Final answer:
Population II stars in globular clusters are very old, typically aged between 11 to 13 billion years. These stars are part of the early star populations in the Galaxy, characterized by fewer heavy elements and contrasting orbital patterns compared to younger Population I stars.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Population II stars found in globular clusters are characterized by their notable age. Unlike the Population I stars, which exhibit a broad range of ages, Population II stars are considerably older. They were formed very early in the history of the Galaxy, with typical ages ranging from 11 to 13 billion years.
These stars are primarily found in the halo of the Galaxy and are observed to follow elliptical orbits that can carry them far outside the galactic disk. Given their age, Population II stars provide crucial insights into the early stages of the Galaxy's formation and are some of the oldest celestial objects known.
Globular clusters themselves are spherically-shaped collections of hundreds of thousands of stars that are amongst the oldest structures in our Galaxy, providing a snapshot of the early Universe.
Interestingly, the composition of these stars is distinguished by having fewer heavy elements, which indicates that they were formed before the heavier elements became commonplace in the cosmos.
The fact that these stars are found within globular clusters signals that they are remnants from the time when the Galaxy was still young and primarily spherical in shape.