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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Instrument Calibration and Stellar Measurements

SOLSTICE made frequent observations of the following blue stars as the primary measurement of instrument performance over long periods of time.  Stars were selected to be bright, early-type stars that are stable at ultraviolet wavelengths.  The ensemble of selected stars were prioritized based on brightness and determined stability, and were used to construct the correction for instrument performance degradation.

Using this approach not only provides an effective means of tracking the expected changes in instrument sensitivity, but provides a means for future instruments to transfer their sensitivity levels to the UARS SOLSTICE data.  Additionally, the SOLSTICE stellar measurements provide a photometric database of spectra for these stars.

Here is a helpful key to the following table:

Star Name: Name based on the constellation the star resides in and the magnitude of the star within the constellation.
Skymap: The unique target identifier used by the UARS project in the onboard target catalog.
RA: Right Ascension angle describing the stellar position in the celestial sphere. Angle values derived from epoch 2000.
DEC: Declination angle describing the stellar position in the celestial sphere. Angle values derived from epoch 2000.
V: Visual magnitude of the star
Spec Type: Spectral type of the star including luminosity class.
Priority: SOLSTICE priority ranking based on observations and known stellar variability.
Star Name Skymap RA (J2000) DEC (J2000) V Spec Type Priority
hours minutes degrees seconds
α Canis Majoris 6450045 6 45.1 -16 43 -1.46 A1 V 10
α Crux 12260079 12 26.6 -63 7 1.35 B0.5 IV + B1 V 9
α Virgo 13250028 13 25.1 -11 10 0.97 B1 IV + B2 V 9
β Centaurus 14030110 14 3.8 -60 22 0.61 B1 III 7
β Canis Major 6220154 6 22.7 -17 57 1.98 B1 II-III -1
τ Scorpius 16350164 16 35.9 -28 13 2.82 B0 V 4
α Leo 10080053 10 8.4 11 58 1.35 B7 V 9
κ Orion 5470176 5 47.8 -9 40 2.06 B0.5 Iav -1
σ Sagittarius 18550060 18 55.3 -26 18 2.02 B2.5 V (variable) 3
η Ursa Major 13470101 13 47.5 49 15 1.86 B3 V 7
ζ Centaurus 13550080 13 55.5 -47 17 2.55 B2.5 IV 7
α Corona Bor 15340114 -1
α Eridanus 1370101 1 37.7 -57 14 0.46 B3 Vpe -1
α Pavo 20250162 20 25.6 -56 44 1.94 B2.5 V 4
δ Centaurus 12080058 12 8.4 -50 43 2.60 B2 IVne 4
δ Scorpius 16000061 16 0.3 -22 37 2.32 B0.5 IV 2
γ Pegasus 130041 0 13.2 15 11 2.83 B2 IV -1
γ Lupus 15350028 15 35.5 -41 10 2.78 B2 IV 3
α Grus 22080038 22 8.2 -46 58 1.74 B7 IV 2
α Lyrae 18360206 18 39.9 38 47 0.03 A0 Va 2
α Piscis Aus 22570098 22 57.7 -19 37 1.16 A3 V 2
ε Perseus 3570109 3 57.8 40 0 2.90 B0.5 III 2
κ Vela 92200138 9 22.1 -55 1 2.50 B2 IV-V 2
α Andromeda 80054 -1
α Ara 17310163 17 31.8 -49 53 2.95 B2 Vne -1
α Pegasus 23040128 23 4.8 15 12 2.49 B9 V -1
β Libra 15170002 15 17 -9 23 2.61 B8 V -1
β Taurus 5260058 5 26.3 28 36 1.65 B7 III -1
β Ursa Major 11010116 11 1.8 56 23 2.37 A1 V -1
δ Cygnus 19440209 19 45 45 8 2.87 B9.6 IV + F1 V -1
γ Corvus 12150112 12 15.2 -17 33 2.59 B8 IIIp -1
γ Ursa Major 11530119 11 53.8 53 41 2.44 A0 Ve -1
ζ Ophiuchus 16370015 16 37.1 -10 34 2.56 O9.5 Vn -1