Ars Technica
Planet orbits so close to its star that their magnetic fields connect
Thursday, June 25, 2026
**Planet's Orbit Brings It Close Enough to Star's Magnetic Field**
Astronomers observed a planet orbiting its star at a distance close enough that the two objects' magnetic fields interact. The star's chromosphere showed brightening at specific points in the planet's orbital cycle. The interaction occurs during certain phases of the star's activity cycle. Researchers documented the phenomenon through observations of the system.