GLOBAL ANISOTROPY IN GALAXY ORIENTATIONS

We suggest a new method for investigating the distribution of the orie ntations of galaxies. This method is used to process data from the UGC and ESO catalogues, and from the catalogue of flat edge-on galaxies c ompiled by the authors (FGC). A statistically significant anisotropy i s detected, and possible reasons for this are analysed. The orientatio n distribution is described by a three-axis ellipsoid, showing an exce ss of about 20 per cent in the direction 4h-6h, 20-degrees-40-degrees, and a deficit of about 25 per cent in the direction 13h-15h, 30-degre es-40-degrees.