| Term: | Early-type galaxies |
| Definition: |
In the Hubble classification, galaxies on the left part of the Hubble sequence. Early-type galaxies tend to have redder colors, higher average surface brightnesses, and lower neutral hydrogen content than late-type galaxies. This terminology is based on the obsolete and erroneous idea that elliptical and lenticular galaxies might be evolutionary precursors to spiral and barred spiral galaxies. |