Distorted galaxy NGC 2442

The distorted galaxy NGC 2442, also known as the Meathook Galaxy, is located some 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-metre Danish telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile, through three filters (B: 250 s, V: 187 s, R: 150 s).

Bildnachweis:

ESO/IDA/Danish 1.5 m/R. Gendler, J.-E. Ovaldsen, C. C. Thöne and C. Féron

Über das Bild

ID:ngc2442
Typ:Beobachtung
Veröffentlichungsdatum:3. Dezember 2009 23:18
Größe:1917 x 1764 px

Über das Objekt

Name:NGC 2442
Typ:Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral
Entfernung:50 Million Lichtjahre
Constellation:Volans
Kategorie:Galaxies

Bildformate

Großes JPEG
1,3 MB

Bildschirm-Hintergrundbilder

1024x768
259,5 KB
1280x1024
462,4 KB
1600x1200
742,8 KB
1920x1200
979,3 KB
2048x1536
1,3 MB

Koordinaten

Position (RA):7 36 27.49
Position (Dec):-69° 31' 30.66"
Field of view:12.62 x 12.62 arcminutes
Orientierung:Die Nordrichtung liegt 43.4° links zur Vertikale

Farben & Filter

SpektralbereichTeleskop
Optisch
B
Danish 1.54-metre telescope
Optisch
V
Danish 1.54-metre telescope
Optisch
R
Danish 1.54-metre telescope