What is Cosmic dust?
[[Image:Porous chondriteIDP.jpg|thumb|right|Porous [[Meteor|chondrite]] interplanetary dust]] '''Cosmic dust''' (also known as '''star dust''' and '''space dust''') is a type of dust. It is very small [[crystal]]s sent out from [[star]]s.<ref name=hiw>{{citation|title=What is cosmic dust?|newspaper=How it Works|date=2011-06-16|issue=22|publisher=Imagine Publishing|page=58}}</ref><ref name=hos>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyoftheuniverse.com/cos_dust.html|title=Cosmic Dust|publisher=Penny Press|date=2010|access-date=2011-08-18}}</ref> It is formed when a star, such as the [[Sun]], sends out [[atom]]s.<ref name=hiw /><ref name=hos /> Some of the atoms become [[ion]]s by gaining or losing electrons and becoming negatively and positively charged.<ref name=hiw /><ref name=hos /> These oppositely charged ions form an [[ionic bond]], sticking together in tiny crystals,<ref name=hiw /><ref name=hos /> a few thousand [[nanometre]]s across,<ref name=hiw /> to form cosmic dust.<ref name=hiw /><ref name=hos /> Cosmic dust is found in various locations.<ref name=wg /> Intergalactic dust is found between galaxies.<ref name=hiw /><ref name=wg /> Interstellar dust is found between stars.<ref name=hiw /><ref name=wg /> Dust clouds in these places are found by their blocking light from stars behind them, and by their own [[infrared]] radiation. Circumplanetary dust is found around planets and in [[planetary ring]]s.<ref name=hiw /><ref name=wg>{{cite web|title=What is Cosmic Dust?|url=http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-cosmic-dust.htm|publisher=wiseGEEK|access-date=2011-08-18}}</ref> Interplanetary dust can be found between [[planet]]s,<ref name=wg /> and is seen as [[gegenschein]] and [[zodiacal light]]. The coming together of large amounts of dust over time leads to the creation of planets, the [[Earth]], for example.<ref name=hiw /><ref name=hos /><ref name=HSO>{{cite web|title=Cosmic dust|url=http://herschel.cf.ac.uk/science/infrared/dust|publisher=Herschel Space Observatory|access-date=2011-08-18|archive-date=2014-03-05|a