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 give it an
ominous
hook-shaped appearance.
This striking color image also shows obscuring
dust lanes, young blue star clusters and
reddish star forming regions
surrounding a core of yellowish light from an older population of stars.
But the star forming regions seem more concentrated along the
drawn-out northern (top) spiral arm.
The distorted structure is likely the result of a
close encounter
with a smaller galaxy located just outside this telescopic
field of view.
The picture spans
about 1/6 of a degree, or 150,000 light years at
the estimated distance
of NGC 2442.
