Astronomers Solve Cosmic Mystery in Nearby Star System After Decades of Observation
Astronomers studying a nearby star system believed they had discovered an exoplanet reflecting light from its star.
However, the object later faded into darkness.
Years afterward, a second bright source appeared nearby, deepening the mystery.
Now, after analysing decades of data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, scientists have solved the puzzle.
They confirm the glowing objects were not planets at all.
Instead, the light came from expanding clouds of dust created by two head-on collisions between asteroid-sized bodies.
The rare observations offer scientists a direct view into the violent processes that shape young solar systems.
Rare Double Collision in the Fomalhaut System
Science published a report. It states that the shifting light sources came from massive debris clouds. These clouds are in the Fomalhaut system, located about 25 light-years from Earth.
The first object, now called Fomalhaut cs1, slowly vanished as its dust cloud spread into space.
Later, astronomers detected a second bright source, Fomalhaut cs2, in a nearby region.
This sequence revealed that two major collisions occurred within just 20 years. Scientists previously believed such an event to be extremely unlikely.
New Clues About Planet Formation
These findings provide rare insight into how planets grow from repeated cosmic impacts.
They also reveal how rocky material behaves after violent collisions.
Moreover, the Fomalhaut system’s wide and massive dust belts make such events easier to observe.
As a result, astronomers now view the system as a natural laboratory for studying planetary evolution.
Warning for Exoplanet Hunters
The discovery also carries an important warning.
Dust clouds can reflect starlight and mimic planets, increasing the risk of false detections.
As telescopes continue searching for new worlds, scientists must now account for these deceptive signals when interpreting distant light.
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