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N.A. Miller (Dept. Astronomy, U. Wisc.-Madison), D.H. Cohen (Bartol Research Inst., U. Delaware), J.P. Cassinelli (Dept. Astronomy, U. Wisc.-Madison), G.J. Peters (Space Sciences Center-USC)
The star \beta CMa (B1 II-III) is among the brightest of the \beta Cephei class of variables. It is fortuitously located along a low (2x1018 cm-2) HI column density ``tunnel" which allows study in the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer's LW bandpass (300-700 Å). It presents a unique opportunity as one of only two early-type stars which can be observed in this wavelength regime. We have acquired a large (roughly 700 ks) set of observations for this star, spanning four years. We present a high signal-to-noise photospheric spectrum of this star and discuss the periodicities detected in this data series.
Analysis of \beta CMa's EUV variablility complements knowledge of the star's well-known optical variability by sampling a different layer in its atmosphere. We discuss insights into \beta Cephei pulsations resulting from investigation of its three periods which are each near a quarter day.