  The structural symmetry of forty-three face-on galaxy images in the R(65 0
nm) and J(450 nm) bands are measured to determine the usefulness of symmetry a
s a morphological parameter. Each galaxy image is rotated by $180$\deg and
subtr acted from the original to obtain a quantitative value for its structural
symmet ry. The symmetry numbers computed for the sample are then compared with
RC3 mor phological types, color \& absolute blue magnitudes. A strong
correlation betw een color and symmetry is found, and the RC3 Hubble sequence
is found to be one of increasing asymmetry. The use of symmetry as a
morphological parameter, and the possible causes of the asymmetries are
discussed.

Astrophysics