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Explanation:Distortedgalaxy NGC 2442can be found in the southern constellation of theflying fish, (Piscis)Volans.Located about 50 million light-years away, the galaxy's twospiralarms extending from a pronounced central bar give it anominoushook-shaped appearance.Thisstriking color image also shows obscuringdust lanes, young blue star clusters andreddish star forming regionssurrounding a core of yellowish light from an older population of stars.But the star forming regions seem more concentrated along thedrawn-out northern (top) spiral arm.The distorted structure is likely the result of aclose encounterwith a smaller galaxy located just outside this telescopicfield of view.The picturespansabout 1/6 of a degree, or 150,000 light years atthe estimated distanceof NGC 2442.