Star clusters are groups of stars that are gravitationally bound and often formed from the same molecular cloud. There are two main types: open clusters, which contain young stars and are loosely bound, and globular clusters, which are older and contain hundreds of thousands to millions of stars in a dense, spherical arrangement. To locate star clusters, observers can use binoculars or telescopes and reference astronomical charts or smartphone apps that indicate their positions in the sky. Open clusters are often found in the plane of the Milky Way, while globular clusters are distributed around the galaxy’s halo. Observing star clusters offers insights into stellar evolution, dynamics, and the formation history of galaxies.
Come for the Scenery, Stay for the Stars