The Distorted Meathook Galaxy: NGC 2442 in Volans | Danish 1.54-meter Telescope

The Distorted Meathook Galaxy: NGC 2442 in Volans | Danish 1.54-meter Telescope

The distorted galaxy NGC 2442, also known as the Meathook Galaxy, is located around 50 million light-years away in the constellation of Volans (the Flying Fish). The galaxy is 75,000 light-years wide and features two dusty spiral arms extending from a pronounced central bar that give it a hook-like appearance, hence its nickname. The galaxy’s distorted shape is most likely the result of a close encounter with a smaller, unseen galaxy. 

This image is based on data acquired with the 1.5-meter Danish telescope at European Southern Observatory’s La Silla Observatory in Chile, through three filters (B: 250 s, V: 187 s, R: 150 s).

Learn more about the Danish 1.54-meter Telescope:
https://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/lasilla/danish154/

Credit: ESO/IDA/Danish 1.5 m/R. Gendler, J.-E. Ovaldsen, C. C. Thöne and C. Féron
Release Date: Dec. 3, 2009

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