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Star Clusters

A grouping of the same types of astronomical objects. For example, stars in the Milky Way can group together into open clusters or globular clusters. Galaxies also group together into cluster of galaxies, and the clusters of galaxies group together into superclusters of galaxies.

Resources

Aquarius

Aquarius October 4, 2011
Cancer, the Crab

Cancer, the Crab October 4, 2011

Radio Programs

Auriga Clusters Clustering around the charioteer December 15, 2019

Adopted Cluster The Milky Way adopts a star cluster November 30, 2019

Spicy Clusters Making sausage in the Milky Way November 29, 2019

Messy Births The messy process of making planets October 24, 2019

Messier 7 A far but bright star cluster August 24, 2019

Moon and Aldebaran Escaping from the face of the bull August 23, 2019

Visiting a Cluster Paying a call on a star cluster August 2, 2019

Messier 11 Fast living for stellar siblings July 29, 2019

The Coathanger Hanging up a star cluster June 22, 2019

Messier 10 Rejuvenation for some old stars June 19, 2019

Messier 3 A cluster with a great view April 29, 2019

Arcturus Stream Streaming through the galaxy April 9, 2019

Denebola The lion’s tail gets away from home March 30, 2019

Double Cluster Sparkling stellar jewels March 3, 2019

Messier 37 Taking the age of a star cluster December 16, 2018

Pleiades Twin A “twin” of the Seven Sisters November 30, 2018

NGC 6791 A galactic survivor November 19, 2018

Timing a Black Hole Delicate timing for a dead star October 26, 2018

Messier 30 An interloper from another galaxy October 10, 2018

Moon and Antares Impressive groups of stars September 15, 2018

NGC 6397 Taking the measure of a star cluster August 12, 2018

Palomar 5 Tracing the bulk of the Milky Way July 11, 2018

Building Big Black Holes Building bigger black holes June 26, 2018

IC 4665 A cluster that kept getting discovered June 8, 2018

More Hercules Some of the galaxy’s oldest residents May 15, 2018

Hercules The strongman climbs high May 14, 2018

Close Clusters Two star clusters that stick together May 12, 2018

Coma Star Cluster Counting up a stellar family May 10, 2018

NGC 2467 Three clusters for the price of one April 10, 2018

Hyades Planets Looking into a stellar laboratory April 5, 2018

The Hyades The bull’s disintegrating face April 4, 2018

Messier 48 A cluster that was discovered twice February 11, 2018

Pleiades The odds of making a star cluster November 23, 2017

Rogue Clusters “Cities of stars” between galaxies November 17, 2017

New Cluster Hiding behind a bright star September 18, 2017

M71 A star cluster faces a rough ride August 28, 2017

Wild Duck Cluster Measuring the age of some wild ducks August 27, 2017

Future Resident A future resident of the Milky Way August 11, 2017

Messier 5 Some of the oldest stars in the galaxy June 11, 2017

Middleweight Black Hole Evidence of a middleweight black hole April 27, 2017

NGC 1502 A string of jewels for the giraffe January 26, 2017

Runaway Giant A giant star that’s running away from home October 19, 2016

Moving Groups Moving through the galaxy in groups October 11, 2016

Old Clusters Scanning for the distant past September 30, 2016

Milky Way Halo Extending our home galaxy September 29, 2016

Messier 39 Taking a wider view of a star cluster September 4, 2016

Shredded Cluster Shredding an ancient star cluster August 17, 2016

Milky Way Hiding behind a cosmic haze July 29, 2016

Scorpius Clusters Families of stars in the scorpion July 24, 2016

Heaviest Star A star with a weight problem July 6, 2016

Renegade Stars Two renegades in the Big Dipper June 26, 2016

Leaving the Nest A bright star leaves its birthplace April 30, 2016

Building a Civilization Hopping from star to star April 6, 2016

M13 Sending a long-distance message April 5, 2016

Zeta Herculis Stellar siblings spread out April 4, 2016

Making Stars Ways to make stellar companions March 14, 2016

IC 1396 A busy stellar nursery January 28, 2016

Winter Milky Way Adding to the winter Milky Way January 27, 2016

Caroline’s Cluster A surprising star cluster January 14, 2016

Featured Images

Messier 2

Spicy Cluster November 29, 2019
NGC 604 in the Triangulum Galaxy

Star Factory November 17, 2019
Messier 7

Distant Sparklers August 24, 2019
Messier 11

A Big Cluster July 29, 2019
Messier 10

Crowded Cluster June 19, 2019
HST view of M3

Stars Everywhere April 29, 2019
star cluster HP 1, near the center of the Milky Way

Galactic Pioneers March 22, 2019
Double Cluster

Seeing Double March 3, 2019
Hubble view of NGC 6791

Old Stars November 19, 2018
Hubble Space Telescope view of NGC 6624

Home to a Black Hole? October 26, 2018
Hubble Space Telescope view of Messier 30

Bright Interloper October 10, 2018
Hubble view of NGC 6397, a globular star cluster

Stellar Lab August 12, 2018
Melotte 111 star cluster from international space station

Counting Stars May 10, 2018
Hubble view of NGC 2467

Starry Lineup April 10, 2018
messier 48

Double Discovery February 11, 2018
Messier 11, the Wild Duck Cluster

Wild Duck August 27, 2017
HST view of 47 Tucanae

Star Globe May 9, 2017
Ground-based view of M39 star cluster

Sparkling Cluster September 4, 2016
R136, a massive star cluster in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Biggest of the Big July 6, 2016
A star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Busy Nursery June 18, 2016
The Pleiades star cluster

Seven Sisters November 9, 2015
Two views of Messier 22

Stellar Sparkler August 24, 2015
Hubble Space Telescope view of the core of M13, a globular cluster in Hercules

Old Sparklers May 12, 2015
Hubble Space Telescope image of a young star cluster

Anniversary Portrait April 23, 2015
M3, a globular star cluster

Reborn Stars March 17, 2015
Elephant Trunk Nebulan

Elephant's Trunk October 12, 2014
Hubble image of star cluster M15

Old Family September 11, 2014
Infrared view of Serpens South star cluster and nebula

Unmasking Hidden Stars June 24, 2014
M44, the Beehive Cluster

Vanishing Beehive June 2, 2014
NGC 3590

Young and Future Stars May 22, 2014
Close-up of the core of M31

M31 Blues January 29, 2013
Hubble Space Telescope view of globular cluster M2

Stars Galore January 6, 2013
Omega Centauri, the possible core of a defunct galaxy

Invader! March 23, 2012
Two globular clusters; a previously known one at right, and a new one in circle

Star City October 19, 2011
The star cluster M7

Aging Family August 28, 2011
A "family" of young stars shows off in this combined infrared and X-ray view of

Big Family May 14, 2010
Hercules, the strongman, climbs into good view on May evenings

Not-So-Mighty Hercules May 3, 2010

Youthful Oldies March 4, 2010