Last Updated: 'What-is-this': Experts Puzzled By 'strange' Elongated Object That Makes Star Disappear Astronomers and space experts have been left puzzled by a star in the middle of the Milky Way which keeps blinking in and out of existence. Image: Amanda Smith/ University of Cambridge Astronomers and space experts have been left puzzled by a star in the middle of the Milky Way which keeps blinking in and out of existence. While many stars change their brightness because they pulsate or are eclipsed by other stars, this one has particularly intrigued the scientists because it faints for several months and then suddenly revives its brightness. The star named VVV-WIT-08 is located in the centre of the Milky Way galaxy, roughly 25,000 light years away from planet earth.