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Globular Cluster

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Definition

A globular cluster is a dense spherical collection of 105–106 stars orbiting a galaxy. Their origin is poorly understood. About 160 globular clusters are known in the Milky Way, while the giant elliptical galaxy M87 may have up to 10,000. In the case of the Milky Way, they are composed of old (∼12 Gyr) and thus low-mass stars, with low abundances of elements heavier than He, similar to those of field halo stars. Their high internal density (up to 1,000 stars per pc3 in the cluster core) favors dynamical interactions between stars and makes the survival of any planetary system problematic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris, 98bis Bd Arago, 75014, Paris, France

    Nikos Prantzos

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  1. Nikos Prantzos
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Correspondence to Nikos Prantzos .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Prantzos, N. (2014). Globular Cluster. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_651-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_651-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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