What is a Globular Cluster? — Reading Comprehension

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered about the incredible things out there? Beyond our own solar system, there are countless wonders, and one of the most fascinating is a globular cluster. Imagine a giant, sparkling ball made of hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of stars! That's essentially what a globular cluster is.

These amazing structures are very old, often as old as the galaxy they belong to. For example, our own Milky Way galaxy has about 150 known globular clusters! They are usually found in the outer regions, or halo, of a galaxy, rather than in the flat, spinning disk where our Sun is located. Globular clusters are extremely dense, meaning the stars inside them are packed very closely together. If you lived on a planet in a globular cluster, the night sky would be filled with many more bright stars than what we see from Earth!

So, what holds all these stars together in such a tight ball? The answer is gravity. Gravity is a natural force that pulls objects toward each other. The more mass an object has, the stronger its gravitational pull. In a globular cluster, the combined gravity of all the millions of stars is incredibly strong. This powerful gravitational force keeps the cluster in its spherical shape and prevents the stars from drifting away into space. It's like a cosmic tug-of-war where gravity wins, keeping everything neatly bundled up.

Globular clusters are an important part of understanding the universe. Scientists study them to learn more about how galaxies form and evolve over billions of years. Because these clusters are so old, they give us clues about the early universe. Each star within a globular cluster is constantly moving, but gravity ensures they all stay bound together, swirling and orbiting within their communal home. These stellar cities are truly incredible examples of gravity's powerful role in the cosmos.

Interesting Fact: Some globular clusters contain a type of star called a "blue straggler" that appears younger than its neighbors, baffling astronomers!

What is a globular cluster?

Where are globular clusters usually found in a galaxy?

What force holds a globular cluster together?

Why are globular clusters important for scientists?

The Milky Way galaxy has only a few globular clusters. True or False?

If you lived in a globular cluster, what would the night sky look like?

Why are globular clusters described as 'dense'?

Which term describes the outer region of a galaxy where globular clusters are found?

Which statement best describes the role of gravity in a globular cluster?

What does the passage mean by "cosmic tug-of-war"?