1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910300412503321

Autore

Stevenson David

Titolo

The Complex Lives of Star Clusters / / by David Stevenson

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2015

ISBN

3-319-14234-8

Edizione

[1st ed. 2015.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (351 p.)

Collana

Astronomers' Universe, , 1614-659X

Disciplina

523.8022

Soggetti

Astronomy

Astrophysics

Popular Science in Astronomy

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Initial Observations -- Formation of Stars and Clusters -- Globular Clusters as a Unique Case? -- The Death of Open Clusters -- The Evolution of Globular Clusters -- Complex Lives -- Planets in Clusters -- Milkomeda as a Last Hurrah for Star Formation in our Galaxy? -- Glossary -- Index.

Sommario/riassunto

As with the author’s recent books Extreme Explosions and Under a Crimson Sun, the complex topic of star clusters is broken down and made accessible with clear links to other areas of astronomy in a language which the non-specialist can easily read and enjoy. The full range of a star cluster's lifespan is depicted, as both globular and open clusters are tracked from birth to eventual death. Why is it some are dense conglomerates of stars while others are looser associations? Are the young, brilliant clusters seen in neighboring galaxies such as the Large Magellanic Cloud, M33 or M82 analogous to the ancient globulars seen in the Milky Way? How will these clusters change as their stars wane and die? More interestingly, how does living in a dense star cluster affect the fates of the stars and any attendant planets that accompany them?   Star clusters form many of the most dazzling objects in the astronomers’ catalogs. Many amateur astronomers are interested in exploring how these objects are created and what it would



be like to live among these objects. From the historical views of how star clusters came about to the most recent assumptions about how stars within these clusters evolve, different strands of science, from observation to theory, are woven together into a compelling investigation specifically targeted at amateur astronomers.