Dust cloud discovered around one of sky’s brightest stars

High-resolution images from James Webb space telescope reveal two rings of debris around Fomalhaut

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.