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Embedded and open star clusters: basic questions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 January 2010

Hans Zinnecker
Hans Zinnecker*
Affiliation:
Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam, An der Sternwarte 16, D-14482 Potsdam, Germany email: hzinnecker@aip.de
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Abstract

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This paper provides an introduction to IAU Symposium 266 on star clusters as basic building blocks in space and time. We define clusters as bound systems and discriminate them from general stellar clusterings or groups and unbound associations. We give a few examples of young, embedded, compact clusters which may evolve into looser, open clusters after dynamical relaxation due to mass loss and secular relaxation processes. We ask how and where star clusters form (in normal and interacting galaxies) and provide statistics of open clusters in terms of cluster masses and ages in the solar neighborhood (where observational data are most complete). Finally, we list a number of basic questions for current and future star cluster research and discuss the prospects for cluster studies with the next generation infrared and submillimeter telescopes (Herschel; JWST, E–ELT; ALMA, NOEMA).

Keywords

galaxies: star clustersstars: formationHii regionsinfrared: starsX-rays: stars
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 5 , Symposium S266: Star clusters: basic galactic building blocks throughout time and space , August 2009 , pp. 17 - 23
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2010

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