What is the expected orbital behavior of a globular cluster compared to an open cluster?
Answer
Varied and eccentric paths that move above and below the disk
Unlike open clusters, which maintain quasi-circular orbits within the flat Galactic disk, globular clusters travel through the Galactic halo. This halo is a vast, spherical region encompassing the entire galaxy. As a result, globular clusters follow highly varied and eccentric paths that often take them far above and below the plane of the Galactic disk, reflecting their ancient origin and their distribution throughout the galaxy.
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