This unusual barred spiral galaxy was discovered by English astronomer and mathematician Sir John Herschel in December 1834 from South Africa. NGC 2442 spans over a distance of 75.000 light years. The galaxy has two spiral arms extending from a pronounced central bar in a hook-like appearance. The distorted shape is probably the result of a close encounter with a less massive galaxy. In fact NGC 2442 appears to have a distant companion and it seems that the two have collide in the recent past.