Research Gallery > Interstellar and Circumstellar Medium
Research Gallery
Interstellar and Circumstellar Medium
The life cycle of dust in the interstellar medium of a galaxy |
Image Credit: Kemper, Francisca
Stars form the molecular cloud (center) and develop either as a
high-mass (right) or a low-mass star (left).
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Upon a supernova explosion in case of high-mass stars, or a process of more gradual mass loss (AGB/Planetary Nebula phase), material enriched by the
products of nucleosynthesis is ejected from the stars, and added to
the ISM. Dust formation takes place in the stellar ejecta. |