What single variable explains the vast differences observed in stellar state within a star cluster?
Answer
Mass
Star clusters are valuable because they provide a nearly controlled experiment where all stars share the same age and initial chemical composition. This means that when astronomers observe significant variations among the stars in brightness, temperature, and evolutionary phase, these differences must logically stem from the one differing initial condition: the mass of the individual star. More massive stars evolve rapidly and burn through their fuel quickly, leading to different current states (like being blue and hot) compared to lower-mass stars, which evolve much slower. This direct correlation between initial mass and current evolutionary state is the primary reason clusters are used to test stellar life cycles.
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