IUE observations of globular clusters and blue horizontal branch stars

Abstract

This paper presents a review of ultraviolet photometry and spectroscopy of globular clusters and blue horizontal branch stars. Current observations with IUE are placed within the framework of earlier photometric studies carried out by OAO and ANS. In order to provide basic information on the nature of the horizontal branch star, whose light dominates in the ultraviolet, observations of field horizontal branch stars as well as individual stars in globular clusters are discussed. Finally the IUE observations of globular clusters in the Magellanic Clouds are examined, since they provide a sequence spanning the age range from 7 × 10⁶ years to 10¹⁰ years.