Explanation:
Distorted
galaxy NGC 2442
can be found in the southern constellation of the
flying fish,
(Piscis) Volans.
Located about 50 million light-years away, the galaxy's two
spiral
arms extending from a pronounced central bar have a hook-like
appearance in wide-field images.
But this mosaicked close-up,
constructed from Hubble Space Telescope
data, follows the galaxy's structure in amazing detail.
Obscuring dust lanes, young blue star clusters and
reddish star forming regions
surround a core of yellowish light from an older population of stars.
The sharp Hubble data also reveal more distant
background galaxies seen right through NGC 2442's
star clusters
and nebulae.
The image spans about 75,000 light-years at the estimated distance
of NGC 2442.
