[TChad]

Something appears to be blocking out the light, but it's not a planet, and the star is too old to be surrounded by the rings of debris that tend to circle around younger stars.

Shadow squares. The inner ring surrounding the sun contains shadow squares:

The outer ring is a ringworld.

The revolving shadow square ring is supposed to produce a regular series of days and nights for those living inside the ringworld.

Maybe it's damaged.

[21twelve]

I’m guessing it is a huge solar panel that is up in outer space to supplement the planet’s power on cloudy days. Hence the variability of the panel blocking our ability to see their sun.

Someone should ask Al Gore. I’m guessing that he invented the device once he got done with the internet.

[ETL]

[ETL]

The revolving shadow square ring is supposed to produce a regular series of days and nights for those living inside the ring world.

The spinning of the ring is also to simulate gravity, via the outward centrifugal force. The outward force will 'pin' people's feet to the inside perimeter wall.

[MrB]

One of the cables came loose and drifted “down” onto the ringworld.