How is the Milky Way galaxy different from a globular cluster?

Bottom line: Globular clusters are spherical collections of stars, orbiting mostly in the star halo of spiral galaxies. Our Milky Way galaxy has about 150 globulars, which contain some of our galaxy’s oldest stars.

What is the difference between galaxies and star clusters?

Star clusters and galaxies both contain stars bound together by gravity, but while the members of a star cluster are thought to form simultaneously from a collapsing ball of gas, galaxies have richer histories.

What is the relationship between globular cluster and the Milky Way?

So the globular clusters (which contain very old stars) reveal a spherical component of the Milky Way, while the open clusters and other young stars and star-forming regions reveal a disk-shaped component of the Milky Way.

What are the main differences between globular clusters and open clusters in terms of age general location in the galaxy and abundances of heavy elements?

Open clusters are much younger and smaller than globular clusters. They are the recent birthplaces of new stars, which form out of clouds of dust and gas, and contain only hundreds or thousands of stars.

How are globular clusters distributed around galaxies?

Globular clusters are very tightly bound by gravity, giving them their spherical shapes and high concentrations of stars toward their centers. Globular clusters are found in nearly all galaxies. In spiral galaxies like the Milky Way, they are mostly found in the outer, spheroidal part of the galaxy—the galactic halo.

What do globular clusters tell us about our galaxy?

Globular clusters are densely packed collections of ancient stars. Roughly spherical in shape, they contain hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions, of stars. Studying them helps astronomers estimate the age of the universe or figure out where the center of a galaxy lies.

What is a globular cluster astronomy?

globular cluster, a large group of old stars that are closely packed in a symmetrical, somewhat spherical form. Globular clusters, so called because of their roughly spherical appearance, are the largest and most massive star clusters.

Why are globular clusters distributed differently than open clusters?

The ages of the stars in them. Globular clusters are filled with old stars – some are even old cores of galaxies that were cannibalized by our Milky Way, whereas Open clusters are filled with young stars that were born in a nebula and have drifted apart, and. Where they are typically found.

How are globular and open clusters similar quizlet?

open clusters contain up to several thousand stars and are found in the disk of the galaxy. Globular clusters contain thousands of stars, all closely packed together. They are found mainly in the halo of the galaxy.

How many globular clusters are there in the Milky Way?

150
The Milky Way is host to around 150 known globular clusters, and a few more are likely to exist hidden behind the thick disk of our galaxy.

How many globular clusters are in the Milky Way?