KIC 8462852 Boyajian's Star Update for 10/07/2017

TL;DR

The recent findings suggest that the dimming of Tabby's Star is likely caused by dust, although the mystery is far from being solved.

Transcript

This is an update in my continuing coverage of KIC 8462852 or Tabby's Star for October 7, 2017. The star is currently at nominal brightness having, at least for now, come out of its most recent dip. It's anyone's guess when the next could come, though given how active the short term dips have been lately I would not be surprised to see more in the ... Read More

Key Insights

• ✋ Tabby's Star has come out of its recent dip, but the possibility of more dips in the future remains high.
• 👶 The media tends to sensationalize and prematurely declare "mystery solved" when new findings are released, but the reality is that we are still far from a complete explanation.
• 🍉 The latest observations support the dust hypothesis, but the irregularities observed during both short-term and long-term dips require further study.
• 👽 Alien civilization remains a possibility, but the emphasis should be on scientific investigation rather than speculative conclusions.

Questions & Answers

Q: What has been the recent development regarding Tabby's Star?

Recent observations by NASA/JPL suggest that the dimming of Tabby's Star is likely caused by dust, contradicting the initial speculation of an alien megastructure.

Q: What is the significance of the difference in dimming between infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths?

The fact that the dimming is greater in ultraviolet than infrared indicates that the phenomenon is more consistent with dust instead of solid objects.

Q: Are there any unresolved mysteries regarding Tabby's Star?

Yes, the irregularities in the short-term dips and the deep long-term dips, as well as the uneven distribution of dust clouds, still need to be explained.

Q: Could the dimming be caused by an alien civilization?

While it remains a possibility, the theory of an alien megastructure has become less likely with the latest findings suggesting dust as the main cause. However, other alien activities like mining cannot be completely ruled out.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Tabby's Star has recently regained its nominal brightness after a dip, but more dips are expected in the coming weeks.

• NASA/JPL's recent observations support the theory that the dimming is caused by dust rather than solid objects like an alien megastructure.

• The long-term dimming trend can be explained by the presence of small dust particles, although the irregularities in the short-term dips and deep long-term dips remain unexplained.