For over forty years, astronomers have been puzzled by X-rays emitted by the white dwarf at the center of the Helix Nebula. A typical component of stars, white dwarfs don’t usually emit X-rays. However, observations using the Chandra and other X-ray telescopes have consistently detected X-ray signals from this location.
A recent study provides a possible explanation for these emissions. Researchers discovered that the X-ray signal varies every 2.9 hours, indicating it’s not coming directly from the white dwarf. Instead, they speculate about the presence of a Jupiter-sized planet that was torn apart by tidal forces as it passed too close to the star.
This debris would then emit X-rays as it fell onto the star. The Chandra X-Ray Observatory has released an image of the Helix Nebula, featuring the white dwarf at its center, utilizing data from multiple sources.
Source: https://boingboing.net/2025/04/05/stunning-image-of-planet-destroying-star-at-the-heart-of-a-nebula.html