The point is, this startling find offers a glimmer of hope amid the disastrous fate that awaits many planets before their aging suns. Among these planets is Earth, because the Sun has only 5 billion years left, which is not much in cosmic terms.

Details of the amazing discovery

A team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii observed that the Paekdu star (red giant) burns helium in its core. This indicates that it has undergone significant expansion, reaching dimensions many times greater than its previous state.

Surprisingly, Paekdu should have engulfed Galla, expanding to a distance of 1.5 times the planet’s orbit. The star has now shrunk to only a tenth of that distance.

The survival of Halla, despite its proximity to a giant star, stunned scientists, and they found a possible solution to this strange mystery. Mark Hen, head of the scientific group, noted:

Embalming a planet often has disastrous consequences for both the planet and the star. Galla’s survivability in such a scenario demonstrates that this planet has extraordinary survivability.

How can Galla survive?

Experts have put forward several hypotheses trying to explain this surprising phenomenon. One of them suggests the existence of a second star in the same system. As these twin stars age, they exchange matter, effectively slowing their expansion and preventing the absorption of neighboring planets. Eventually, these two stars may have combined to give rise to what we now know as Baekdu. It is noteworthy that this process does not involve the absorption of the surrounding planets.

Visualization of the merger of two stars: watch the video

In addition, scientists suggest that Galla may be in a completely different place. The collision of the two stars may have caused a massive gas cloud to form, which then cooled and coalesced to form the newly formed “second-generation” planet, Halla, in this unique system.

As astronomers continue to unravel the mysteries surrounding this remarkable discovery, one thing remains clear: Galla’s survivability against all odds sheds new light on celestial resilience and adaptability. This discovery inspires a sense of optimism, as humanity is still trying to understand the fate of our planet when the Sun reaches the limit of its existence.