What is drop dead on with this unknown , winking star ?
Typically , if the planet - hunting Kepler telescope saw a on a regular basis dimming star , that would signal the mien of an exoplanet periodically passing between the star and Earth . But researcher identified a star called EPIC 249706694 ( HD 139139 ) that seems to dim at random , and the team has n’t been capable to come up with an account for the eldritch observation , accord a raw theme .
TheKepler / K2 missionwas a spacefaring telescope , decommission last twelvemonth , that discovered nearly 2,700 exoplanets by keep hundreds of thousands of whizz in search of a revealing even dimming . But irregular dimming is concentrated to explain , and perhaps the rootage of more interesting and cryptic science .
A graph showing the seemingly random dimming of the star known as EPIC 249706694.Graphic: Rappaport et al (arXiv)
A team of researchers from the United States , Denmark , and the United Kingdom set out to find these strange objects by sieve through the data . Observations of the stars around the constellation Scorpious from August 23 to November 20 of 2017 expose such an anomaly : EPIC 249706694 .
This hotshot ’s light curve , the plot of its brightness over time , contained dips as if a planet were passing in front of it . But these dips , 28 during the 87 - day watching , “ could just have well been grow by a random figure author , ” according tothe paperslated for publication in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society . The researchers performed multiple trial to confirm that the pickpocket were coming from something in outer space , rather than some other possible source of error . Their follow - up observations also show that another star near their target maven is likely gravitationally bind to the first .
So , what could be happening here ? Based on how frequently planets reach star and the spatial arrangement between major planet , the researcher guessed that only 13 of the drop could have amount from regularly orbiting satellite . The research worker also rein out the possibility that planets were revolve both this star as well as a nearby star . mayhap there are nearly pack planets exhibiting enormous gravitative pull on one another , yield the chronological sequence of dips — also an unlikely possibility . Other choice admit dusty planet close to the star , a sight of eerily similar detritus - emitting asteroids , other strange orbital scenarios , or even shortly - exist change in luminance from starspots — like sunspots , but on this remote star .
They do not consider alien despite , in my opinion , aliens being a utterly reasonable option to consider .
None of these options are “ entirely acceptable , ” consort to the theme . The astronomers trust that now that they ’ve published their inquiry on the hotshot , others will succeed up with additional studies to help them total up with new ideas .
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