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Kepler-56: A Case Study of Planetary Cannibalism around an Evolved Star


Sr No:
Page No: 40-46
Language: English
Authors: B. K. Sharma*
Received: 2026-02-10
Accepted: 2026-03-06
Published Date: 2026-03-17
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Abstract:
The fate of close-in planets orbiting stars evolving off the main sequence is governed by the rapid expansion of the stellar envelope and enhanced tidal dis-sipation. Kepler-56, a redgiant star hosting multiple planets on misaligned orbits, provides a rare opportunity to examine this process in an observed sys-tem. In this work, we investigate the tidal evolution of the inner planets in Kepler-56 and demonstrate that their present orbital configuration places them in a regime of runaway orbital decay as the stellar radius increases along the red-giant branch. We show that tidal torques acting within the deep convec-tive envelope lead inevitably to planetary engulfment on astrophysically short timescales. The analysis further suggests that planetary engulfment can con-tribute to the anomalously rapid rotation of the stellar envelope and may play a role in the observed spin–orbit misalignment between the stellar core and envelope. Kepler-56 thus serves as a benchmark system for studying plane-tary cannibalism during postmain-sequence stellar evolution and highlights the broader implications of tidal interactions for the long-term survival of close- in exoplanets. The Kepler-56 system therefore provides a valuable observational laboratory for studying the late-stage dynamical evolution and eventual engulf-ment of planetary systems around evolved stars
Keywords: Planetary cannibalism; star–planet interactions; tidal evolution; red giant stars; exoplanet dynamics.

Journal: IRASS Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies
ISSN(Online): 3049-0073
Publisher: IRASS Publisher
Frequency: Monthly
Language: English

Kepler-56: A Case Study of Planetary Cannibalism around an Evolved Star