Wide-field view of the Meathook galaxy

This picture of the Meathook Galaxy (NGC 2442) was taken by the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at La Silla, Chile. It shows a much broader view than the Hubble image, although less detailed. This view includes the whole galaxy and the surrounding sky, and clearly shows the asymmetric spiral arms. The longer of the two arms has intense star formation, which is visible here as a pink glow: this is due to the radiation of young stars ionising the gas they form from. The asymmetric shape and star formation are both thought to be caused by tidal disruptions from a near-miss with another galaxy at some point in its history.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso1115a
Type:Observation
Release date:4 May 2011, 12:00
Related releases:eso1115
Size:6756 x 5687 px

About the Object

Name:NGC 2442
Type:Local Universe : Galaxy
Distance:55 million light years
Constellation:Volans
Category:Galaxies

Image Formats

Large JPEG
10.6 MB
Screensize JPEG
215.0 KB

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Wallpapers

1024x768
218.9 KB
1280x1024
324.2 KB
1600x1200
432.7 KB
1920x1200
498.9 KB
2048x1536
662.3 KB

Coordinates

Position (RA):7 36 8.18
Position (Dec):-69° 32' 32.06"
Field of view:26.81 x 22.55 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 181.6° left of vertical