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.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
