Abstract

The production of ``super star clusters'' (SSCs; luminous compact star clusters) seems to be a hallmark of intense star formation particularly in interacting and starburst galaxies. Their sizes luminosities and mass estimates are entirely consistent with what is expected for young Milky Way-type globular clusters (GCs). SSCs are important because of what they can tell us about GC formation and evolution (e.g. initial characteristics and early survival rates). They are also of prime importance as probes of the formation and (chemical) evolution of their host galaxies and of the initial mass function in the extreme environments required for cluster formation. In fact a growing body of evidence supports the hypothesis that a large fraction of the star formation in (possibly tidally induced) starbursts takes place in the form of such concentrated clusters. Recent evidence lends support to the scenario that Milky Way-type GCs (although more metal rich) which were once thought to be the oldest building blocks of galaxies are still forming today.