Difference Between Star System and Star Cluster

-- Vigo | April 30, 2022

Question:

Is there any consensus on where the line between star system and star cluster is? How many stars can a star system have before its considered a cluster? (Is a globular cluster a star system?)

-- Vigo

Answer:

In general, I believe that the term “star cluster” refers to gravitationally-bound associations of thousands of stars, while the term “star system” refers to a smaller group of gravitationally-bound stars. I am not aware of a strict boundary for the definition of either term, though. Globular cluster, though, would most definitely be called a star cluster.

-- Jeff Mangum

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