Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Ian Sample Science editor

Dust cloud discovered around one of sky’s brightest stars

Fomalhaut with the surrounding debris disks.
Fomalhaut with the surrounding debris disks. Illustration: András Gáspár

Astronomers have spotted an asteroid belt and an enormous dust cloud around one of the nearest and brightest stars in the night sky.

Known as Fomalhaut, the star lies 25 light years from Earth in the constellation of Piscis Austrinus, or the southern fish. Though best seen from the southern hemisphere, it can be viewed from a large part of the northern hemisphere, especially in the autumn. Its brightness and position mean it is still used for navigation.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.