Capture one of the most dramatic space stories ever told with this Planetary Engulfment Poster by Swell Scenes, inspired by the James Webb Space Telescope illustration of a star swallowing its planet. Based on Webb observations of the event known as ZTF SLRN-2020, this artwork shows a swollen star, a hot disk of glowing gas, and a cloud of dust spreading into space after a Jupiter sized planet met its end.

Why You Will Love It

• First known planetary engulfment: Based on the first star ever observed in the act of consuming a planet, studied in detail by the James Webb Space Telescope.
• Science rich illustration: Shows the sequence of a planet's orbit shrinking, the final plunge into the star, and the aftermath with a bright accretion disk and expanding dust cloud.
• Modern astronomy decor: Bold colors, clean composition, and clear storytelling make this a perfect fit for living rooms, offices, studios, and STEM spaces.
• Archival quality print: Museum grade matte paper and pigment inks for sharp detail and long lasting color.

About Planetary Engulfment and ZTF SLRN-2020

As some stars age and evolve, they can grow into red giants and disrupt the orbits of nearby planets. In the case of the system called ZTF SLRN-2020, astronomers saw a star brighten as a planet on a close in orbit spiraled inward and was ultimately engulfed. Follow up observations with the James Webb Space Telescope revealed a hot ring of gas and an expanding cloud of cooler dust surrounding the star, evidence of the planet's material being stripped, heated, and blown outward.

This illustration, created for NASA and ESA, condenses that long process into a clear sequence: a Jupiter sized planet orbits close to the star, its orbit shrinks over time, the planet plunges into the stellar atmosphere, and the star is left surrounded by an accretion disk and an expanding shell of dust. It offers a preview of what may one day happen in other planetary systems and, far in the future, in our own.

Learn more from trusted sources:

NASA - Webb's Autopsy of Planet Swallowed by Star · NASA - Planetary Engulfment Illustration · ESA Webb - Planetary Engulfment Image

Print & Frame Details

• Museum quality 189 gsm matte paper with archival pigment inks
• Framed options: 0.75" Ayous wood frame in black, white, or natural with lightweight Acrylite front
• Hanging hardware included on framed prints
• Available sizes: 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, 12x18, 16x20, 18x24, 24x36 inches
• Printed to order to reduce waste and ensure fresh, clean prints

Thoughtful Craftsmanship

Every Swell Scenes space print is produced to order with careful color review and durable materials so your Planetary Engulfment poster arrives ready to display and made to last.

About Swell Scenes

Swell Scenes creates design forward wall art inspired by NASA imagery, national parks, surf spots, and iconic locations around the world. Each piece is crafted to bring color, story, and a sense of place into your home, studio, or workspace.