# Variability of the star itself, for example in its photosphere, rather than an occulter.

> Disputed: Variability of the star itself, for example in its photosphere, rather than an occulter.

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tabbys-star/answers/ANS0D8E79WY03MS/variability-of-the-star-itself-for-example-in-its  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page)  

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[Questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/questions)[Tabby's star (KIC 8462852)](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tabbys-star)[What blocks the light during the deep, irregular dips?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tabbys-star/questions/QST0D8E76FJ6B8S/what-blocks-the-light-during-the-deep-irregular-dips)Answer

Answer · Tabby's star (KIC 8462852)

# Variability of the star itself, for example in its photosphere, rather than an occulter.

Variability of the star itself, for example in its photosphere, rather than an occulter.

**Disputed** Answers **1** questionPublished0

## Where it stands

**Disputed** One piece of evidence for, two against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

## What it predicts

- Spectral or temperature changes during dips.
- Similar behaviour in other stars of the same type.

## What would rule it out

- Dips with no change of any kind in the stellar spectrum and with colours matching extinction by dust.

## Evidence 1 for · 2 against

[The 2017 campaign notes its data may also be consistent with variations intrinsic to the photosphere.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tabbys-star/evidence/EVD0D8E7A4R7ZM3/the-2017-campaign-notes-its-data-may-also-be-consistent-with)

Speculative

FOR

[No change in the stellar spectrum or polarisation was seen during the 2017 dips.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tabbys-star/evidence/EVD0D8E7ACJ4717/no-change-in-the-stellar-spectrum-or-polarisation-was-seen)

Supported

AGAINST

[No known or proposed stellar phenomenon explains all aspects of the light curve.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tabbys-star/evidence/EVD0D8E7AMC4ZZR/no-known-or-proposed-stellar-phenomenon-explains-all-aspects)

Supported

AGAINST

## The questions it answers

[What blocks the light during the deep, irregular dips?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tabbys-star/questions/QST0D8E76FJ6B8S/what-blocks-the-light-during-the-deep-irregular-dips)

Most likelyClumps of fine dust orbiting the star, released by comets, planetesimals or other bodies close to it

## Cite it

```
Mysteries Department. (2026). Variability of the star itself, for example in its photosphere, rather than an occulter. [Answer ANS0D8E79WY03MS]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D8E79WY03MS
```

Key

**ANS** 0D8E79WY03MS

Kind

Answer · hypothesis

Origin

Published

Version

1

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