Answer · Tabby's star (KIC 8462852)
Clumps of fine dust orbiting the star, released by comets, planetesimals or other bodies close to it.
Clumps of fine dust orbiting the star, released by comets, planetesimals or other bodies close to it.
Where it stands
Most likelyIts tests supported it: two pieces of evidence for, two against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.
What it predicts
- Dips are deeper at shorter wavelengths, with a colour law set by grain size.
- The stellar spectrum and polarisation do not change during dips.
- Very deep dips, if optically thick, become more neutral in colour.
- A source body travelling with the dust replenishes small grains within days.
What would rule it out
- Grey (colour-independent) dips at high signal-to-noise, or dip colour that does not depend on depth in the way optically thin dust requires.
Evidence 2 for · 2 against
FOR
AGAINST
The questions it answers
Most likelyClumps of fine dust orbiting the star, released by comets, planetesimals or other bodies close to it
Cite it
Mysteries Department. (2026). Clumps of fine dust orbiting the star, released by comets, planetesimals or other bodies close to it. [Answer ANS0D8E77PM4YKA]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D8E77PM4YKA
@misc{mysteriesdept_ans0d8e77pm4yka,
title = {Clumps of fine dust orbiting the star, released by comets, planetesimals or other bodies close to it.},
author = {{Mysteries Department}},
year = {2026},
note = {Answer, catalog key ANS0D8E77PM4YKA},
url = {https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D8E77PM4YKA}
}