Fact Sheet
Dusty Skies
A cloud of dense dust surrounds the star R Corona Borealis in this artist's concept. The star itself creates the cloud by expelling atoms of carbon, which cool and connect to form carbon molecules. The carbon molecules form a cloud of varying thickness around the star. A relatively thick clump of carbon dust obscures part of the star at lower right. This cloud of dust makes the star appear to brighten and fade as seen from Earth. [ESO]
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