Solid matter in space is crucial in accounting for many processes. In these last years a great improvement of the general knowledge of the problem has been possible due to the increase, in number and quality, of observations and of the laboratory efforts to simulate "cosmic" dust. Theoreticians have also given their contribution in solving some questions and in posing others. Continuing an effort started in 1987, the Astrophysical Groups operating in Naples th th have considered it useful to organize a Workshop in Capri from September 8 to 13 1989 in order to assess the state of the art in such an interesting field as that of "Dusty Objects in the Universe". The subject is, obviously, too wide to be discussed in detail. However, the presence of many experts in different areas provided an updated general picture. Laboratory work has been reviewed, as well as recent observations and theoretical interpretations which concern processes occurring in our Galaxy and in external galaxies. The Workshop gave to participants the unique opportunity of exchanging ideas and of discussing on different themes. In addition, the meeting has been enriched by the presentation of the major technological projects related to ongoing airborne and space mlSSlons. the aim of giving the state of the art about specific Invited papers were prepared with subjects; contributed papers and some selected poster papers presented, on the contrary, the various fields.

Proceedings.- Carbonaceous Solid Materials: From Laboratory to Space.- Chemical Alterations in Ion Irradiated Frozen Hydrocarbons.- Investigation of Cosmic Dusts Using Synchrotron Radiation.- The Particles Around Mass-Losing Carbon Stars.- The Infrared Interstellar Emission Features.- Quenced Carbonaceous Composite (QCC): Thermal Alteration of QCC and PAHs.- Mineral Grains in Interstellar Space.- Novel Ion Chemistry of Interstellar Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.- Astrophysical Implications of the Infrared Spectrum of Coronene at Elevated Temperatures.- The 3.3 Micrometer Feature: The Large Scale Galactic Emission.- Search for the UV and IR Spectra of C6 0 in Laboratory-Produced Carbon Dust.- Circumstellar Dust Envelopes of M Giant Stars.- Interstellar Planetesimals.- The Anatomy of Dense Molecular Clouds.- S O F I A - A Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy.- Observations of the Cold Dust and Gas in Centaurus A: Probing an Extragalactic ISM.- Interaction of Dust Particles with Electrons and Ions.- Are Spiral Galaxies Optically Thick?.- On the Possible Interaction between Magnetic Field and HII Region in AB Aur.- A Model of the Cometary Dust Trails Detected by IRAS.- The Dust Tail of Comet Bradfield 1987XXIX.- The Dust Properties of High-Mass Star-Forming Regions.- On the Energetic Component of FU Ori Wind.- Models for Infrared Emission from Galaxies.- Elliptical Galaxies with Dust Lanes.- Observational Cosmology in the Near Infra-Red.- Intracluster Extinction of Light from Galaxies in Virgo.- Axially Symmetric Radiative Transfer Models of Low Mass Protostars.- The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO).- Modulation at 10 µm with Array Detectors?.- Posters.- Near-Infrared Spectra of the Extended Young Objects GL 2591 and NGC 7538/IRS9.- The 3.3 µm Feature,H2, and Ionized Gas in the Orion Bar.- The Extended 3.3 µm Emission Feature in the Orion's Cloud.- Extragalactic Extinction: The Optical Data for the Early-Type Galaxy NGC 2534.- Possible Existence of Dust in Nearby Galaxy Group.