Take a Look at This Very Mysterious ‘Blinking’ Object in Space

Astronomers have detected a star 25,000 light-years away that can best be described as “blinking.”

Transcript

00:00 There's something strange going out in space.

00:07 Astronomers have detected a star 25,000 light years away that could best be described as

00:12 blinking.

00:13 We'll call it the blinking star, even though it's really called VVVWIT08.

00:19 The WIT stands for "What is this?"

00:22 A great question.

00:24 Astronomers from the University of Edinburgh say a dark, large, and elongated object passed

00:29 between Earth and the distant star.

00:31 The star dimmed for 200 days.

00:33 According to Science Alert, if a star could be hidden for months at a time like that,

00:37 it could point to a new class of star - giant beasts over 100 times the size of the sun

00:43 that are mysteriously orbiting every few decades.

00:46 There are many theories, but the university astronomers think it could be another planet

00:51 surrounded by a thick disk or dust that completely covers the star.

00:55 Perhaps more answers await us before the next blink.

00:59 (upbeat music)

01:02 (upbeat music)