Abstract
An explanation is offered for the mysterious eclipses of the central star of the planetary nebula NGC 2346. For more than 80 years until November 1981, the star did not vary in brightness, but since that time large-amplitude eclipse events have been observed. It is proposed that this unique phenomenon is caused by dust grain condensation in a clumpy shell ejected by the hot subdwarf in the nucleus. Metals in the ejected matter rapidly condense when it reaches a distance of about 3400 solar radii and form an optically thick dust cloud which occults the central star. Six characteristics of the observations are explained by the model and four predictions are offered by which the model may be tested. It is suggested that the nucleus of NGC 2346 has just started its final helium flash.
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