Hubble reveals NGC 4698: spiral galaxy whose core spins at 90 degrees

NASA and ESA released a Hubble image (potm2609a) of the spiral galaxy NGC 4698, located 55 million light-years away in the Virgo Cluster. Its core rotates perpendicular to the outer arms — a rare 'polar nuclear disk' configuration linked to a past merger and the active growth of its black hole.

• NGC 4698 lies 55 million light-years away in the Virgo Cluster
• Its core rotates at 90 degrees to the plane of the outer arms
• Star formation in the polar disk ended over 5 billion years ago
• The galaxy is a Seyfert-2 with an actively growing black hole