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# The Universe is Brighter in the Direction of Our Motion: Galaxy Counts and Fluxes are Consistent with the CMB Dipole

## Details

**Authors** Jeremy Darling

**Year** 2022

**Publisher** The Astrophysical Journal Letters

**Kind of work** article

**Discipline** Cosmology

**Secondary disciplines** Astronomy

**Applied** false

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ac6f08) 
10.3847/2041-8213/ac6f08

## In authors' words

### Abstract

An observer moving with respect to the cosmic rest frame should observe a concentration and brightening of galaxies in the direction of motion and a spreading and dimming in the opposite direction. The velocity inferred from this dipole should match that of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature dipole if galaxies are on average at rest with respect to the CMB rest frame. However, recent studies have claimed a many-fold enhancement of galaxy counts and flux in the direction of the solar motion compared to the CMB expectation, calling into question the standard cosmology. Here we show that the sky distribution and brightness of extragalactic radio sources are consistent with the CMB dipole in direction and velocity. We use the first epoch of the Very Large Array Sky Survey combined with the Rapid Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder Continuum Survey to estimate the dipole via several different methods, and all show similar results, with fits finding a velocity of about 331-399 km/s consistent in direction with the CMB-inferred solar velocity of 370 km/s toward (l,b)=(264°,48°).

### What they set out to do (purpose)

To test whether the sky distribution and brightness of extragalactic radio sources are consistent with the CMB dipole, addressing claims that galaxy counts show an anomalously large dipole inconsistent with standard cosmology.

### Who or what was studied (sample)

Extragalactic radio sources from the first epoch of the VLA Sky Survey (VLASS) combined with the Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey (RACS).

### How they did it (methods)

Estimated the dipole in sky distribution and flux of extragalactic radio sources using several independent methods and compared the inferred observer velocity and direction to the CMB temperature dipole.

### What they found (results)

Radio galaxy counts and flux show a dipole of about 331-399 km/s aligned with the Sun's direction of motion, matching the CMB dipole's independently measured velocity of 370 km/s toward the same sky position.

## Commentary

### In short

Because the observer's own reference frame relative to the cosmic rest frame changes what is measured, an otherwise isotropic source population appears as a directional brightness and count dipole matching the independently derived CMB dipole.

**Patterns it shows** P

**Added** 2026-09-21

**How to cite this** Jeremy Darling (2022). The Universe is Brighter in the Direction of Our Motion: Galaxy Counts and Fluxes are Consistent with the CMB Dipole. The Astrophysical Journal Letters.