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What are Star Clusters?

Star clusters are groups of physically similar stars bound to one another by gravitational attraction. Clusters are thought to originate from large cosmic gas and dust clouds.

Most star clusters have short lives as stellar swarms. As they drift along, they lose some of their members, due to changes in the stars velocities as they pass close to each other, to tidal forces, and to encounters with interstellar clouds in their way. After several hundred million years, an average star cluster has spread most of its member stars along its path. The escaped individual stars continue to move on their own.

"Cold is the night, when the stars shine bright." Winter is a great time to go star gazing. Pick a clear night and check out the beautiful night sky.