Galactic orientation within the Local Supercluster

A method for investigating galactic angular momentum in the Local Supercluster (LSC) is applied to a sample of 2227 galaxies chosen from the UGC and ESO catalogues. The method takes into account both the galactic image position angle and the inclination of the normal to the galaxy to the line of sight. Another independent sample of galaxies taken from Tully's Nearby Galaxy Catalog is also used. We find the distribution of galactic planes throughout the LSC to be anisotropic; the planes tend to be oriented perpendicular to the Local Supercluster plane. The projection of galactic rotation axes on the LSC plane shows a tendency to point towards the Virgo cluster centre. Differences between spiral and non-spiral galaxies are observed, with a weaker alignment for spirals. Our results support the so-called ‘pancake’ galaxy formation scenario, but the ‘hedgehog model’ is not excluded.