English

Noun

dwarf spheroidal galaxy ‎(plural dwarf spheroidal galaxies)

1. (astronomy) A faint galaxy, devoid of gas, having a higher than normal proportion of dark matter; especially those that orbit the Milky Way and Andromeda
   • 1994 Beam Line: Fall Winter 1994

     The inventory keeps growing, and the latest recruit is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy, meaning no gas and not many more than 10^6-7 stars, that has the bad luck to be almost on the far side of the galactic centre from us.

Synonyms

• dwarf spheroidal

Abbreviations

• dSph

Related terms

• dwarf galaxy
• dwarf elliptical galaxy
• elliptical galaxy

Translations