Open Cluster M25

Many stars like our Sun were formed in open clusters. The above pictured open cluster, M25 , contains thousands of stars and is about two thousand light years distant . The stars in this cluster all formed together about 90 million years ago. The bright young stars in M25 appear blue. Open clusters , also called galactic clusters, contain fewer and younger stars than globular clusters . Also unlike globular clusters , open clusters are generally confined to the plane of our Galaxy . M25 is visible with binoculars towards the constellation of the Archer ( Sagittarius ).