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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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Article
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.