Tabby's star, the F-type star known as KIC 8462852, has remained one of astronomy's most puzzling objects for years. Since 2016, researchers have tracked unusual changes in its brightness, including longer-term fading that set it apart from an otherwise ordinary-looking star.

A new study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society revisits the mystery and points to a 21-hour dip as a potentially important clue. According to the report, that short-lived event could help researchers better understand the broader pattern behind Tabby's star's decade-long dimming.

The finding does not appear to close the case completely, but it gives astronomers another piece of evidence as they test possible explanations for KIC 8462852's strange behavior. Because the star has shown irregular brightness changes over time, even a brief dip can matter if it fits into a larger pattern.

Tabby's star has drawn sustained attention because its light fluctuations have resisted simple explanations. This latest research adds a more focused lead, suggesting that a single 21-hour event may offer insight into why the star has dimmed in such an unusual way over the past decade.