Astronomers believe space dust and grit from asteroid collisions plus comet remnants could be hindering the discovery of Earth-like exoplanets planets in alien solar systems.

This light reflected from dust and grime of asteroids and comets is called "exozodiacal light." This light prevents astronomers and scientists from detecting small exoplanets and their alien suns.

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This exozodiacal light from far away galaxies was detected by the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) located in Chile whose main goal is to study and observe 92 local star systems.

Data gathered from older studies is consolidated with newer ones to produce a clearer, more complete picture. These light formations surround probable habitable areas in nine alien star systems.

On Earth, zodiacal light can be seen in areas with completely dark skies as a white glow emanating from the horizon around the sun. Zodiacal light can be observed usually before sunrise or right after sunset.

This glow can be described as a triangular shape that seems to emanate directly from the sun itself.

Zodiacal light seen on Earth's skies from the sun is mainly caused by sunlight reflecting off gas and dust surrounding the sun. On the other hand, the exozodiacal light detected by the VLTI telescope marks the first time this event was witnessed on alien solar systems.

By combining images from four telescopes using the VLTI interferometer, this system allowed astronomers to study it in much detail. Scientists and astronomers have long observed star dust to investigate new alien worlds.

According to Olivier Absil of the University of Liège and the co-author of this study, this stardust light could yield a higher detection rate of alien planets even if it contains fainter dust undetectable in their survey. This interstellar dust can be considered an obstacle to future observations of Earth-like exoplanets.

Also known as false dawn and false dusk, zodiacal light can be often mistaken as the rising or setting sun.

This study was published on website of the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere.

Tagsexozodiacal light, earth-like planets, exozodiacal light alien planets star dust clouds, Interstellar Dust Clouds Could be Hiding Earthlike Planets in Alien Star Systems, space dust clouds hiding earth like planets, VLTI telescope