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In Hubble's scheme, which elliptical class looks most elongated?

An E7 galaxy looks most elongated.

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  1. E0
  2. E7 ✔
  3. S0

Why: The number after E describes apparent flattening, not a measured evolutionary stage. E0 appears nearly round, while E7 is strongly elongated.

Huh, didn't know that: An elliptical's class can depend partly on the angle from which it is viewed.

The dad joke
E7 stretched the truth until it became an ellipse.
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References

Answer: E7. The number after E describes apparent flattening, not a measured evolutionary stage. E0 appears nearly round, while E7 is strongly elongated.

  1. Types of Galaxies openstax.org/books/astronomy/pages/26-2-types-of-galaxies
    Ellipticals, beginning with the spherical E0, slightly oval E3, flatter oval E5 to the very elongated oval E7.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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