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

TL;DR

This paper initially claimed evidence for a cosmic axis based on galaxy cluster alignments but was withdrawn due to a known observational bias called the 'Fingers of God' effect affecting the results.

Contribution

The paper's original claim of galaxy cluster alignment as a cosmic axis was invalidated after identifying observational bias as the cause.

Findings

The apparent galaxy cluster alignment was due to the 'Fingers of God' effect.

Survey coverage gaps influenced the observed alignment.

Original alignment claim was invalidated.

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This paper has been withdrawn.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.