- Astronomers checked old telescope data from 2020.
- They noticed a distant star that began to flicker.
- Large amounts of rocks and dust blocked its light.
- The light from the star dipped many times.
- Scientists think two planets probably hit each other.
- A final big collision made much heat and debris.
- The cloud now orbits the star at a similar distance.
- Some scientists compare the event to an ancient impact.
- New telescopes may find more of these impacts.
Difficult words
- astronomer — a person who studies stars and spaceAstronomers
- telescope — a tool to make distant things look closertelescopes
- debris — small broken pieces left after a collision
- collision — a violent hit between two objects in space
- orbit — to move around another object in spaceorbits
- flicker — to shine not steadily; light goes on and off
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you like to look at the stars?
- Have you ever used a telescope?
- Do you want to learn more about space?
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