The collision in the planetary system - 95 light-years away - occurred at more than 22,000 miles per hour and it may have caused part of the planet's atmosphere to blow away, as evidenced by the carbon monoxide and dust that surround the HD 172555 star.

The researchers found that carbon monoxide was circling close to HD 172555, roughly 10 astronomical units, or approximately 930 million miles. .

A heavy presence of the gas so close to the star suggests it emanated from a collision. .

The star is known to have dust that contains minerals unusual for a star, as well as carbon monoxide gas that suggests the giant impact

The researchers found evidence of carbon monoxide and dust roughly 10 astronomical units, or 930 million miles, from the HD 172555 star

A heavy presence of carbon monoxide so close to the star suggests it emanated from a collision

However, a heavy presence of the gas so close to the star suggests it emanated from a collision

The estimate that the impact occurred 200,000 years ago is a short amount of time — in terms of the universe — that the star has not yet destroyed the carbon monoxide.