KIC 8462852: The Strangeness Continues

TL;DR

The behavior of Tabby's Star continues to puzzle scientists, with sustained dimming, optically thick material, and clustering of candidate stars, raising questions about potential alien civilizations.

Transcript

This is an update in my continuing coverage of the mysterious star KIC 8462852 or Tabby’s star for December of 2021. Yet again, things have taken a turn for the mysterious with this star and the circumstances surrounding it. But before we get to that, here’s what the star has been doing lately in a nutshell. Last month the star changed behaviour so... Read More

Key Insights

• 🍰 Tabby's Star is exhibiting sustained dimming, deviating from its usual short and deep dips.
• 🤩 The material obscuring the star during the dimming events goes optically thick, complicating existing models.
• 🤩 Observations of candidate stars similar to Tabby's Star suggest clustering in space and stellar classification, which may have implications for the nature of the phenomenon.
• 🤩 Establishing periodicity is crucial in understanding whether the dimming is caused by interstellar dust or if it is in orbit around the star.
• ❓ The replenishment of dust around Tabby's Star challenges existing collisional models.
• 🤩 The clustering of candidate stars raises questions about the potential involvement of an expanding alien civilization.
• 🤩 Further study and observation of candidate stars will provide a clearer picture of the phenomenon and potentially help determine its natural or extraterrestrial origin.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the significance of the sustained 1% dimming observed in Tabby's Star?

The sustained dimming is unusual compared to the star's typical short and deep dips. It challenges existing models and raises questions about the nature of the dimming phenomenon.

Q: How is the dust around Tabby's Star believed to be replenished despite its small size?

The dust should be continuously blown out of the system, but the observed long-term dimming trend suggests that something is replenishing the dust at a greater rate. The collisional model is a possible explanation, but the exact process remains unclear.

Q: What is the importance of establishing periodicity in understanding Tabby's Star?

Periodicity would help determine whether the dimming is caused by interstellar dust or if it is in orbit around the star. This information can narrow down possible explanations for the star's behavior.

Q: Why is the clustering of candidate stars around Tabby's Star considered puzzling?

The clustering of candidate stars in both space and stellar classification is unexpected. This unusual pattern raises questions about potential causes, including the possibility of an expanding alien civilization.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Tabby's Star is exhibiting sustained dimming of around 1% for almost a month, contrary to its usual short but deep dips observed in the past.

• The current dimming event shows the material obscuring the star going optically thick, adding complexity to existing models.

• Observations of candidate stars similar to Tabby's Star suggest clustering in space and stellar classification, which may be worth studying further.