Cosmic (aka Matt Cheselka), an independent research astronomer and space musician, chronicles the invention of the radial velocity spectrometer around 1868, and how that lead to the search for extrasolar planets in the 1990's.  The Kepler mission changed the method of this search by using the transit method instead of the radial velocity method. In examining the Kepler data, the Planet Hunters group found some unusual events associated with some stars, including the star KIC 8462852. also known as Boyajian's or Tabby's star. Long-term dimming has been reported for this star, but the most recent measurements show this may not actually be happening.

 

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