Elliptical Galaxy Facts
ELLIPTICAL GALAXY FACTS
The home of interesting elliptical galaxy facts for kids and adults.
Interesting facts about Elliptical galaxies.
What is an elliptical galaxy?
Elliptical galaxies are among the most interesting parts of our universe. They have the most variety in terms of size when compared with other galaxy types – they can be really large or really small, with some being 1/10th the size of our galaxy.
10 Facts about elliptical galaxies you didn't know.
1. Elliptical galaxies are among the oldest type
Observed elliptical galaxies are among the most ancient of all the galaxy types in our universe. They range in age from between 7 billion and 10 billion years old. Their oldest stars are roughly the same age as other old stars.
Did you know?
The oldest stars of any galaxy are around 13 billion years old.
Elliptical galaxies can be ‘giants’
These galaxies can be truly huge, containing trillions of stars with some having as many as over one hundred trillion stars. Elliptical galaxies of these massive sizes are very often referred to as being ‘giants’.
Did you know?
C 1101 is not only the largest observed galaxy in the known universe, it is also elliptical. This galaxy is estimated to be 2,000 time larger than the Milky Way.
3. Elliptical and spiral galaxies are not the same
The two galaxy types are not just different because of their appearance, they are also differences in their composition and what they are made up of. A spiral galaxy for instance has lots of gas and dust, whereas an elliptical galaxy has very little.
Did you know?
Elliptical galaxies don’t have as many new stars (although lots and lots of older ones) and so aren’t as bright as other galaxies.
4.One of the most well known elliptical galaxies is Cygnus A
There are lots of examples of elliptical galaxies that we can see from Earth, with the right equipment. One of the better known ones is Cygnus A, discovered by radio astronomer Grote Reber in 1939.
Did you know?
Grote Reber also built the first radio telescope.
5. Elliptical galaxies have almost no structure
Ellipticals are about as simple as collection of stars can be. They are essentially large blobs, and approximately spherical. Using an amateur telescope, an elliptical looks like a round and fuzzy patch of light.
Did you know?
Scientists have observed fewer ellipticals than spirals, but that is likely only because they are harder to spot.
6. Ellipticals may be on the last galactic evolutionary step
Because these galaxies have older stars and less gas, it is thought they are at or near the end of the evolutionary journey for galaxies. It is not thought that ellipticals have anywhere else to go when they are formed.
Did you know?
Elliptical galaxies are created when two spiral galaxies collide.
7. When two spiral galaxies collide, they form ellipticals
The cosmos is an amazing place to be sure, but it is also a violent place. Collisions between entire galaxies are frequent. Our very own galaxy, the Milky Way is itself on a collision course with the Andromeda galaxy.
Did you know?
Even though galaxies pass through each other at millions of miles per hour, it can take millions of years for a collision to complete because they are so large.
8. It could be possible for elliptical galaxies to contain life
Ellipticals will contain the same types of stars (including ones just like our Sun) that the Milky Way does. It has already been shown there are planets in other galaxies too, so there is no reason why life could not exist there.
Did you know?
Although likely there is alien life, humans will probably never meet or hear them because of the huge distances.
9. We know ellipticals are old because of their colour
It is obviously impossible to carbon date a galaxy, but we can see how old they due to the colour. A younger galaxy will have a spectral colouration that is more blue. Older galaxies become more red in colour as they get older.
Did you know?
Using colours, we can tell the age of stars too.
10. Ellipticals are one of four galaxy types
Elliptical galaxies are undoubtedly the oldest types, but they are also just one of four. The other three types of galaxy in the universe are spiral, irregular and lenticular.
Did you know?
The youngest galaxy type does not have a name, and there is only one that has been observed - I Zwicky 18 is the youngest galaxy in the known universe, at 500 million years old, and has not yet formed a discernable galaxy-shape.