Tabby’s Star

Tabby’s Star, more correctly known as KIC 8462852,  is a very special and unique star.  After citizen scientists analyzed data from the Kepler space telescope, they discovered that it has a very unusual luminosity dimming pattern.  Up to 22% dimming of the star’s luminosity.  This amount of dimming does not correspond with other stars observed.  Why is this so unusual?

The Kepler space telescope observes changes in the brightness of distant stars to detect exoplanets.  Launched on March 7, 2009 it surveys a portion of our region of the Milky Way to discover Earth-size exoplanets in or near habitable zones and estimate how many of the billions of stars in the Milky Way have such planets.  Currently Kepler has discovered 2,327 confirmed exoplanets.  Of all of those, Tabby’s Star is very unique with the largest dip recorded.  This large dip has several possible causes, each very interesting.

Some of the possible causes in the 22% dip in luminosity include many possible causes.  They include comets, planetary bombardment, young star coalescing within the system, etc.  One possible, if not highly improbable, cause is the existence of a Dyson swarm.  A Dyson swarm consists of a large number of independent constructs (usually solar power satellites and space habitats) orbiting in a dense formation around the star.  If true, which I highly doubt, this would be the first evidence of extraterrestrial life.  As Carl Sagan once said “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.”.  Even if it is highly improbable it is nice to think about it.