Give 2 reasons y elliptical galaxies are considered to be older & more evolved than spiral galaxies.
They are considered to be older because they have little instellar matter and because they rarely form new stars like the other galaxies do. They seem to be more evolved than the spiral galaxies because they actually are thought to form within the clusters.
Please tell me if this is correct, and more info would be appreciated, thanks
They are considered to be older because they have little instellar matter and because they rarely form new stars like the other galaxies do. They seem to be more evolved than the spiral galaxies because they actually are thought to form within the clusters. The spiral galaxies consist of older stars in the center cluster.
Yes, you are correct in your understanding of why elliptical galaxies are considered to be older and more evolved than spiral galaxies. Let me explain further:
1. Lack of interstellar matter: One reason why elliptical galaxies are considered to be older is because they have very little interstellar matter. Interstellar matter consists of gas, dust, and other materials from which new stars form. Spiral galaxies, on the other hand, have significant amounts of interstellar matter, which enables them to form new stars. The low amount of interstellar matter in elliptical galaxies suggests that they have exhausted much of their supply of gas and dust, indicating an advanced stage of evolution.
2. Rare formation of new stars: Elliptical galaxies rarely form new stars compared to spiral galaxies. The process of star formation occurs when gas and dust within a galaxy collapse under gravity, leading to the formation of new stars. Spiral galaxies have active star-forming regions, such as spiral arms, where new stars are constantly being created. In contrast, elliptical galaxies lack these active regions and have very little ongoing star formation activity. This suggests that they have used up or exhausted their available gas and dust supplies, further signifying an older and more evolved state.
Additionally, you mentioned that elliptical galaxies are thought to form within clusters. This is also true. Elliptical galaxies are commonly found within galaxy clusters, which are large assemblies of galaxies held together by gravity. In these dense environments, interactions between galaxies, such as mergers, can lead to the formation of elliptical galaxies. This supports the idea that elliptical galaxies have undergone significant evolution and transformation within such environments.
I hope this provides you with a more detailed explanation. Let me know if you have any more questions!