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What is the shape of elliptical galaxies?

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In 1926, Edwin Hubble devised a system to classify galaxies. Known as the Hubble sequence, or the "Hubble tuning-fork", it organizes galaxies based on their shape. Under this organization, elliptical galaxies are classified by how stretched they are. read more

Elliptical galaxies have a broader range in size than other types of galaxies. The smallest are dwarf elliptical galaxies, which can be less than 10 percent the size of the Milky Way and contain only ten million times the mass of the sun. read more

Elliptical galaxies are also named because of their shapes. Elliptical galaxies range from circular (remember, a circle is an ellipse!) to long, narrow, and cigar-shaped. Elliptical galaxies are denoted by the letter E. read more

An elliptical galaxy is a type of galaxy having an approximately ellipsoidal shape and a smooth, nearly featureless image. Unlike flat spiral galaxies with organization and structure, elliptical galaxies are more three-dimensional, without much structure, and their stars are in somewhat random orbits around the center. read more

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