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arXiv · 0908.1732

The Alignment of Galaxy Clusters: Conclusive Evidence for a Cosmic Axis

Michael J. Longo
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Abstract

This paper has been withdrawn. I belatedly found that the alignment I saw in galaxy cluster axes was bogus. It turns out that it is due to a well-known effect called the "Fingers of God" that stretches out the redshifts of galaxies in a cluster due to their motion within the cluster. This would not cause an overall bias if the SDSS survey were complete, but there is no coverage toward right ascensions near 90 degrees or 270 deg. Thus the apparent alignment appears along 0 -- 180 deg.

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Michael J. Longo. 2009-08-17. The Alignment of Galaxy Clusters: Conclusive Evidence for a Cosmic Axis. https://arxiv.org/abs/0908.1732

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