NGC 2442 “The Meat hook galaxy”

WOW! New Version

This image is a collaboration between Mike Selby and Myself. I have to say this is one of the best amateur data sets i have worked with and the results are quite amazing.

NGC 2442 is located around 50 million light-years away in the constellation of Volans. The galaxy is 75,000 light-years wide and has quite a peculiar shape featuring two dusty spiral arms extending from a  central bar that gives it a hook-like appearance. Given its appearance it is often referred to as “The Meat Hook Galaxy.” The galaxy’s distorted shape is most likely the result of a close encounter with a smaller galaxy sometime in the past.  A considerable amount of IFN is present in the field proximate to the galaxy and the image shows faint star streams at the ends of the arms of the galaxy.

Imaged in LRGB and H alpha OTA CDK 1000 Luminance, RGB and H alpha. Additional RGB RiDK 500.

Imaged at Observatorio El Sauce, Chile

Integration time: 47 hours

Image Processing: Mark Hanson and Mike Selby