Artist's impression of the ring of material discovered around the star Vega (centre) by the IRAS infrared astronomy satellite. It is believed that the material consists of dust & small objects resembling meteors. The ring of particles is thin enough to allow light from distant stars to shine through. The plane of the Milky Way is to the right (blue). Vega is a conspicuous white star & the brightest star in the constellation of Lyra. It was the pole star about 14,000 years ago.