The Three Types of Galaxies Elliptical galaxies are collections of stars that remain pretty close together because of the gravitational attraction between them. There is not a certain known rotation axis, so the stars in the galaxy show a wide range of orbital paths. The motions of stars are not entirely random; there is a degree of organization in the direction of these motions, and this determines the overall shape of the galaxy. Elliptical galaxies …
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…They have very small amounts of "heavy" elements (elements more dense than helium). It's likely that Irregular galaxies have been distorted by collisions with other galaxies at some time in their history. South of the Equator, it is possible to see the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, the two irregular galaxies closest to the Milky Way Galaxy. Astronomers predict that they will eventually collide with the Milky Way and be incorporated into our own galaxy.