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texasblitzem
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If a globular cluster is a dense(relatively speaking) collection of stars, why don't the stars attract each other gravitationally? Why don't they all collide to form a mega-star?
texasblitzem said:If a globular cluster is a dense(relatively speaking) collection of stars, why don't the stars attract each other gravitationally? Why don't they all collide to form a mega-star?
Jack21222 said:They do attract each other gravitationally. They don't all crash into one another for the same reason the Earth doesn't crash into the sun.
kjensen said:It is not that I'm a expert on astronomy. But isn't that the same as saying the cluster is rotating?
Drakkith said:The stars in the cluster are moving around each other, all orbiting the barycenter of the cluster.
DrStupid said:That doesn't mean that the cluster is rotating because the orbital angular momentums doesn't have the same direction. Star clusters usually have no total angular momentum. In addition the trajectory of the stars doesn't have to be orbits.
Dotini said:Is it being suggesting that stars in a globular cluster might be oscillating like bees in a hive?
DrStupid said:That doesn't mean that the cluster is rotating because the orbital angular momentums doesn't have the same direction. Star clusters usually have no total angular momentum. In addition the trajectory of the stars doesn't have to be orbits.
Drakkith said:If the trajectory isn't in an orbital then the star will escape the cluster.
DrStupid said:How about a chaotic path due to many close flybys?
SteamKing said:Maybe they're not the right type.
DrStupid said:How about a chaotic path due to many close flybys?
Jack21222 said:You're using a different definition of the word orbit than I'm used to.
DaveC426913 said:I am not sure if orbits are really stable in a cluster where the orbits have a wide distribution of planes.
For any given star, as long as it does not manage to acquire enough velocity to actually escape the cluster (and it's entirely possible some do) it could happily drift around on an highly unstable path.
Drakkith said:Isn't that an orbit still? It's still bound to the cluster.
Jack21222 said:You're using a different definition of the word orbit than I'm used to.
lpetrich said:So a star will make on average about N orbits between sizable deflections.
DrStupid said:My definition for orbit is a periodic path around a point in space. What is yours?
How about a chaotic path due to many close flybys?
Jack21222 said:Are hyperbolic orbits not orbits?
Jack21222 said:If those chaotic paths are closed, are they not orbits?
DrStupid said:It is not periodic.
Stars in a star cluster are not stationary objects, they are constantly moving and orbiting around the center of the cluster. This constant motion prevents them from colliding with each other.
The gravitational pull of each star in the cluster keeps other stars in their orbit, maintaining their relative positions within the cluster. The overall gravitational balance of the cluster helps to keep the stars from drifting too far away from each other.
The shape of a star cluster is determined by the gravitational forces acting on the stars within it. The most common shape for a star cluster is a spherical or elliptical shape, as this is the most stable arrangement for the stars within the cluster.
The brightness of a star is determined by its size and temperature. In a star cluster, there can be a wide range of sizes and temperatures among the stars, resulting in varying levels of brightness. Additionally, some stars may be obscured by dust or gas, making them appear dimmer.
Stars in a star cluster interact with each other through gravitational forces. These forces may cause some stars to move closer together or further apart, but the overall balance of forces keeps the stars in a stable arrangement within the cluster.