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Star clusters are classified
into two main categories: Globular Clusters and Open Clusters.
One of the most ancient
types of celestial bodies, globular clusters could be described as the fossil remnants of galactic
creation. A recent study of variable stars in 18 galaxies using the
Hubble Space Telescope, suggests
that the universe is about 12 billion years old. Globular clusters are nearly as
old. They orbit the halo or central region of galaxies and are comprised of
hundreds of thousands or millions of stars gravitationally bound to one another.
Open clusters are
distinguished from globular clusters by several notable characteristics. Open
clusters, also known as galactic clusters, are found along the plane of our
galaxy. This area also contains all of the stars, nebulae and planets within the
disc of our home the Milky Way galaxy. The members of an open cluster are
generally very young. It is as if open cluster stars are infants compared
to the senior citizens of a globular cluster. Lastly, open cluster stars have a
common origin in that they formed from the same nebula meaning that, in a sense,
they are litter mates.
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M45 |
Double Cluster |
(Please click on
thumbnails to see more information)
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