In astronomy, open clusters are groups of stars that formed from the same giant molecular cloud and are loosely bound by gravity. These clusters typically contain a few dozen to a few thousand stars and are found mostly in the disk of the galaxy. Because all the stars in an open cluster are roughly the same age and distance from Earth, they are valuable for studying stellar evolution. Open clusters often contain young, hot stars and can be seen with binoculars or small telescopes—famous examples include the Pleiades (pictured above) and Hyades in the constellation Taurus. Over time, gravitational interactions with other stars and gas clouds can cause open clusters to disperse into the galaxy.

I took the images below of open star clusters. Click on any of the images below for a better view and additional information.