KIC 8462852 Update for 07/01/2017

TL;DR

Boyajian's Star continues to show intermittent dimming, with recent color data suggesting that the dimming may be caused by a dust cloud. The possibility of alien activity cannot be fully ruled out.

Transcript

This is an update in my continuing coverage of KIC 8462852 or Boyajian’s Star for July 1st, 2017. For the extensive backstory on this star, see my other videos on this channel, or the dedicated KIC 8462852 playlist specifically. The star continues to act up, and while a preliminary paper is due out any time from Dr. Boyajian and her team, a few int... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Boyajian's Star continues to exhibit intermittent dimming, with recent minor dimming reported.
• 🤩 Color data from the star's dimming event suggests the potential role of a dust cloud in causing the dimming.
• 🙂 The possibility of alien activity cannot be completely ruled out, although it remains highly unlikely in light of the current data.
• 👨‍🔬 A 2011 paper proposes the search for markers of alien activity in star systems with debris disks as a potential form of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence).
• 🪡 Further study is needed to confirm any patterns observed in the data from Boyajian's Star.
• 🤩 The release of Dr. Boyajian and her team's preliminary paper is anticipated as the next milestone in understanding the star's behavior.
• ❓ The existence of patterns, if confirmed, could significantly impact the ongoing discussion surrounding Boyajian's Star.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Boyajian's Star and why is it significant?

Boyajian's Star, also known as KIC 8462852, is a star that has been experiencing irregular dimming. This behavior sparked speculation of an alien megastructure. However, recent data suggests that the dimming may be caused by a dust cloud.

Q: Why is the color data important?

The color data shows that the star dimmed more in shorter wavelengths of light than in longer ones. This information is crucial in narrowing down the possible causes of the dimming, as it suggests a dust cloud rather than other phenomena.

Q: Could the dimming be due to an alien civilization?

While the color data may seem to push away from the alien megastructure hypothesis, it does not fully rule it out. The possibility of alien activity cannot be entirely dismissed at this point, although it remains highly unlikely.

Q: What is the significance of the presence of an elliptical orbit in the dust cloud?

An elliptical orbit would explain the lack of infrared in previous observations. As the dust moves away from the star and cools down, it would result in less infrared emission. When the dust moves closer to the star, it would warm up, leading to varying infrared emissions.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Boyajian's Star has been experiencing intermittent dimming since late May, with the most significant dip named "Elsie."

• Color data from the dip shows that the star dipped deeper in shorter wavelengths of light, indicating the possibility of a dust cloud causing the dimming.

• The presence of an elliptical orbit in the dust cloud could explain the lack of infrared in previous observations.