A nebula’s X-ray glow may come from a destroyed giant planet

A nebula’s X-ray glow may come from a destroyed giant planet

Decades of constant X-ray emission from the Helix Nebula’s white dwarf suggest debris from a Jupiter-sized planet steadily rains upon the star.

Decades of research into the Helix nebula reveal that X-rays come from the debris of a destroyed giant planet, falling on a white dwarf. This constant emission, observed since 1992, offers prospects for the evolution of planetary systems and emphasizes the need to study the interiors of giant planets. The researchers hope that these observations will help to better understand the composition of the worlds in destruction and the future of our own…