Sunday, October 20, 2024

Polar Ring Galaxy NGC 660


NGC 660 is a polar ring galaxy located in the constellation Pisces. It features a large, extended ring structure surrounding the central spiral galaxy at a near-perpendicular angle. The ring emits blue light from active star-forming regions within it. The dark lanes in the ring and the galactic disk intersect, highlighting its complicated structure. This ring structure is thought to have been formed through the gravitational interaction of the central galaxy with another galaxy.

Distance from Earth: About 44 million light-years
Instrument: Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC)