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star cluster

Also known as star clusters, stellar cluster

large group of stars

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A star cluster is a large group of stars that are held together by gravity and move through space as a unit. Studying star clusters helps astronomers understand how stars form and evolve, and provides clues about the age and history of galaxies.

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Commons category: Star clusters
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Messier 44, a cluster in the constellation of Cancer

A star cluster is a group of stars, that share an origin, formed at roughly the same time and held together by self-gravitation. Two main types of star clusters can be distinguished: globular clusters, tight groups of ten thousand to millions of old stars which are gravitationally bound; and open clusters, less tight groups of stars, generally containing fewer than a few hundred members.