Dust in the core of the metal-rich globular cluster NGC 6356

We report the 3.5σ detection of dust in the core of the metal-rich ([Fe/H] =−0.4) globular cluster NGC 6356. The dust mass in the core is ∼ 4–17 × 10⁻³ M⊙, depending on the dust equilibrium temperature. We rule out sputtering as a grain destruction mechanism in NGC 6356, unless grains are very small (∼30 Å). We also place the upper limit of 6.6 × 10⁻³ on the CO-to-dust ratio in this cluster. This value is significantly smaller than the CO-to-dust ratio in the general Galactic interstellar medium, and in the outflows of evolved stars.