Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Pisces (Psc)  ·  Contains:  NGC 660
NGC-660 (The POLAR RING Galaxy) in Pisces, Alberto Lopez
NGC-660 (The POLAR RING Galaxy) in Pisces
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NGC-660 (The POLAR RING Galaxy) in Pisces, Alberto Lopez
NGC-660 (The POLAR RING Galaxy) in Pisces
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Description

NGC 660 is a peculiar and unique polar-ring galaxy located in the Pisces constellation. It is the only such galaxy having, as its host, a "late-type lenticular galaxy", probably formed when two galaxies collided a billion years ago. However, it may have first started as a disk galaxy that captured matter from a passing galaxy. This material could have, over time, become "strung out" to form a rotating ring.

The ring is not actually polar, but rather has an inclination from the plane of the host disk of approximately 45 degrees. The extreme number of pinkish star-forming areas that occurs along the galaxy's ring could be the result of the gravitation interaction caused by this collision. The ring has a greater amount of gas and star formation than the host disk. This likely indicates a very violent origin. The polar ring contains objects numbering in the hundreds, many of which are red and blue supergiant stars.

NGC 660 is a member of the M74 Group.

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NGC-660 (The POLAR RING Galaxy) in Pisces, Alberto Lopez