Dust Astronomy with a dust telescope

Dust Astronomy is a new research area investigating the properties of interstellar and interplanetary dust (ISD and IPD). Microsized dust grains are the key to understand formation processes in the universe and of our solar system. An analysis of their origin and elemental composition is essential and leads to new insights of planet and star formation and forms a link between geophysics, geochemistry, astrobiology and astronomy. In order to characterize this presolar material by its trajectory (origin) and elemental composition, a Dust Observatory is needed. The key instrumentation for such an observatory is provided by a Dust Telescope. Its specification and characteristics are described in this paper. Key words: Dust Astronomy; interstellar dust; interplanetary dust; trajectory sensor; spectrometer, DUNE