Galaxy number counts and fractal correlations

We report the correlation analysis of various redshift surveys which shows that the available data are consistent with each other and manifest fractal correlations (with dimension D simeq 2) up to the present observational limits ( approx 150 h-1Mpc) without any tendency towards homogenization. This result points to a new interpretation of the number counts that represents the main subject of this letter. We show that an analysis of the small-scale fluctuations allows us to reconcile the correlation analysis and the number counts in a new perspective which has a number of important implications.