The NASA / ESA Hubble Space Telescope has produced a spectacular image of part of the disturbed spiral galaxy NGC 2442 / NGC 2443.
This Hubble image shows the Meathook Galaxy, a disturbed spiral galaxy located 60 million light-years away in the constellation of Volans. Image Credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / S. Smartt and others.
NGC 2442 and NGC 2443 are two parts of a single interim spiral galaxy, about 60 million light-years away in the southern constellation of Volans.
Commonly known as the Meathook Galaxy, this peculiar system was discovered by the British astronomer John Herschel on 23 December 1834.
Also known as LEDA 21373, ESO 59-8 and IRAS 07365-6924, it has a diameter of 75,000 light-years.
It has two material spiral arms extending from a pronounced central beam giving it a hooked appearance, hence its nickname.
The extremely asymmetrical and irregular shape is probably the result of a close encounter with a smaller galaxy.
In March 2015, a Type Ia supernova named SN 2015F was observed in the Meathook Galaxy.
It shone brightly for a while and was easily visible from Earth through even a small telescope.
“The supernova explosion SN 2015F was created by a white dwarf star,” said Hubble astronomer.
“The white dwarf was part of a binary galaxy and siphon mass of his companion, eventually became too greedy and adopted more than he could.”
“This unbalanced the star and caused running nuclear fusion, which eventually led to an intensely violent supernova explosion.”
