NGC 2442+2443 - Meathook Galaxy

NGC 2442 and NGC 2443 are two designations for the spiral arms of the Meathook Galaxy, located in the constellation of Volans. The galaxy is 50 million light-years away and it was discovered by John Herschel in 1834 during a survey of the southern sky from South Africa.

When John Louis Emil Dreyer was creating the New General Catalogue (NGC), he used William Herschel’s description of this object, which he described as a double nebula – hence, the two NGC designations. NGC 2443 is the elongated, hook-shaped arm, while NGC 2442 is the shorter arm.

The galaxy’s asymmetry is caused by a past interaction with another galaxy, although the culprit is still unknown. This event also triggered intense star formation in many areas within the spiral arms.