VVV-WIT-07

Coordinates: Sky map 17h 26m 29.387s, −35° 40′ 56.20″
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

VVV-WIT-07

Context star field of
VVV-WIT-07
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Scorpius
Right ascension 17h 26m 29.387s[1]
Declination −35° 40′ 56.20″[1]
Distance
approx. 1,300 ly
(approx. 400 pc)
Other designations
Gaia DR2 5974962995291907584[1]
Database references
SIMBADdata

VVV-WIT-07 is a unique

Scorpius constellation about 23,000 ly (7,100 pc) away,[1] is not a binary star, which would eliminate such a system from explaining the various observed dimmings.[3]

Overview

A light curve for VVV-WIT-07, adapted from Saito et al. (2019).[1] The inset plot shows the July 2012 dimming event with an expanded scale.

The star was found by the "

Tabby's star, an F3 IV/V star that shows irregular and aperiodic obscurations in its light curve.[1][4][5][6][7][8][3]

From 2010 to 2018, the star dimmed and brightened irregularly (v~14.35 – 16.164),

J1407, however, has been found to have dimmed by up to 95%, which may be more similar to the light curve presented by VVV-WIT-07.[8] Nonetheless, according to ESO astronomer Valentin Ivanov, "A key word that could be used to describe our finding [of VVV-WIT-07] is extreme. In every aspect ... We have identified a system that challenges the imagination even more than usual, because it is so unlike our own planetary system."[3]

See also

References

  1. ^
    S2CID 119068259
    .
  2. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202039657e). Gaia EDR3 record for this source at VizieR
    .
  3. ^ a b c Ivanov, Valentin D. (22 March 2019). "What Is This? - Astronomers discover mysterious star displaying never-seen-before behaviour". European Southern Observatory. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  4. S2CID 119068259
    .
  5. ^ Seidel, Jamie (23 November 2018). "VVV-WIT-07: This ancient, erratic star hides a dark secret". The Advertiser. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  6. ^ Anderson, Paul Scott (29 November 2018). "Have astronomers found another Tabby's Star? - Remember when astronomers found Tabby's Star and said they'd never seen anything like it? Now there's another one … maybe". Earth & Sky. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  7. ^ Redd, Nola Taylor (21 November 2018). "Have Astronomers Found Another "Alien Megastructure" Star? - Scientists now have a second example of a strange stellar phenomenon speculatively linked to extraterrestrial intelligence in 2015". Scientific American. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  8. ^ a b c Grossman, Lisa (22 December 2018). "Astronomers spot another star that flickers like Tabby's star - It's unclear what's causing the newly discovered object to blink, but it's probably not aliens". Science News. Vol. 194, no. 12. p. 9. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
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