The Rubin-Ford effect is the observation of a dipole anisotropy

Dipole anisotropy

Dipole anisotropy is a form of anisotropy and the progressive difference in the frequency of radiation from opposite directions due to the motion of the observer relative to the source. As a result of that motion, one end of the 360-degree spectrum is redshifted, whereas the other end is blueshifted...

 in the recessional velocity

Recessional velocity

Recessional Velocity is a term used to describe the rate at which an object is moving away, typically from Earth.-Application to Cosmology:This term is generally only used in reference to distant Galaxies. The most common reason for the use of this term is Hubble's Law, which states that the...

 of a sample of ScI galaxies. This anisotropy is different in magnitude and direction from that of the cosmic microwave background radiation

Cosmic microwave background radiation

In cosmology, cosmic microwave background radiation is thermal radiation filling the observable universe almost uniformly....

, and suggests that they are moving relative to the microwave background frame at about 800 km/s in the direction of the constellation Pegasus

Pegasus (constellation)

Pegasus is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the winged horse Pegasus in Greek mythology. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and remains one of the 88 modern constellations.-Stars:...

. It was found in 1976 by Vera Rubin

Vera Rubin

Vera Rubin is an American astronomer who pioneered work on galaxy rotation rates. She is famous for uncovering the discrepancy between the predicted angular motion of galaxies and the observed motion, by studying galactic rotation curves...

 and W. Kent Ford and became the subject of much discussion and interpretation over the following years.