# Has the dipping stopped, or does it come in episodes? · Tabby's star (KIC 8462852) > Four answers have been proposed. Dipping comes in episodes separated by years of quiet, with no strict period. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tabbys-star/questions/QST0D8E77ET2CAQ/has-the-dipping-stopped-or-does-it-come-in-episodes Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:54+00:00 --- **0** # Has the dipping stopped, or does it come in episodes? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [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)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: dipping comes in episodes separated by years of quiet, with no strict period** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. Dipping comes in episodes separated by years of quiet, with no strict period. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters The star dipped in Kepler data in 2011 and 2013 and again in 2017, then showed no deep dips in TESS data from 2019 to 2022⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8E6TRJ1Q2M/the-first-post-kepler-brightness-dips-of-kic-8462852)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8E704E6NFA/no-deep-dimming-events-in-kic-8462852-boyajians-star-from). Whether dipping is episodic, periodic or ending bears directly on the comet, Trojan and intervening-cloud readings. ## Answers 4 [**Dipping comes in episodes separated by years of quiet, with no strict period.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tabbys-star/answers/ANS0D8E7JEC0TJR/dipping-comes-in-episodes-separated-by-years-of-quiet-with) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tabbys-star/answers/ANS0D8E7KX80C5G/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The activity that produced the dips has ended or declined.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tabbys-star/answers/ANS0D8E7KDM7HCY/the-activity-that-produced-the-dips-has-ended-or-declined) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 2 for, 1 against Still possible [**The dipping recurs on a long orbital period.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tabbys-star/answers/ANS0D8E7JY053WH/the-dipping-recurs-on-a-long-orbital-period) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed ## History 1. 2016[Wright & Sigurdsson: the deepest dip timings are consistent with random.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8E6XEG2N4H/families-of-plausible-solutions-to-the-puzzle-of-boyajians)Against: The dipping recurs on a long orbital period. 1. 2017[Ballesteros et al. puts forward: the dipping recurs on a long orbital period.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8E6YNJ60WX/kic-8462852-will-the-trojans-return-in-2021) 1. 2018[Boyajian et al.: dips occurred in the Kepler years and again in 2017, with quiet between.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8E6TRJ1Q2M/the-first-post-kepler-brightness-dips-of-kic-8462852)For: Dipping comes in episodes separated by years of quiet, with no strict period. 1. 2026[Yang & Satarla puts forward: dipping comes in episodes separated by years of quiet, with no strict period.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8E704E6NFA/no-deep-dimming-events-in-kic-8462852-boyajians-star-from) 1. 2026[Yang & Satarla puts forward: the activity that produced the dips has ended or declined.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8E704E6NFA/no-deep-dimming-events-in-kic-8462852-boyajians-star-from) 1. 2026[Yang & Satarla: a 1.1 per cent symmetric dip on 3 September 2019 in TESS Sector 15](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8E704E6NFA/no-deep-dimming-events-in-kic-8462852-boyajians-star-from)Against: The activity that produced the dips has ended or declined. 1. 2026[Cristina Madurga-Favieres: a 1.1 per cent symmetric dip on 3 September 2019 in TESS Sector 15](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DDYDQFQE9VW/evidence-for-a-giant-companion-orbiting-tabbys-star)Against: The activity that produced the dips has ended or declined. 1. 2026[Wei Zhu: a 1.1 per cent symmetric dip on 3 September 2019 in TESS Sector 15](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DDYDRAN9FJQ/the-anomalously-large-transiting-planet-around-boyajians)Against: The activity that produced the dips has ended or declined. 1. 2026[Yang & Satarla: no dips deeper than 0.5 per cent shorter than about half a day in TESS data from July 2019 to September 2022](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8E704E6NFA/no-deep-dimming-events-in-kic-8462852-boyajians-star-from)For: The activity that produced the dips has ended or declined. 1. Oct 2026[Session 1: took the question up again, ran one test and found three results bearing on its answers](https://mysteriesdept.com/records/SES0DDYJJVWGV9C/session-1-the-century-fade-re-tested-in-dasch-dr7-and-the) ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tabbys-star/questions/QST0D8E77ET2CAQ/has-the-dipping-stopped-or-does-it-come-in-episodes%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tabbys-star/questions/QST0D8E77ET2CAQ/has-the-dipping-stopped-or-does-it-come-in-episodes%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tabbys-star/questions/QST0D8E77ET2CAQ/has-the-dipping-stopped-or-does-it-come-in-episodes%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tabbys-star/questions/QST0D8E77ET2CAQ/has-the-dipping-stopped-or-does-it-come-in-episodes%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tabbys-star/questions/QST0D8E77ET2CAQ/has-the-dipping-stopped-or-does-it-come-in-episodes%23add-source) Where it fits Tabby's star (KIC 8462852) [**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)Key question · most likely clumps of fine dust orbiting the star, released by comets, planetesimals or other bodies close to it **Has the dipping stopped, or does it come in episodes?** You're here · dipping comes in episodes separated by years of quiet, with no strict period [If the dips are dust, what produces it in large, short-lived clumps?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tabbys-star/questions/QST0D8E76QC6BDA/if-the-dips-are-dust-what-produces-it-in-large-short-lived)Most likely · the fragments of a broken-up comet or planetesimal on an eccentric orbit, passing in front of the star in… [Is the 1.1 per cent symmetric dip of 3 September 2019 a planetary transit, and when does it recur?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tabbys-star/questions/QST0DDYGWCC8HBG/is-the-1-1-per-cent-symmetric-dip-of-3-september-2019-a)No evidence yet · no answers yet [ Ask a question under this one ]