Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025

This image of NGC 2442, also known as the Meathook Galaxy, brings a unique perspective to a well-studied cosmic object. Located approximately 50 million light-years away in the constellation Volans, NGC 2442 is an intermediate spiral galaxy that has undergone significant tidal interactions, likely with a neighboring galaxy. NGC 2442 is a striking reminder of the complex dance of galaxies in the universe. Its distorted shape tells the story of gravitational forces at play, sculpting its structure over millions of years. These interactions have distorted its shape, creating the hook-like structure of its spiral arms.