|
|
The Question
(Submitted February 02, 1998)
What are star clusters made of?
What forms a star cluster?
The Answer
Star clusters are groups of stars which are close together in space, rather
than just accidentally lined up one behind the other. There are several
different kinds. Among the most spectacular are huge balls of many
thousands of stars, called globular clusters, which formed early in the
history of galaxies, when they were rich in star-forming gas clouds. Other
much smaller clusters, called open clusters, are visible where groups of
stars have formed nearby more recently and are now drifting apart.
Paul Butterworth
for the Ask a High-Energy Astronomer team
|
