An elliptical galaxy is characterized by a smooth, ballshaped
appearance. Ellipticals contain old stars and
possess little gas or dust. They are classified by the shape
of the ball, which can range from round (E0) to oval (E7)
(baseball-shaped to football-shaped). The smallest elliptical
galaxies (called dwarf ellipticals) are probably the most common type of galaxy
in the nearby universe. In contrast to spirals, the stars in ellipticals do not revolve
around the center in an organized way. The stars move in randomly oriented orbits
within the galaxy, like a swarm of bees.