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Credit & Copyright: 1.1 Meter Hall Telescope,
Lowell Observatory,
Bill Keel
(U. Alabama)
Explanation:
Being the largest galaxy around can sometimes make you popular. Pictured
is M31's companion galaxy
M32.
M31, the Andromeda galaxy, is the largest
galaxy in our
Local Group of galaxies
- even our tremendous
Milky Way Galaxy is smaller.
Little M32 is visible in most pictures of M31 - it is
the small circular spot north of M31's center. M32 is a
dwarf elliptical
galaxy.
Elliptical galaxies have little or no measurable
gas or
dust -
they are composed completely of
stars and typically appear more red than
spiral galaxies.
Elliptical galaxies do not have disks -
they generally have oblong shapes and therefore show elliptical profiles on
the sky.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Elliptical Galaxy
Publications with words: Elliptical Galaxy
See also: