NOAO Image Gallery: Elliptical Galaxies

NOAO Image Gallery

Elliptical Galaxies

NOAO is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc. under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation

The astronomical images presented on these pages are provided through the facilities of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, unless otherwise noted. If you plan to use any of these images for other than your personal enjoyment please read our conditions of use.

Elliptical galaxies are spheroidal distributions of mostly older stars, usually without much of the intersteller material that is prevalent in spirals. Ellipticals are often classified with a number that describes their appearance; an E0 galaxy is almost perfectly circular while an E7 is quite elongated. Ellipticals vary greatly in size, from very small companions found near our own galaxy to the giant ellipticals often seen near the center of rich clusters.