Interstellar extinction variations in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Abstract

The properties of ultraviolet extinction in the LMC are reexamined using some of the existing LMC data from the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite and a large number of new observations obtained during the IUE Sixth Episode. The main goal is to determine if the LMC extinction properties are regionally modulated and, if so, to examine the type and range of the variations. Among the new IUE observations presented is a large grid of unreddened LMC flux standards, which will eliminate spectral mismatch effects as complications in the extinction analysis. Eight new reddened stars were observed. The properties of the program stars are summarized; the method for producing the extinction curves (including the criteria for pairing reddened and unreddened stars) is discussed; and the curves themselves are presented and discussed.