An extensive on-line nuclear orientation study of the angular distribution
in favoured alpha -decay of Bi, At and Rn nuclei near the Z = 82 and N = 12
6 shell closures, performed at ISOLDE is presented. Surprisingly large alph
a anisotropies were observed, showing systematic changes from one isotope t
o the next. Comparison with various theoretical models proves that anisotro
pic alpha -emission in favoured decays of near-spherical nuclei is determin
ed by the structure of the decaying nucleus.