University Astronomers Discover Rare Rectangular Galaxy

An international team of astronomers from the Swinburne University of Technology has discovered a rare rectangular galaxy with a striking resemblance to a cut diamond.

The galaxy is located within a group of 250 galaxies which is about 70 million light years away from earth. This unique galaxy was discovered with the giant Keck Telescope in Hawaii.

Astronomers also found that the galaxy is spinning rapidly. The outermost measured edge of this galactic disc is rotating at a speed in excess of 100,000 kilometres per hour.

"In the universe around us, most galaxies exist in one of three forms: spheroidal, disc-like, or lumpy and irregular in appearance," said Associate Professor Alister Graham from Swinburne University of Technology, in a statement.

Researchers believe that this galaxy could be formed out of the collision of two spiral galaxies.

Astronomers had earlier suspect that this galaxy was short cylinder sized galaxy; now after analysing it very keenly they found the rare rectangular shaped galaxy.

"Curiously, if the orientation was just right, when our own disc-shaped galaxy collides with the disc-shaped Andromeda galaxy about three billion years from now we may find ourselves the inhabitants of a square looking galaxy," said Professor Graham.