Stars and the Sun Life and death of stars
Geometry and astronomy: star clusters
Emilio J. Alfaro Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
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About the lecture
Shapes in nature have always been regarded as a trace or signature of their origin and/or function. According to Aristotelian physics, only perfect solids could populate the supralunar spheres. Shape has also been used to distinguish organic from inorganic matter, although some patterns are widely shared by both worlds. Geometry has played a fundamental role in the development of the experimental sciences, from Euclid and his Elements, through Cartesian geometry and graph theory, to fractal geometry. In this talk we will discuss how the geometry of star clusters can tell us how these stellar systems form and evolve, and how, using models and observations, quantifying the geometric properties of natural objects helps us better understand the physical mechanisms that shape nature.
Text of the official description published by IAA-CSIC on YouTube.
