Physical Constants in Extra-Galactic Nebulæ

RECENT wave-length measurements by R. Minkowski and O. C. Wilson 1 of spectral lines of H, N II, O I, O II, Ne III and Ne V for the colliding galaxies identified with the radio source Cygnus A permit comparison of galaxy values of physical constants with local values. In particular, radio measures by A. E. Lilley and E. F. McClain 2 , in combination with the optical measures, permit estimates on the ratio of galactic to local values of the fine structure constant, α, and the proton gyromagnetic ratio, g . The observed system is estimated to be 3 × 10 8 light years from us on the Humason, Mayall, Sandage scale 3 .