Stellar engulfment is the process in which astar at the end of itsmain sequence phase of its life expands into ared giant star and engulfs some or all of theplanets orbrown dwarfs orbiting around it. The majority ofplanetary systems (around 61%) including theSolar System will experience at least one stellar engulfment event on the onset ofHelium fusion and near the firstdredge-up.^[1][2] While engulfment of planets can leave behind traces, particularly withLithium, it is quickly diluted. The same is the case for brown dwarfs.^[3]

On around five billion years from now, theSun will evolve out of the main sequence branch and intored giant. Its expansion will cause it to engulfed much of the inner planets of the Solar System includingMercury,Venus and possiblyEarth.^[4]

• Common envelope
• Contact binary
• Interacting binary star
• Neutron star merger
• Stellar collision

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