Is a star a dying planet
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Consensus Meter
Is a Star a Dying Planet?
Understanding Star Death: White Dwarfs and Planetary Nebulae
Stars are not dying planets; they are massive celestial bodies that undergo complex life cycles, ending in various forms such as white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes. Stars live for millions to billions of years, and their death can be observed through different phenomena like planetary nebulae and supernovae . These processes are fundamentally different from the life cycle of planets.
The Fate of Planets Around Dying Stars
Hot Jupiters and Temporary Hot Jupiters
Gas giant planets, known as Hot Jupiters (HJs), often orbit close to their host stars. During the post-main-sequence phase of a star's life, these planets can be engulfed or destroyed due to the star's increased luminosity and gravitational changes. A new class of planets, Temporary Hot Jupiters (THJs), can form during this phase but only exist for a short period before being engulfed by the star. This indicates that while stars die, they can also lead to the destruction of nearby planets, but this does not make the star itself a dying planet.
Exoplanet Ejection from Dying Stars
As stars lose mass during their evolution, planets and other celestial bodies orbiting them can be ejected from the system. This is particularly evident in multiple-star systems where the dynamics are more complex. The mass loss from stars can lead to the ejection of planets, contributing to the population of free-floating planets in the galaxy . This process highlights the interaction between dying stars and their planetary systems but does not equate the star to a dying planet.
Case Study: Kepler-91b
The planet Kepler-91b orbits a giant star and is on the verge of being engulfed by its host star. This planet is expected to be swallowed by the star within 55 million years, demonstrating the end-of-life interactions between stars and their planets. This scenario further illustrates that while planets can be affected by the death of a star, the star itself is not a dying planet.
The Role of Dying Stars in the Cosmos
Dying stars play a crucial role in the cosmos by contributing to the formation and replenishment of interstellar dust and gas. Supernovae and planetary nebulae from dying stars release significant amounts of material into space, which can lead to the formation of new stars and planets. This process underscores the cyclical nature of stellar evolution and the ongoing creation and destruction within the universe.
Conclusion
In summary, a star is not a dying planet. Stars and planets have distinct life cycles and end-of-life processes. While dying stars can significantly impact their surrounding planetary systems, leading to the destruction or ejection of planets, the star itself undergoes a transformation into different celestial forms such as white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes. The interactions between dying stars and their planets are complex and contribute to the dynamic nature of the cosmos.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic