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You are here: Home / Space / How Many Different Types Of Galaxies Are There In the Universe and How Are Galaxies Constantly Evolving?

How Many Different Types Of Galaxies Are There In the Universe and How Are Galaxies Constantly Evolving?

April 22, 2020 by Karen Hill

Although all galaxies are composed of the same things, each one is unique.

Some galaxies are mostly made up of clouds of dust and gases.

Others contain more stars than clouds. Galaxies can appear flat or spherical.

Some are bright and clear; others are dim and obscure. Galaxies can stand alone or interact with other galaxies in clusters.

Perhaps most important of all, galaxies are not fixed. They not only travel as the universe expands, but they rotate on their axes and orbit other galaxies, as well.

Neighboring galaxies sometimes join each other; larger galaxies cannibalize, or consume, smaller ones.

Stars within galaxies are constantly changing as they are born, reach maturity, and die out.

In spite of all their differences, however, most galaxies share common characteristics and can be categorized by shape as one of three types: spiral, elliptical, or irregular.

Astronomer Edwin Hubble classified galaxies according to shape: elliptical, irregular, or spiral, spiral is further divided into normal or barred spirals.

The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy.

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  • What Are Spiral Galaxies, How Do Spiral Galaxies Form In Space, and What Do Spiral Galaxies Look Like?
  • Why Are There So Many Different Types of Rain From Heavy To Light and What Causes Different Raindrop Sizes?
  • When Were Galaxies In the Universe Formed and How Long After the Big Bang Did Galaxies Form?
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Filed Under: Space

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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