet-galactic-gulp-660ef9e64e15e35f8ad820e032494704