Illustration of a hypothetical uneven ring of dust orbiting KIC 8462852, also known as Boyajian's Star or Tabby's Star. Astronomers have found the dim

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Illustration of a hypothetical uneven ring of dust orbiting KIC 8462852, also known as Boyajian's Star or Tabby's Star. Astronomers have found the dimming of the star over long periods appears to be weaker at longer infrared wavelengths of light and stronger at shorter ultraviolet wavelengths. Such reddening is characteristic of dust particles. By studying observations from NASA's Spitzer and Swift telescopes, as well as the Belgian AstroLAB IRIS observatory, the researchers have been able to better constrain the size of the dust particles. This places them within the range found in dust disks orbiting stars, and larger than the particles typically found in interstellar dust. Also seen are two comets, consistent with previous studies that have found evidence for cometary activity within the system.

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Size: 5573px × 3135px
Photo credit: © NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, 8462852, artwork, astrolab, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, boyajian, comet, cygnus, dimming, dust, illustration, infrared, ir, iris, kic, observatory, particles, ring, space, spitzer, ss, star, swift, tabby, telescope