Astronomers have discovered a potentially destructive white dwarf at the center of the Helix Nebula, which may have destroyed a planet that was once orbiting it. This is the first time such a star has been seen, and it could explain a mysterious X-ray signal detected by astronomers for over 40 years.
The image, released on March 4, 2025, combines data from multiple space telescopes, including NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope, European Southern Observatory VISTA telescope, and GALEX. The Chandra data shows that the white dwarf has destroyed a very closely orbiting planet.
The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of stellar evolution and the potential dangers posed by dying stars. Further study is needed to confirm the findings and understand the full extent of this phenomenon.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/x-ray-clues-reveal-destroyed-planet