The main sequence turnoff of a cluster of stars is a good indicator of which of the following properties of the cluster?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The main sequence turnoff point is the point on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram where stars are evolving away from the main sequence and towards becoming red giants. The location of the turnoff point is determined by the mass of the stars in the cluster, which in turn is determined by the age of the cluster. Therefore, the main sequence turnoff point can be used to estimate the age of the cluster.

The Main Sequence Turnoff of a Cluster of Stars Is