‘Cataclysmic’ collision of giant asteroids discovered in nearby star

Beta Pictoris is located about 63 light-years away toward the constellation of Pictor (Nasa/ESO/Digitised Sky Survey)

Scientists have found evidence of a “cataclysmic” collision of giant asteroids that happened only 20 years ago close to a nearby star.

The tumultuous event in Beta Pictoris, a bright star in the constellation of Pictor around 63 light-years away, could help understand how planets like Earth formed, astronomers say.