NGC6744 & NGC6744A & Distant Galaxies

NGC6744 with distorted companion galaxy NGC6744A and many more distant galaxies in the image (this is a starless image!) lies approximately 30 million light-years away and can only be imaged from the Southern Hemisphere. A large galaxy at 175,000 light-years across, it is said to be the Milky Ways "big brother" as we are also an intermediate spiral galaxy. The dusty spiral arms are home to many star-forming regions.