Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Kepler-56’s Unusual Spin Linked to Engulfed Planet

11/27/2025

28 2

Summary

Story summary

Astronomers observe that the red giant star Kepler-56 spins unusually, possibly after engulfing a planet.
Takato Tokuno of the University of Tokyo analyzed the rapid outer-envelope spin and core misalignment.
He proposes the rotation could be affected by the gravitational effects of its known exoplanets or by engulfment.
Tokuno's calculations suggest the engulfed planet weighed between half and twice Jupiter's mass.

1 of 1

Story summary

Astronomers observe that the red giant star Kepler-56 spins unusually, possibly after engulfing a planet.
Takato Tokuno of the University of Tokyo analyzed the rapid outer-envelope spin and core misalignment.
He proposes the rotation could be affected by the gravitational effects of its known exoplanets or by engulfment.
Tokuno's calculations suggest the engulfed planet weighed between half and twice Jupiter's mass.