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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Галактика с полярным кольцом NGC 660 http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1947375/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Mike Selby
Explanation:
What kind of strange galaxy is this?
This rare structure is known as a
polar ring galaxy, and it seems to have two different rings of stars.
In this galaxy,
NGC 660, one ring of bright stars,
gas, and dark dust appears nearly vertical,
while another similar but shorter ring runs diagonally from the upper left.
How polar ring galaxies
obtain their striking appearance remains a
topic of research, but a leading theory
holds that it is usually the result of two galaxies
with different central ring planes
colliding.
NGC 660 spans about 50,000 light years and is located about 40 million
light years
away toward the constellation of the Fish
(Pisces).
The
featured
image was captured recently from
Observatorio El Sauce in
Chile.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.