The Meathook Galaxy, or NGC 2442, in the southern constellation of Volans (The Flying Fish), is easily recognised for its asymmetric spiral arms. The galaxys lopsided appearance is thought to be due to gravitational interactions with another galaxy at some point in its history - though astronomers have not so far been able to positively identify the culprit. A close-up image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope focuses on the galaxys nucleus and the more compact of its two spiral arms. In 1999, a massive star at the end of its life exploded in this arm in a supernova. Read more
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.
NGC 2442 (also NGC 2443, Meathook Galaxy, IRAS 07367-6924 and PGC 21373) is a magnitude +10.4 intermediate spiral galaxy located 50 ±1.2 million light-years away in the constellation Volans. The galaxy has a distorted 'S-shaped form'. The southwest part of the galaxy is listed as NGC 2442; the northeastern part is listed as NGC 2443. The unusual structure is likely the result of an interacting galaxy which is now separated by about 150,000 light-years.
The galaxy was discovered by British astronomer John Herschel using a 47.5 cm (18.7 inch) f/13 speculum reflector at Feldhausen, Claremont, Cape Town, on December 23, 1834.
Associated with this galaxy is HIPASS J0731-69, a cloud of gas devoid of any stars. It is likely that the cloud was torn loose from NGC 2442 by a companion Read more
Right ascension 07h 36m 23.8s, Declination -69° 31' 51"