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                           Astronomy Picture of the Day   
      
       Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our   
         fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation   
                       written by a professional astronomer.   
      
                                 2024 December 18   
      A dark starfield has an unusual galaxy in the center. This galaxy has a   
      spindle-like shape showing two dust lanes -- one running vertically and   
      one running diagonally from the upper left. Please see the explanation   
                          for more detailed information.   
      
                            NGC 660: Polar Ring Galaxy   
                       Image 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.   
      
                          Tomorrow's picture: open space   
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          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
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