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Star Clusters, as the name implies, are clusters of stars that are gravitationally bounded. They are divided into two categories: Globular Clusters and Open Clusters.

Globular Clusters contain usually very old, tightly grouped stars, with numbers reaching the millions, spanned in a spherical region of 10 to 30 light years across. They usually contain Population II stars, which are relatively poor in metal content. Our galaxy has approximately 1500 Globular Clusters which are distributed spherically in the galactic halo.

Open Clusters, on the other hand, are made up of very young stars, up to a few hundred members, distributed within regions of about 30 light years across. Since they are not tightly bounded gravitationally, in time, they are disrupted by gravity of other clusters or giant molecular clouds.


October 25, 2008

M45

M38 & NGC1907

M35 & NGC2158

Merope and Electra

Please calibrate your monitor for accurate color renderinghttp://www.photofriday.com/calibrate.phpshapeimage_2_link_0

NGC869 & NGC884

M46, NGC2438 & PK231+41

The “37” cluster

M3

M5

M13

NGC5139 - Omega Centauri