Astronomers Observe 'Afterglow' , From 2 Planets Colliding.<br />For the first time ever, astronomers have <br />observed an "afterglow" from the impact <br />of two massive planets crashing into each other. .<br />'The Independent' reports that the heat and dust resulting <br />from this collision swirled in front of the planets' star, <br />allowing scientists to observe the explosion's aftermath.<br />Near a star much like our own Sun, an amateur astronomer <br />first spotted the collision of two massive ice planets <br />when he noticed unusual light coming from the star. .<br />To be honest, this observation<br />was a complete surprise to me. <br />When we originally shared the <br />visible light curve of this star <br />with other astronomers, <br />we started watching it with <br />a network of other telescopes, Matthew Kenworthy, co-lead author from <br />Leiden University, via 'The Independent' .<br />To be honest, this observation<br />was a complete surprise to me. <br />When we originally shared the <br />visible light curve of this star <br />with other astronomers, <br />we started watching it with <br />a network of other telescopes, Matthew Kenworthy, co-lead author from <br />Leiden University, via 'The Independent' .<br />An astronomer on social media <br />pointed out that the star brightened up <br />in the infrared over a thousand days <br />before the optical fading. I knew <br />then this was an unusual event, Matthew Kenworthy, co-lead author from <br />Leiden University, via 'The Independent' .<br />The team's research suggests that the glow, which began <br />to fade over a three-year period as dust covered the star, <br />was coming from the heat left over by the explosion. .<br />Our calculations and computer models <br />indicate the temperature and size of the <br />glowing material, as well as the amount <br />of time the glow has lasted, is consistent <br />with the collision of two ice giant exoplanets, Simon Lock, co-lead author from the University of Bristol, via 'The Independent'.<br />Our calculations and computer models <br />indicate the temperature and size of the <br />glowing material, as well as the amount <br />of time the glow has lasted, is consistent <br />with the collision of two ice giant exoplanets, Simon Lock, co-lead author from the University of Bristol, via 'The Independent'.<br />'The Independent' reports that astronomers <br />plan to confirm their theories as they continue <br />to observe the results of the planetary collision. .<br />Co-author Zoe Leinhardt, from the University <br />of Bristol, says the material remaining after the <br />collision could condense to form a series of moons. .<br />The research, titled 'planetary collision <br />afterglow and transit of the resultant debris <br />cloud,' was published in the journal 'Nature.'
