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Credit & Copyright: Mike Selby
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 a
hook-shaped appearance in this deep and colorful image,
with foreground stars scattered across the telescopic field of
view.
The image also reveals the distant galaxy's
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 (upper right)
spiral arm.
The distorted structure is likely the result of an ancient
close encounter
with a smaller galaxy that lies off top left of the frame.
This telescopic field of view
spans over 200,000 light-years at the estimated distance of NGC 2442.
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Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: barred spiral galaxy
Publications with words: barred spiral galaxy
See also: