What is an elliptical galaxy typically composed of?

An elliptical galaxy is primarily made up of older stars, which tend to be red and cool. These galaxies lack the significant amounts of gas and dust that are typically found in spiral galaxies, where new star formation occurs. Instead, the stellar population in elliptical galaxies is predominantly older, hence there is minimal activity in creating new stars.

The presence of old stars is what gives elliptical galaxies their characteristic smooth and featureless appearance, often observed as a reddish hue. The absence of younger, blue stars indicates that the process of star formation has either ceased or is exceedingly rare within these systems. Thus, the composition of elliptical galaxies aligns with the notion of being primarily old, as they have evolved over time and consumed most of the material that would otherwise contribute to new star formation.