How old is the older Open Cluster example, Messier 67 (M67)?
Answer
3.5 to 5 billion years
Messier 67 (M67) is specifically cited as an example of an older Open Cluster, clocking in at an age estimated between 3.5 to 5 billion years. While this age makes M67 ancient for an OC, it still places it significantly younger than the typical Globular Cluster population, which is around 12 to 13 billion years old. M67 serves as a rare bridge object, having survived far longer than the typical lifespan of OCs, which often disperse within a few hundred million years due to external gravitational stripping in the galactic disk.
Related Questions
Which cluster type is considered the absolute oldest inhabitant of our galaxy?What is the estimated age range for most Milky Way Globular Clusters?Where are Open Clusters generally found within a spiral galaxy structure?What chemical signature indicates the primordial composition of Globular Cluster stars?How old is the older Open Cluster example, Messier 67 (M67)?What feature maintains the nearly spherical structure of Globular Clusters over cosmic time?Where are Globular Clusters typically found relative to the galactic disk?What epoch did JWST identify stellar collections forming, pushing the age limit back?What functional role do the oldest star clusters, primarily globular ones, serve for astronomers?Globular clusters are thought to have formed during what kind of early universe event?