Free Astronomy Magazine January-February 2026

39 ASTRO PUBLISHING spiraling inward. “This suggests tidal disruption and accretion mecha- nisms remain active long after the main-sequence phase of a star’s life,” said Debes. “Mass loss during stellar evolution can destabilize or- bits, affecting planets, comets, and asteroids.” The system may exem- plify delayed instability, where multi-planet interactions gradually destabilize orbits over billions of years. “This could point to long-term dynamical processes we don’t yet fully understand,” Debes added. Astronomers are now investigating what may have triggered the disrup- tion. Surviving Jupiter-sized planets could be responsible but are diffi- cult to detect due to their separa- tion from the white dwarf and low temperatures. Data from European Space Agency’s Gaia space telescope may be sensitive enough to detect such planets through their gravita- tional influence on the white dwarf. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope could also provide insights by taking infrared observations of the system for signs of outer planets. “Future observations may help distinguish between a planetary shakeup or the gravitational effect of a stellar close encounter with the white dwarf,” said Debes. JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2026 !