Question

An astronomy student, for her PhD, really needs to estimate the age of a cluster of stars. Which of the following would be part of the process she would follow?

A. plot an H-R diagram for the stars in the cluster
B. count the number of M type stars in the cluster
C. measure the Doppler shift of a number of the stars in the cluster
D. search for planets like Jupiter around the stars in the center of the cluster
E. search for x-rays coming from the center of the cluster

Answer 1

A. plot an H-R diagram for the stars in the cluster.

Step-by-step explanation:

A star cluster can be defined as a constellation of stars, due to gravitational force, which has the same origin.

The astronomy student would have to plot an H-R diagram for the stars in the cluster and determine the age of the cluster by observing the turn-off point. The turn-off is majorly as a result of gradual depletion of the source of energy of the star. Thus, it projects off the constellation.