When a planet or brown dwarf enters a star’s outer atmosphere, drag and gravitational forces can strip away orbital energy and send the companion spiraling inward. The encounter can heat and disturb the star’s gas, eject material that later cools into dust, and destroy or partially vaporize the companion. But engulfment does not always mean the companion is destroyed: the outcome depends on the companion, its orbit, and the star’s stage of evolution.
What “swallowing” means
In astronomy, a star swallows a companion when it expands around it or when the companion’s orbit decays until it enters the star’s atmosphere or envelope. Once inside, the companion moves through dense gas. Drag and gravitational interactions transfer orbital energy and angular momentum to the star and surrounding material, often causing the companion to spiral farther inward.
The result is not necessarily a dramatic stellar explosion. An engulfment can produce a comparatively faint transient, and the companion’s fate may range from disruption or vaporization to partial survival. Some stellar gas may be expelled; as it cools, it can form dust and glow in infrared light.
How a planet-engulfment event can unfold
- The orbit changes. A companion can be engulfed as its star expands late in life, or it can gradually lose orbital energy and move inward while the star is still relatively compact.
- The companion reaches the atmosphere. As it grazes or enters the star’s outer layers, drag and gravitational interaction accelerate the inward spiral.
- Energy is deposited in the star and gas. The encounter heats and rearranges nearby material. Some of the star’s outer gas may be thrown outward, while the companion may be disrupted or partly vaporized.
- The aftermath emits light. Hot gas and expanding, cooling dust can produce optical and infrared signals. Those emissions allow astronomers to reconstruct what may have happened, but they are not a direct recording of the companion’s final moments.
What astronomers inferred from ZTF SLRN-2020
ZTF SLRN-2020, about 12,000 light-years away in the Milky Way, is a prominent observed candidate for planetary engulfment. The Zwicky Transient Facility detected an optical flash, while NEOWISE data showed infrared brightening about a year earlier, consistent with dust. The 2023 discovery paper interpreted the faint optical outburst and long-lasting infrared emission as a planet-engulfment event. Its estimated optical luminosity was about 1035 erg s−1, and its estimated radiated energy was about 6.5 × 1041 erg. Those study-specific estimates led the authors to infer a companion below roughly ten Jupiter masses; they are not universal values for engulfment events. The discovery paper.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Webb’s 2025 follow-up changed the favored explanation for how the planet reached the star. MIRI found that the star was not bright enough to be the swollen red giant initially proposed as the cause. Instead, the observations support an interpretation in which a close-in planet’s orbit decayed over millions of years until it grazed the stellar atmosphere and plunged inward. NIRSpec detected a hot circumstellar disk of molecular gas, including carbon monoxide, closer to the star, with cooler dust expanding farther out. This sequence is a reconstruction from observations and models, not direct footage of the event. Webb’s follow-up report.
Can a brown dwarf survive being engulfed?
It is possible, though one reported case cannot establish how often it happens. A 2006 Nature paper described WD 0137–349, a white dwarf with a brown dwarf in a close orbit. The authors concluded that the brown dwarf had been engulfed by the star’s red-giant progenitor and that the interaction had little effect on it. This is evidence that a brown dwarf can survive engulfment, not proof that all brown dwarfs do. The 2006 study.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Surviving a red giant is not the same as surviving engulfment
NASA’s 2026 Webb report on WD 1856 b describes a Jupiter-sized planet that likely remained on a wide orbit while its star was a red giant, then migrated inward after the star became a white dwarf. In that proposed history, the planet survived the star’s red-giant phase by staying far away; it was not swallowed and then recovered. NASA’s report on WD 1856 b.
Why outcomes vary
No single case determines what happens in every system. The outcome depends on interacting properties:
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Companion mass and structure: a planet and a brown dwarf are not interchangeable, and their ability to withstand heating and disruption differs.
- Starting orbit: the initial distance and the rate of orbital decay affect how and when the companion enters the star.
- Stellar evolution: the star’s size and evolutionary stage determine whether it expands around a companion or the companion spirals into its atmosphere.
- Energy and angular momentum transfer: how much of the companion’s orbital energy and angular momentum reaches the star and nearby gas helps shape the aftermath.
The cases above also rely on different kinds of evidence: transient light and infrared emission for ZTF SLRN-2020, a close brown dwarf orbiting a white dwarf for WD 0137–349, and an inferred history of later migration for WD 1856 b. They are not directly comparable experiments.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the published 8% figure does—and does not—mean
A 2024 Nature study identified at least seven instances of planetary ingestion using chemical-abundance evidence in a homogeneous sample of 91 co-natal stellar pairs. That is the study’s sample result, sometimes summarized as 8%; it is not a finding that exactly 8% of all stars have swallowed planets. The 2024 study.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
