High resolution ultra-violet observations of alpha Lyrae using the University College London balloon-borne telescope system.

Abstract

Spectral observations at a resolution of 8 km s^-1 covering the region 2000 - 3200 Å have been made of the bright star α Lyrae (Vega) using the University College London Balloon-borne Ultraviolet Telescope and Image-tube Spectrograph.

The authors report on the in-flight instrument performance and in particular the sensitivity and resolution of the system are discussed. Three important aspects of the present stellar data in the spectral region 2588 - 3135 Å are presented and these balloon results are subsequently compared and contrasted with other published data for this star.