elliptical galaxy
noun
: a galaxy that has a generally elliptical shape and that has no apparent internal structure or spiral arms
called also elliptical
compare spiral galaxyExamples of elliptical galaxy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Magnetic Fields The new image—published today in The Astrophysical Journal Letters—shows a magnetic field structure very similar to that of the black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy, a supergiant elliptical galaxy around 54 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo.
—
Jamie Carter, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
The fields have a similar structure to those around the black hole at the center of Messier 87, a massive elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
The most famous elliptical galaxy is M87, which has up to 2.4 trillion stars.
—Dean Regas, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2024
The origin of dust in elliptical galaxies, therefore, has perplexed astronomers until this point.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024
And elliptical galaxies are thought to be the result of smaller galaxies having merged, which could influence the distribution of dark matter in subtle ways that are difficult to detect by tracing the distribution of normal matter.
—Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 21 Apr. 2023
In 2017, the EHT turned its gaze to supermassive black holes at the centers of two galaxies: our own Milky Way and an elliptical galaxy about 50 million light-years away called M87.
—Erika K Carlson, Discover Magazine, 10 Apr. 2019
Astronomers estimate that in 4 to 5 billion years, our own Milky Way Galaxy and Andromeda will collide and combine to form one giant elliptical galaxy.
—Michael D'estries, Treehugger, 31 Aug. 2023
The quasar is located in a giant elliptical galaxy in the constellation of Virgo and is one of the closest to Earth.
—Robert Lea, Popular Mechanics, 13 June 2023
Jamie Carter, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
The fields have a similar structure to those around the black hole at the center of Messier 87, a massive elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
The most famous elliptical galaxy is M87, which has up to 2.4 trillion stars.
—Dean Regas, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2024
The origin of dust in elliptical galaxies, therefore, has perplexed astronomers until this point.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024
And elliptical galaxies are thought to be the result of smaller galaxies having merged, which could influence the distribution of dark matter in subtle ways that are difficult to detect by tracing the distribution of normal matter.
—Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 21 Apr. 2023
In 2017, the EHT turned its gaze to supermassive black holes at the centers of two galaxies: our own Milky Way and an elliptical galaxy about 50 million light-years away called M87.
—Erika K Carlson, Discover Magazine, 10 Apr. 2019
Astronomers estimate that in 4 to 5 billion years, our own Milky Way Galaxy and Andromeda will collide and combine to form one giant elliptical galaxy.
—Michael D'estries, Treehugger, 31 Aug. 2023
The quasar is located in a giant elliptical galaxy in the constellation of Virgo and is one of the closest to Earth.
—Robert Lea, Popular Mechanics, 13 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elliptical galaxy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Elliptical galaxy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elliptical%20galaxy. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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