The Mystery of Tabby's Star
Astronomers are trying to figure out what is happening to the star KIC 8462852, which is also known as Tabby's Star.
The star has been dimming and brightening erratically, and astronomers are not sure what is causing it. One theory is that a swarm of comets or asteroids is passing in front of the star, blocking out its light. Another theory is that the star is being consumed by a black hole.
Whatever is happening to Tabby's Star, it is a mystery that astronomers are eager to solve. The star is located about 1,500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. It is a Sun-like star, but it is much younger and hotter.
In 2015, astronomers noticed that Tabby's Star was dimming and brightening erratically. The star's brightness would drop by as much as 20% for several days at a time. Astronomers have never seen anything like it before.
There are several theories about what could be causing Tabby's Star to dim and brighten. One theory is that a swarm of comets or asteroids is passing in front of the star, blocking out its light. Another theory is that the star is being consumed by a black hole.
Astronomers are hoping to learn more about Tabby's Star through a Kickstarter campaign. The campaign has raised over $100,000 to fund a study of the star. The study will use data from the Kepler space telescope to try to determine what is causing the star to dim and brighten.
Pinterest
Pinterest
Komentar