Clusters
Contents
Overview
A cluster is a large grouping of stars which are gravitationally bound to each other.
There are two main types of cluster, the open (or galactic cluster as they are sometimes known) and the globular cluster.
Types of cluster
The Pleiades, an open cluster in Taurus
Credit: Davide De Martin and the ESA/ESO/
NASA Photoshop FITS Liberator
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Open (or Galactic) Cluster
Open clusters, sometimes called galactic clusters, are usually found within the plane of our galaxy and may contain hundreds to tens of thousands of stars. They tend to be loosely bound clusters and in astronomical terms they do not last long.
A good example of an open cluster is Messier 45, The Pleiades, in the constellation Taurus.
Globular Cluster
Globular clusters are very large concentrations of stars found around our Milky Way galaxies and around other galaxies. They can contain tens of thousands to millions of stars and are like small galaxies in their own right.
