Published in Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Volume 6, Issue 1, pp. 229-248 (2005).
astro-ph/0503569

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Abstract. The year of 2005 marks the 75th anniversary since Trumpler (1930) provided the first definitive proof of interstellar grains by demonstrating the existence of general absorption and reddening of starlight in the galactic plane. This article reviews our progressive understanding of the nature of interstellar dust.

Table of Contents

• INTRODUCTION: A BRIEF HISTORY FOR THE STUDIES OF INTERSTELLAR DUST
• INTERSTELLAR GRAINS, WHAT DO WE KNOW?
• REFERENCES