What is the difference between open clusters and globular clusters?

1 Answer

Three main differences: shape, star age, and location

Explanation:

There are at least 3 main differences:

  1. The shape (which we get from the names),
  2. The ages of the stars in them. Globular clusters are filled with old stars - some are even old cores of galaxies that were cannibalized by our Milky Way, whereas Open clusters are filled with young stars that were born in a nebula and have drifted apart, and
  3. Where they are typically found. Globular clusters orbit at the outer reaches of our Milky Way galaxy and orbit around the galactic centre. Open clusters are in the spiral arms of the Milky Way.

www.lcsd.gov.hk

http://www.spaceanswers.com/deep-space/what-is-the-difference-between-a-globular-cluster-and-an-open-cluster/

https://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/organizers/graphics/g-o_star_cluster_venn.gif