<p>The mean mass of the initial mass function is ~0.3 solar masses (<a href="http://arxiv.org/abs/1212.0939">Maschberger 2013</a>).  A GC with 10^5 solar masses will therefore have ~3 x 10^5 stars in it.  Since the most massive stars will already have died in a GC, the mean mass of the present-day mass distribution of the GC will actually be slightly lower, implying a slightly larger number of stars, but this will be a relatively small correction (certainly not more than a factor of 3). </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-13T21:56:11.040Z
Do you really expect a factor as large as up to 3 for the correction of dead stars? I don't think this is much more than a few, perhaps 20%.
Walter
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-12T22:33:33.570Z
Thanks for your answer! In the estimations I was dealing with, it was actually already good enough to say that there are 10^5 stars inside. However, it is of course better to have a reference!
DeltaCentauri
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-09T17:38:11.147Z
2016-05-09T17:38:11.147Z
J. O'Brien Antognini
<p>I was wondering whether there is an easy way to approximate the number of stars in a Globular Cluster (GC) with 10^5 solar masses. </p>

<p>Can one, for instance just assume the GC is made of sun-like stars and therefore has 10^5 stars? 
Or is this too simple? </p>

<p>Thank you for your answers! </p>

<observational-astronomy><globular-clusters>
How many stars are there in a Globular Cluster of 10^5 solar masses?
DeltaCentauri
# How many stars are there in a Globular Cluster of 10^5 solar masses?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-05-09)

I was wondering whether there is an easy way to approximate the number of stars in a Globular Cluster (GC) with 10^5 solar masses.

Can one, for instance just assume the GC is made of sun-like stars and therefore has 10^5 stars?
Or is this too simple?

Thank you for your answers!

**Tags:** observational-astronomy, globular-clusters


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-05-09. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

The mean mass of the initial mass function is ~0.3 solar masses ([Maschberger 2013](http://arxiv.org/abs/1212.0939)). A GC with 10^5 solar masses will therefore have ~3 x 10^5 stars in it. Since the most massive stars will already have died in a GC, the mean mass of the present-day mass distribution of the GC will actually be slightly lower, implying a slightly larger number of stars, but this will be a relatively small correction (certainly not more than a factor of 3).

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Do you really expect a factor as large as up to 3 for the correction of dead stars? I don't think this is much more than a few, perhaps 20%.  
> **username_0**: Thanks for your answer! In the estimations I was dealing with, it was actually already good enough to say that there are 10^5 stars inside. However, it is of course better to have a reference!  

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