A Model For The WMAP Anomalous Ecliptic Plane Signal

Abstract

A simple model is presented to explain the high Galactic latitude anomalies in the WMAP data recently reported by Diego et al (2009). It is suggested that the anomalous deviation from a thermal spectrum could be caused by the propagation of background thermal radiation through a foreground optically thin HII cloud. The background radiation may be the remnant of cooling radio lobes associated with once-active jets from Sgr A*.