Where are most stars aligned on the H-R diagram for a newly formed star cluster?
Answer
Along the main sequence
A star cluster that has formed recently means that nearly all its constituent stars are still in the longest, most stable phase of their existence: the main sequence. During this phase, stars are defined by the active fusion of hydrogen occurring steadily in their cores. On the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, this active hydrogen-burning phase manifests as a clear alignment of stars along the main sequence band. Only as the cluster ages do the most massive stars begin moving off this sequence, signaling that the cluster is beginning to mature.
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