Galaxies & Star formation with 100.000 Star Clusters
by
Aula Magna M1
Facultad de Ciencias Físicas
The PHANGS-HST and JWST Treasury Programs have produced the most extensive inventories to date of optically visible and dust-obscured star clusters across nearby galaxies.
A coherent picture is emerging of the earliest phases of star formation, built from complementary studies that consistently point to short dust-clearing timescales (~3 Myr), in agreement with earlier optical studies. Together, these results underscore the central role of early, pre-supernova feedback in regulating the star formation cycle.
Drawing on the statistical power of tens of thousands of clusters spanning dozens of galaxies, I will synthesize what PHANGS and related programs have revealed about cluster evolution, feedback, and the use of clusters as “clocks” for timing key phases of star formation. Looking ahead, I will highlight work on the Habitable Worlds Observatory, NASA’s next flagship astrophysics mission after Roman, which will operate as a true “Super-Hubble,” with UV–optical capabilities to transform our understanding of star formation and fields across astrophysics.