Do Most Stars Form in Clusters? A New Look at Our Galaxy’s Star Birthplaces

Quintana and collaborators used new Gaia data to show that most stars in the Milky Way likely form in compact clusters. Their calculations suggest that at least half, and probably over 80%, of stars are born this way, much higher than past estimates. This supports the clustered star formation model, though many clusters dissolve quickly, leaving stars spread across the Galaxy.