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3. CORRECTING FOR THE EFFECTS OF EXTINCTION

Given the observed complexity of Galactic UV extinction, what is the best way to deredden an observed energy distribution? There are three different possibilities, which involve the use of a global mean extinction curve, an R-dependent curve, and a sightline-specific curve. These three alternatives and their inherent uncertainties are discussed below, and a new derivation of the shape of the average IR-through-UV extinction curve is presented. A more thorough discussion of the uncertainties involved in UV extinction corrections is given by Massa (1987).