IUE observations of the continuous spectrum of the Orion nebula.

Abstract

The continuous spectrum of the Orion Nebula has been observed in two positions in the bright Huyghenian region with the IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer) satellite with a resolution of about 7 A in the spectral range of 1150-3200 A. The illuminating stars Theta 1 Orionis C and Theta 2 Orionis A have been observed under the same conditions. The nebular continuum, for most of this spectral range, is shown to be dominated by stellar light scattered by dust particles located within the nebula. The scattering efficiency of the dust in the ultraviolet has been compared with data in the optical.