NEOWISE

Astronomers have witnessed an apocalypse from across the galaxy, as a planet crashed into its star. It’s an event long assumed to happen in many star systems – including our own someday – but this is the first time it’s ever been seen directly.

NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) has sent back the first test images from its 16-in (40-cm) telescope and infrared cameras as it begins its new mission to seek out potentially dangerous asteroids.