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Galaxies

Galactic Dust and Nebulae

Is interstellar dust similar to household dust?

No. Interstellar dust is typically much smaller, and it is made of very different material, compared with house dust here on Earth. While house dust typically is made up of things like dirt, sand, cloth fibers, crumbs, animal and plant residue, and even microscopic living creatures, interstellar dust is composed primarily of carbon and silicate (silicon, oxygen, and metallic ions) material, which is sometimes mixed with frozen water, ammonia, and carbon dioxide.



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