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