NGC 660 is a gas-rich, peculiar polar ring RSBa-type starburst galaxy with two distinct morphological and kinematic components: an inner disc, seen almost edge-on, with a major axis position angle of 45° and a diameter of ~11 kpc [D=13 Mpc, Ho=75 kms−1 Mpc−1], and an outer polar ring (p.a. 170°) with a diameter of 31 kpc, inclined on average about 55° with respect to the major axis of the inner disc.

We obtained deep, 30 min. exposure CCD images of NGC 660 with the 105 cm Schmidt telescope of Kiso Observatory in the B, V, R, and I bands. A preliminary reduction shows that the inner disc is clearly redder than the polar ring and the nucleus.

Optical spectra indicate that the galaxy has a LINER-type spectrum, suggesting intense massive star formation in the nucleus. We obtained a long-slit Ha spectrum along the major axis of the inner disc at ESO, which shows a very steep gradient near the nucleus. Assuming an inclination of 80°, it implies a rotational velocity of about 150 km s−1 for the inner disc.