The H-R diagram of a cluster shows that the least massive stars lie above the main sequence (that is they are more luminous than main sequence stars).What can we conclude about the cluster?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the least massive stars lie above the main sequence indicates that they are still contracting and heating up, and have not yet settled onto the main sequence. This is a characteristic of young clusters, where the least massive stars are still undergoing contraction and evolution towards the main sequence. Therefore, we can conclude that the cluster is quite young. The other options (A, B, and D) are not supported by the given information and are not necessary to explain the observed feature of the H-R diagram.

The H-R Diagram of a Cluster Shows That the Least