Polar Ring Galaxy
The stunning ring galaxy NGC 660 is the shimmering aftermath of a galactic collision, located 44 million light-years away in the constellation Pisces. On January 7, astronomers announced that the galaxy was producing massive outbursts, powerful belches that are likely the product of a gorging supermassive black hole at the galaxy's center. Using a network of telescopes including the 305-meter dish in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, the team spotted five sites of bright radio emissions, one near the center of the galaxy and two on either side. Suspected to be jets coming from the galactic core, the emissions are brighter than supernovas when observed at radio wavelengths. The team plans to continue observing NGC 660 to determine if the jet hypothesis is correct.
Image: Gemini Observatory/AURA; Color composite produced by Travis Rector, University of Alaska Anchorage. [high-resolution]
Caption: NRAO