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Planet found orbiting a dead star could preview what will happen to our solar system
By CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7
· July 2, 2026
· 8 min read
By Ashley Strickland, CNN
(CNN) — New observations may offer fresh clues into how a giant exoplanet survived the violent death of its host star — and came to closely orbit its stellar remnants.
The findings could serve as a preview of the fate that may await our solar system’s largest planets...
Key takeaway The findings could serve as a preview of the fate that may await our solar system’s largest planets — such as the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn — when the sun dies in 5 billion years.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The discovery of WD 1856 b, a Jupiter-size planet orbiting a dead white dwarf star, has significant implications for El Pasoans interested in the long-term fate of our solar system. As the sun is expected to exhaust its hydrogen fuel in 5 billion years, the survival of WD 1856 b despite its host star's violent death offers a glimpse into what may await our own gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn. This finding may spark interest among local astronomy enthusiasts and students at El Paso 's schools, who can explore the possibilities of planetary survival in extreme environments. The use of the James Webb Space Telescope in this study also highlights the importance of cutting-edge technology in advancing our understanding of the universe, a topic that may be of interest to El Paso's business and education communities.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 2, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 8 min
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What is this story about? By Ashley Strickland, CNN
(CNN) — New observations may offer fresh clues into how a giant exoplanet survived the violent death of its host star — and came to closely orbit its stellar remnants.
The findings could serve as a preview of the fate that may await our solar system’s largest planets...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 2, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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