GALACTIC EXTINCTION AND ABELL CLUSTERS

In this paper, we present the results of comparing the angular distrib ution of Abell clusters with Galactic H I measurements. For most subsa mples of clusters considered, their positions on the sky appear to be anticorrelated with respect to the distribution of H I column densitie s. The statistical significance of these observed anticorrelations is a function of both richness and distance class, with the more distant and/or richest systems having the highest significance (similar or equ al to 3 sigma). The lower richness, nearby clusters appear to be rando mly distributed compared to the observed Galactic H I column density.