On the Orientation of Spiral Galaxies in the Perseus Supercluster

Abstract

Various scenarios of galaxy origin predict different types of galaxy-supercluster alignment (Shandarin 1974, Dekel 1985). In the framework of classic scenarios the lack of alignment, i.e. the random distribution of galaxy rotation axes is expected in the hierarchical clustering picture, whereas the existence of an alignment is expected in fragmentation scenario. The perpendicularity of rotation axes of galaxies to the supercluster main plane (hereafter smp) is consistent with the prediction of turbulence model, while the alignment of rotation axes of galaxies with smp supports the adiabatic model of galaxy origin. The true spins of galaxies are known for small numbers of objects. So, in the pre sent study the distribution of normals to galaxy planes is investigated. Two possible normals to galaxy plane, along which real galaxy rotation axis should be situated are determined (FG). Both solutions are taken into consideration, which blurs anisotropy, but does not introduce the spurious one. In order to better determine the spatial orientation of galaxy disc both parameters the position angle of the major axis and the axial ratio of the galaxy image were considered.