Elliptical Galaxy NGC 4881 in Coma
Explanation:
Elliptical galaxies are unlike spiral galaxies
and hence unlike our own
Milky Way Galaxy.
The
giant elliptical galaxy
named
NGC
4881 on the upper left lies at the edge of the giant
Coma
Cluster of Galaxies.
Elliptical galaxies are
ellipsoidal
in shape, contain no
spiral arms,
contain
little
interstellar gas
or dust, and are found mostly
in
rich clusters
of galaxies.
Elliptical galaxies appear
typically yellow-red, as opposed to spirals
which have
spiral arms that appear quite blue.
Much speculation continues on
how each type of galaxy can form,
on whether ellipticals can
evolve from colliding spirals,
or spirals can be created from colliding ellipticals, or both.
Besides the spiral galaxy on the right, all other images in
this picture
are of
galaxies
that lie well behind the Coma Cluster.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
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rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.