Page 3, External Galaxies: [Previous Page] [Next Page] [Class Home Page] Text Pages 362 - 364

Elliptical galaxies show NO spiral arms, only an amorphous bulge. The classification for such galaxies is E, with a number that tells us the X to Y ratio of the ellipse: round elliptical galaxies are E0, more flattened galaxies, are classified E1, E2, E3, etc., the most squashed elliptical galaxies, are E7.







M87 is classified as E1.

This elliptical galaxy, M59, is classified between E3 and E5.




There are no elliptical galaxies near to us. The two galaxies above belong to a fairly distant galaxy cluster called Virgo. The Virgo Cluster of galaxies is located about 50 million light years away (in the direction of the constellation Virgo).




Properties of Elliptical galaxies: They contain only OLD stars and essentially NO cold gas or dust. NO new stars can ever be born. They are entirely Pop II stellar systems.

Lenticular (SO) Galaxy, M85. SO galaxies have no obvious spiral arms, so are unlike spiral galaxies, but have an they have an obvious disk component unlike Ellipticals! They are intermediate between Ellipticals and Spiral galaxies. SO Galaxies generally have mostly very old stars and little gas or dust.