Verify the astrophysical nature of the 2023 candidate cs1 feature

Ascertain whether the low–signal-to-noise feature at separation 19.40 arcseconds and position angle 318.0 degrees, identified within the cs1 search wedge in the September 2023 HST/STIS data, is an astrophysical source consistent with the predicted location of dust from the Fomalhaut cs1 collision rather than a residual speckle artifact.

Background

To search for continued outward motion of the cs1 dust cloud, the authors defined a search wedge based on the 2012–2013 acceleration and predicted a ~50 au radial displacement by 2023 due to radiation pressure.

A faint candidate feature persists across multiple independent data-reduction methods at the expected position (19.40" at PA 318.0°) but at low SNR (~2–3), comparable to implanted test sources amid speckle noise.

Given limited sensitivity and belt nebulosity, the authors cannot establish whether this candidate is real, motivating follow-up observations to confirm or refute its astrophysical nature.