Star Clusters
Did You Know?
Globular clusters can contain millions of stars!
What Are Star Clusters?
Star clusters are groups of stars that formed together from the same molecular cloud. They're held together by gravity and provide valuable insights into stellar evolution. There are two main types: open clusters, which are loose groups of young stars, and globular clusters, which are dense, spherical collections of old stars. Studying clusters helps astronomers understand how stars form and evolve.
Open Clusters
Open clusters contain dozens to thousands of relatively young stars, typically less than a few hundred million years old. They're found in the spiral arms of galaxies and are loosely bound by gravity. Famous examples include the Pleiades (Seven Sisters) and the Hyades. Over time, open clusters gradually disperse as stars drift apart due to gravitational interactions.
Globular Clusters
Globular clusters are spherical collections of hundreds of thousands to millions of old stars, tightly bound by gravity. They orbit galaxies in a halo around the galactic center. Globular clusters are among the oldest objects in the universe, with ages of 10-13 billion years. They provide crucial information about the early universe and galaxy formation.
Amazing Facts
The Milky Way has about 150 globular clusters
This fact reveals the incredible scale and wonder of our universe.
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Some globular clusters are 13 billion years old
This fact reveals the incredible scale and wonder of our universe.
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The Pleiades contains about 1,000 stars
This fact reveals the incredible scale and wonder of our universe.
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Globular clusters can be 100 light-years across
This fact reveals the incredible scale and wonder of our universe.
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