The Axis of Opportunity: The Large-Scale Correlation of Elliptical Galaxies

TL;DR

This paper initially suggested a large-scale alignment of elliptical galaxies along a specific axis, but was withdrawn due to bias issues that invalidated the original conclusion.

Contribution

The paper's original claim of a galaxy alignment axis was retracted after discovering systematic bias affecting the results.

Findings

Original alignment conclusion was invalidated

Bias caused by galaxy dimming with ellipticity

Results were withdrawn due to data bias

Abstract

This paper has been withdrawn by the author due to the discovery of a serious bias resulting from the systematic dimming of galaxies with larger ellipticities away from the North Galactic Pole. Thus the conclusion that there is a special axis along which the elliptical galaxies tend to be aligned is incorrect.