Spoiler alert: by “soon,” astronomers mean 130 to 155 million years from now

Jun 3, 2014 19:03 GMT  ·  By
Astronomers expect two planets will soon the swallowed by the star they are orbiting
   Astronomers expect two planets will soon the swallowed by the star they are orbiting

It is with deepest sadness and uttermost regret that researchers have recently announced that two planets are very soon to be gobbled up by the star that they have most loyally been orbiting for millions of years.

The two planets, dubbed Kepler-56b and Kepler-56c, are expected to be swallowed by their star in about 130 million to 155 million years, Phys Org explains.

Laypeople might argue that 130 million to 155 million years is by no means synonymous to “very soon,” but, according to scientists, it very much is when astronomical standards are taken into consideration.

Information shared with the public says that the star orbited by Kepler-56b and Kepler-56c is now in the process of becoming a giant red star.

Thus, it has increased to up to 4 times the size of our Sun and will continue to expand in the years to come. In time, it will pull the two planets towards it and eat them.

Interestingly enough, the star, dubbed Kepler-56, is expected to also play Master Chef for a while before gulping down these two celestial bodies. Thus, the star's pull will force the two planets to become egg-shaped, and heat originating from it will roast them until they sport a delicious-looking crust.

These being said, all that remains is to take a moment to mourn the eminent demise of Kepler-56b and Kepler-56c, as these two planets have truly made this universe a better place and will surely be greatly missed. Provided that we, humans, are still around to mourn their loss when they finally get eaten up millions of years from now, that is.