star cluster Synonym

star grouping - star system - star assembly - stellar cluster - stellar grouping - stellar system - stellar assembly

A star cluster is a gravitationally bound group of stars that formed from the same molecular cloud and are located relatively close to each other in space. These stars often share similar ages and chemical compositions, making star clusters important laboratories for studying stellar evolution and the structure of galaxies. There are two main types: open clusters, which are loose groups of young stars typically found in galactic disks, and globular clusters, which are dense, spherical collections of very old stars that orbit in the halos of galaxies. Observations of star clusters help astronomers refine models of stellar lifecycles and galactic dynamics.