Below are lists of the most massive known star clusters in solar masses () and sorted in descending order. Methods for mass estimation
Globular cluster
Globular cluster masses can be determined by observing the proper motion of nearby stars influenced by the cluster or by estimating the cluster's relaxation time.
Open clusters
The masses of open star clusters can be estimated by measuring the falloff of radial and tangential velocities of surrounding stars at a particular distance.
List
Globular clusters
+ List of most massive globular clusters Cluster name Mass ();(Sun = ) Galaxy Notes[BHK2005] 326 Condor Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4571 5 NGC 4571[DBT2008] NGC 4449 398 NGC 4449[BHK2005] 311 Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 53 Condor Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 1102 Pinwheel Galaxy[BHK2005] 347 Condor Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4713 2 NGC 4713[BHK2005] 76 Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 14 Condor Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 3 Pinwheel Galaxy[BHK2005] 315 Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 320 Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 118 Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 338 Condor GalaxyB037-V327 Andromeda Galaxy[BHK2005] 331 Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 352 Condor GalaxyMayall II ≳Andromeda Galaxy[BHK2005] 2 Condor GalaxyMarkarian 71 NGC 2366[DBT2008] NGC 5457 691 Pinwheel GalaxyB082-G144 Andromeda GalaxyB023-G078Andromeda GalaxyPotentially contains an intermediate-mass black hole of .B127-G185 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4571 4 NGC 4571[BHK2005] 64 Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 206 Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 227 Condor Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 658 Pinwheel Galaxy[DBT2008] DDO 165 16 DDO 165[DBT2008] NGC 5457 1033 Pinwheel Galaxy[BHK2005] 210 Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 303 Condor GalaxyB151-G205 Andromeda GalaxyG001-MII Andromeda GalaxyB225-G280 Andromeda Galaxyω CentauriMilky WayMost massive star cluster in the Milky Way.[DBT2008] NGC 5457 643 Pinwheel Galaxy[BHK2005] 257Condor Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 1149 Pinwheel GalaxyB129 Andromeda GalaxyB088-G150 Andromeda GalaxyB163-G217 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4713 11 NGC 4713[DBT2008] NGC 2552 17 NGC 2552[BHK2005] 374Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 248Condor GalaxyB042-G104 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 247 Pinwheel GalaxyB338-G076 Andromeda Galaxy[BHK2005] 264Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 229Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 258Condor Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4713 100 NGC 4713B158-G213 Andromeda Galaxy[BHK2005] 241Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 301Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 282Condor GalaxyB103-G165 Andromeda Galaxy[BHK2005] 369 Condor GalaxyB193-G244 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4713 63 NGC 4713[BHK2005] 354 Condor GalaxyB063-G124 Andromeda GalaxyB019-G072 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4485 49 NGC 4485B171-G222 Andromeda GalaxyB039-G101 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 47 Pinwheel GalaxyHK NGC 2403 221 NGC 2403[BHK2005] 304 Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 93 Condor Galaxy[BHK2005] 176 Condor GalaxyB306-G029 Andromeda Galaxy[BHK2005] 224 Condor GalaxyB218-G272 Andromeda GalaxyB124-NB10 Andromeda GalaxyMITA140 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4485 453 NGC 4485[DBT2008] NGC 5457 1029 Pinwheel GalaxyB091D-D058 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 1120 Pinwheel GalaxyB020-G073 Andromeda GalaxyB116-G178 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4713 50 NGC 4713[DBT2008] NGC 4713 9 NGC 4713 [DBT2008] NGC 4485 101 NGC 4485B182-G233 Andromeda GalaxyMessier 54Milky Way[DBT2008] NGC 5457 120 Pinwheel Galaxy[BHK2005] 155 Condor GalaxyB094-G156 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4713 27 NGC 4713B174-G226 Andromeda GalaxyB147-G199 Andromeda GalaxyB055-G116 Andromeda GalaxyB006-G058 Andromeda Galaxy[BHK2005] 319 Condor GalaxyB178-G229 Andromeda GalaxyB206-G257 Andromeda GalaxyB068-G130 Andromeda GalaxyB311-G033 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 706 Pinwheel Galaxy[BHK2005] 172 Condor GalaxyB034-G096 Andromeda GalaxyB012-G064 Andromeda GalaxyNGC 6441Milky WayB110-G172 Andromeda Galaxy[BHK2005] 346 Condor Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4656 188 Hockey Stick Galaxies[BHK2005] 231 Condor GalaxyB005-G052 Andromeda GalaxyB051-G114 