Astronomers capture moment distant planet was swallowed by star

Scientists believe planet the size of Jupiter plunged into star, causing insanely bright' burst of light

Astronomers have witnessed the intense burst of light from a planet being swallowed by its host star, the same dramatic fate that awaits Earth when the sun expands rapidly near the end of its life.

It is the first time researchers have captured the moment when an ageing star swells so much that a nearby planet starts to skim the surface, sending streams of gas and dust into space, before finally plunging into the fiery depths.