Astronomers Observe 'Afterglow' , From 2 Planets Colliding.br For the first time ever, astronomers have br observed an "afterglow" from the impact br of two massive planets crashing into each other. .br 'The Independent' reports that the heat and dust resulting br from this collision swirled in front of the planets' star, br allowing scientists to observe the explosion's aftermath.br Near a star much like our own Sun, an amateur astronomer br first spotted the collision of two massive ice planets br when he noticed unusual light coming from the star. .br To be honest, this observationbr was a complete surprise to me. br When we originally shared the br visible light curve of this star br with other astronomers, br we started watching it with br a network of other telescopes, Matthew Kenworthy, co-lead author from br Leiden University, via 'The Independent' .br To be honest, this observationbr was a complete surprise to me. br When we originally shared the br visible light curve of this star br with other astronomers, br we started watching it with br a network of other telescopes, Matthew Kenworthy, co-lead author from br Leiden University, via 'The Independent' .br An astronomer on social media br pointed out that the star brightened up br in the infrared over a thousand days br before the optical fading. I knew br then this was an unusual event, Matthew Kenworthy, co-lead author from br Leiden University, via 'The Independent' .br The team's research suggests that the glow, which began br to fade over a three-year period as dust covered the star, br was coming from the heat left over by the explosion. .br Our calculations and computer models br indicate the temperature and size of the br glowing material, as well as the amount br of time the glow has lasted, is consistent br with the collision of two ice giant exoplanets, Simon Lock, co-lead author from the University of Bristol, via 'The Independent'.br Our calculations and computer models br indicate the temperature and size of the br glowing material, as well as the amount br of time the glow has lasted, is consistent br with the collision of two ice giant exoplanets, Simon Lock, co-lead author from the University of Bristol, via 'The Independent'.br 'The Independent' reports that astronomers br plan to confirm their theories as they continue br to observe the results of the planetary collision. .br Co-author Zoe Leinhardt, from the University br of Bristol, says the material remaining after the br collision could condense to form a series of moons. .br The research, titled 'planetary collision br afterglow and transit of the resultant debris br cloud,' was published in the journal 'Nature.