Galactic Globular Clusters

Globular clusters are tightly bound systems of stars. They are the oldest coherent structures in the Milky Way. Studies of their stellar populations, chemical properties, and evolution provide important insight into the early evolution of the Galaxy.

The large number of individual stars confined within the small volume of a globular cluster requires observations at high angular resolution to distinguish individual objects. The Chandra X-ray Observatory is the only high-energy satellite capable of detailed studies of globular clusters. The X-ray astronomy group at MSFC has studied several Galactic globular clusters including the Messier objects M28 and M71.