Globular Clusters

A globular cluster is a big ball of stars in space. These clusters can hold hundreds of thousands of stars. The stars are packed very close together and are very old. Globular clusters are found around galaxies like our Milky Way.

Ancient Star Balls

The stars in globular clusters are some of the oldest in the universe. Many are more than 10 billion years old. They were born when the galaxy was still young. The cluster holds together because of gravity. From far away, a globular cluster looks like a bright fuzzy ball.

Where to Find Them

Our Milky Way has about 150 known globular clusters. They orbit around the center of the galaxy. A famous one is called Omega Centauri. It has about 10 million stars. You can see it with a small telescope from the Southern Hemisphere.

Fun Facts

• The closest globular cluster to Earth is called M4.
• Some globular clusters are so dense that stars sometimes bump into each other.
• They can be 100 light-years wide.

Did You Know?

If you lived on a planet inside a globular cluster, the night sky would have thousands of stars as bright as the full moon.