What characteristic do spiral galaxies possess that fuels ongoing star formation?
Answer
Rich reservoirs of cool gas and dust
Spiral galaxies, exemplified by systems like the Milky Way, maintain active star formation because their structure inherently supports the necessary raw materials. Their spiral arms act as physical reservoirs containing abundant cool gas and dust. This material is essential because it must cool down sufficiently to condense gravitationally, initiating the stellar nurseries required for new star birth. This contrasts sharply with elliptical galaxies, which typically possess a very sparse interstellar medium, effectively starving the system of the fuel needed to ignite new generations of stars.
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