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Astronomers spot what appears to be a sun-like star eating an orbiting planet

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Michel Martin. It's a first for scientists - seeing a star gobbling up a planet. It was a gas giant about as big as Jupiter. In one big gulp, the star engulfed the planet, letting out a burst of light. The galactic feast took place between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago. Experts say Earth may suffer a similar fate one day. That's billions of years away. So like "The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" says, don't panic.

It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.