Maximum count for mutually bound stars

[Loren Booda]

Especially in the early universe, what do you think would be the maximum number of stars bound in a system under mutual attraction?

 

[SpaceTiger]

Especially in the early universe, what do you think would be the maximum number of stars bound in a system under mutual attraction?

I don't see any reason for a theoretical limit to this, though the growth of structure happens bottom-up, so the average size of bound star systems should increase with time. It also begs the question of whether you're allowing dark matter to assist in the binding. Galaxies are bound systems of stars, but it's not only the stars that do the binding. Globular clusters, on the other hand, do not have a detectable amount of dark matter, so they are probably the largest systems bound primarily by stars.

 

[Chronos]

And they are composed of very old stars, and prefer the suburbs. I see a pattern emerging.