star cluster

A star cluster is a group of stars that are close together in space and bound by gravity. They form from the same giant cloud of gas and dust, which collapses to create many stars simultaneously. There are two main types: open clusters, which are loosely arranged and often contain young stars, and globular clusters, which are densely packed and usually contain older stars. Studying star clusters helps astronomers understand how stars form and evolve, as the stars in a cluster share similar ages and compositions, offering a natural laboratory for learning about stellar life cycles.