Nearby main sequence stars with cool circumstellar material

Abstract

The discovery of the so-called Vega phenomenon was one of the most important and unexpected results of the IRAS mission. Several nearby main sequence stars were found to possess clouds of solid grains emitting strongly in the far-IR. Three of these objects were marginally resolved by IRAS. This phenomenon appears to be widespread and not limited to proto-planetary epochs. Possible connection of this phenomenon to the existing of planets is discussed