Run · Tabby's star (KIC 8462852)

The 2006-2026 V light curve on one scale: two fading episodes, both during dip episodes

Modern V light-curve stitch 2006-2026: ASAS, ASAS-SN, AAVSO tied on their overlaps: Seasonal median V on the ASAS-SN V scale (mmag relative to the 2007 season).

Result

Run	Measured	Result	Against	Decision	Date
Run	Seasonal median V on the ASAS-SN V scale (mmag relative to the 2007 season)	{'flat_2019_2026': 'within about 5 mmag', 'fade_2010_to_2013': '+47 ± 5', 'fade_2015_to_2018': 'about +10', 'recovery_2013_to_2015': '-34 ± 7', 'tie_rms_g_vs_aavso_mmag': 4}	Simon2018 brightenings 2007 and 2014, fade 6.3 mmag/yr 2015-2017 · Montet2016_Kepler about 3% fade 2009-2013	Two fading episodes (2011-2013 and 2015-2018) coincide with the two dip episodes (Kepler Q8 and Q16-17; 2017). Recovery followed each. The star has held flat through the dip-free years 2019-2026. Suggestive of one dust supply behind both the dips and the slow changes. The recovery is against a monotonic relaxation.

What it used and found

Modern V light-curve stitch 2006-2026: ASAS, ASAS-SN, AAVSO tied on their overlaps

Method

MTH

AAVSO International Database export for KIC 8462852, 1 July 2018 to 29 October 2026 (77,195 observations, with comparison stars)

Dataset

DAT

AAVSO International Database export for KIC 8462852, October 2015 to June 2018 (66,875 observations, with comparison stars)

Dataset

DAT

ASAS V photometry of KIC 8462852, 2006-2017 (Simon et al. 2018, full table)

Dataset

DAT

ASAS-SN v1 image-subtraction light curve of KIC 8462852, 2015-2026 (V and g)

Dataset

DAT

A large, diffuse amount of circumstellar dust, more extended than the clumps that make the dips.

Answer it tests

ANS

Over 20 years, the star faded only while it was dipping: 2011-2013 and 2015-2018

Evidence it produced

EVD

The 2006-2026 record recovers and holds level; it is not a one-way relaxation

Evidence it produced

EVD

Figures 1

Figure 1

The star faded twice in 20 years, each time while it was dipping, and has been flat since 2019

Seasonal median V relative to the 2007 season (mmag; positive = fainter): ASAS to 2015, ASAS-SN V 2015-2018, AAVSO V from 2019

seasonal median

Seasons run July-June and are labelled by the year they end. ASAS seasonal errors are 3-9 mmag; ASAS-SN and AAVSO are 1-3 mmag. The three series are tied on their overlaps to within about 5 mmag.

Drawn by the site

Parameters

ties = {'ASAS->ASAS-SN V': '2015.0-2017.45', 'AAVSO->ASAS-SN V': '2015.7-2018.9', 'ASAS-SN g->AAVSO V': '2018.5-2026.9'}, season = July-June, labelled by end year, min_nights = 8

Cite it

Mysteries Department. (2026). The 2006-2026 V light curve on one scale: two fading episodes, both during dip episodes [Run RUN0DFQ2NQVEE44]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/RUN0DFQ2NQVEE44

@misc{mysteriesdept_run0dfq2nqvee44,
  title     = {The 2006-2026 V light curve on one scale: two fading episodes, both during dip episodes},
  author    = {{Mysteries Department}},
  year      = {2026},
  note      = {Run, catalog key RUN0DFQ2NQVEE44},
  url       = {https://mysteriesdept.com/r/RUN0DFQ2NQVEE44}
}