In astronomy, starburst is a generic term to describe a region of space with a much higher than normal star formation. It is reserved for truly unusual objects. Astronomy is one of the few sciences where amateurs can still play an active role, especially in the discovery and monitoring of transient phenomena. ... The Pleiades star cluster A star is any massive gaseous body in outer space, just like the Sun. ...

For example, a very young open cluster can have fairly high star formation rates in its core, but this is an ordinary condition for this object. However, an entire galaxy experiencing the same star formation rate can be described as "starburst". The Pleiades is one of the most famous open clusters. ...

See also: starburst galaxy A starburst galaxy is a galaxy in the process of an intense burst of star formation, often as a result of a collision or close encounter between two galaxies. ...