Andromeda GalaxyB086-G148 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 782 Pinwheel Galaxy[BHK2005] 212 Condor GalaxyB472-D064 Andromeda GalaxyB312-G035 Andromeda GalaxyB017-G070 Andromeda GalaxyB240-G302 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 596 Pinwheel Galaxy[BHK2005] 385 Condor GalaxyB072 Andromeda GalaxyB112-G174 Andromeda GalaxyB405-G351 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] IC 3521 1 IC 3521[BHK2005] 276 Condor GalaxyB373-G305 Andromeda GalaxyB058-G119 Andromeda GalaxyNGC 6388Milky Way[DBT2008] NGC 5457 228 Pinwheel GalaxyB224-G279 Andromeda GalaxyB096-G158 Andromeda GalaxyB185-G235 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 287 Pinwheel Galaxy[BHK2005] 222 Condor Galaxy[RBF2020] NGC 2403 AS053 NGC 2403NGC 2419NoneB179-G230 Andromeda Galaxy[BHK2005] 173 Condor GalaxyNGC 2808Milky WayMessier 3Milky WayB143-G198 Andromeda GalaxyB027-G087 Andromeda GalaxyMGC1 NoneEXT8 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 76 Pinwheel Galaxy[BHK2005] 268 Condor GalaxyB204-G254 Andromeda GalaxyB205-G256 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 709 Pinwheel Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4713 24 NGC 4713[BHK2005] 447 Condor GalaxyB045-G108 Andromeda GalaxyB135-G192 Andromeda GalaxyB061-G122 Andromeda GalaxyB131-G189 Andromeda GalaxyB383-G318 Andromeda GalaxyB381-G315 Andromeda GalaxyB212-G263 Andromeda GalaxyB107-G169 Andromeda GalaxyMessier 5Milky WayB183-G234 Andromeda GalaxyB384-G319 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4485 136 NGC 4485NGC 6440Milky WayB232-G286 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 2552 8 NGC 2552B122-G181 Andromeda GalaxyB073-G134 Andromeda GalaxyNGC 5824Milky Way[DBT2008] NGC 5457 100 Pinwheel GalaxyMessier 13Milky WayB386-G322 Andromeda GalaxyMessier 14Milky WayB106-G168 Andromeda GalaxyB313-G036 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 1200 Pinwheel Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4713 97 NGC 4713NGC 5286Milky WayB030-G091 Andromeda Galaxyξ Tucanae (47 Tucanae)Milky Way[BHK2005] 232 Condor GalaxyMessier 62Milky WayPA53 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 624 Pinwheel Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4713 72 NGC 4713[BHK2005] 456 Condor GalaxyB153 Andromeda GalaxyMessier 19Milky WayLiller 1Milky WayB109-G170 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4713 77 NGC 4713B514-MCGC4 Andromeda GalaxyB080-G141 Andromeda GalaxyB148-G200 Andromeda Galaxy[BHK2005] 397 Condor GalaxyMessier 22Milky WayNGC 2404 NGC 2403B370-G300 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4656 96 Hockey Stick Galaxies[BHK2005] 262 Condor GalaxyPA16 Andromeda GalaxyMessier 2Milky WayB379-G312 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4449 201 NGC 4449[DBT2008] NGC 4656 217 Hockey Stick GalaxiesMessier 15Milky Way[DBT2008] NGC 4485 221 NGC 4485[DBT2008] NGC 4485 131 NGC 4485NGC 5986Milky WayB038-G098 Andromeda GalaxyB078-G140 Andromeda GalaxyB044-G107 Andromeda GalaxyB029-G090 Andromeda GalaxyG002-MIII Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4713 8 NGC 4713[DBT2008] NGC 4656 223 Hockey Stick GalaxiesMessier 75Milky WayB180-G231 Andromeda GalaxyB260 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4449 294 NGC 4449[BHK2005] 121 Condor GalaxyB344-G127 Andromeda GalaxyNGC 6541Milky WayTerzan 5Milky WayNGC 6139Milky Way[DBT2008] NGC 5457 418 Pinwheel Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4713 79 NGC 4713[DBT2008] NGC 4713 52 NGC 4713[DBT2008] NGC 4656 176 Hockey Stick Galaxies[BHK2005] 438 Condor GalaxyB233-G287 Andromeda GalaxyNGC 6284Milky WayNGC 1851Milky WayMessier 28Milky Way[DBT2008] NGC 4713 80 NGC 4713B403-G348 Andromeda GalaxyB098 Andromeda Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 5457 598 Pinwheel Galaxy[DBT2008] NGC 4190 2 NGC 4190NGC 6539Milky WayNGC 6539Milky WayB257-V219 Andromeda GalaxyB001-G039 Andromeda GalaxyMessier 53Milky WayNGC 6517Milky Way[DBT2008] NGC 4571 10 NGC 4571[DBT2008] NGC 4656 197 Hockey Stick Galaxies[DBT2008] NGC 4449 401 NGC 4449B001-G039 Andromeda GalaxyPA46 Andromeda GalaxyMessier 80Milky Way[DBT2008] NGC 4713 4 NGC 4713[BHK2005] 221 Condor GalaxyB130-G188 Andromeda Galaxy
Open clusters
+ List of most massive open clusters Cluster name Mass ();(Sun = 1) Galaxy NotesNGC 1569-BNGC 1569NGC 1569-ANGC 1569RMC 136Large Magellanic CloudContains the most massive known star R136a1 at .NGC 346Small Magellanic CloudAra Cluster (Westerlund 1)4.45.7 × Milky WayStephenson 2 (RSGC2)Milky WayRSGC1Milky WayRSGC3Milky WayNGC 3603Milky Way
See also List of largest star clusters
References
External links The young cluster RMC 136a European Southern Observatory Mayall II Messier Objects Monster Super Star Cluster Discovered In Milky Way ScienceDaily