Why do elliptical galaxies typically exhibit a soft yellow-red hue?
Answer
They contain mostly older, cooler stars
Elliptical galaxies are characterized by a lack of significant gas and dust, which results in minimal active star formation. Consequently, the population of stars within these galaxies consists almost entirely of older, cooler stars. These aged stellar populations emit light in the yellow-red portion of the visible spectrum, creating the characteristic soft color observed in photographs.
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Types of Galaxies in Space - Spiral, Elliptical, Irregular plus more
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