What is the approximate upper age limit generally attributed to open clusters?
Answer
About a billion years old
Open clusters are overwhelmingly characterized by their youth when compared to other stellar groupings. Astronomers estimate their ages to typically range from just a few million years up to approximately one billion years old. This short timescale reflects their nature as transient structures that are rapidly dispersed by galactic forces. This youth is what allows them to retain their massive, hot, blue stars, which is a key observational characteristic differentiating them from older populations.
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