Star Clusters

Messier 88, a spiral galaxy in the Virgo Cluster, is moving through the cluster, leading to the potential loss of gas necessary for star formation. It has a supermassive black hole and spiral arms with young star clusters and dust clouds. The process over the next few hundred million years will reshape the galaxy.

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured new images showing how massive star clusters can reshape galaxies. The images reveal red and orange streaks against a dark blue section of space. This discovery provides insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies.

The Universe's biggest black holes are formed through repeated smashups inside crowded star clusters, creating a distinct class of rapidly spinning black holes. Scientists analyzing gravitational-wave signals found evidence of this process. These black holes are likely 'cosmic recyclers' formed through violent mergers.

Astronomers have discovered dozens of hidden star streams in the Milky Way's outskirts, revealing remnants of dwarf galaxies and star clusters. These streams highlight gravitational interactions between stars, dark matter, and the galaxy itself.