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Concept information

stellar astronomy > star cluster > globular cluster

Preferred term

globular cluster  

Definition

  • A globular cluster is a spherically symmetric collection of old stars that share a common origin. Globular clusters contain from tens of thousands to millions of stars and measure from 100 to 300 light-years across. Some have been shown, in all likelihood, to contain middleweight black holes in their cores. Unlike open clusters and stellar associations, which are held together only weakly by gravity and contain Population I objects, globular clusters are tightly gravitationally bound collections of Population II stars. They inhabit the galactic halo and galactic bulge, and show significant concentration toward the galactic center. (Encyclopedia of Science, by David Darling, https://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/G/globclust.html)

Broader concept

Entry terms

  • extragalactic globular cluster

In other languages

URI

http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/MDL-LCCMF51V-9

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