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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).

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.