What is the generally observed age range for stars within an open cluster by cosmic standards?
Answer
Tens to hundreds of millions of years old
The age uniformity within an open cluster is one of its defining traits, allowing astronomers to gauge its evolutionary status quickly. By cosmic standards, these clusters are considered quite young. Observations typically place their ages within the range spanning tens of millions up to hundreds of millions of years. This relative youth is confirmed by the presence of massive, hot stars which have short lives, and it is consistent with the time it takes for tidal forces to begin disrupting these loosely bound systems. This age range distinguishes them clearly from globular clusters, which often date back billions of years.
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