FUSE Observations of Sirius B

Observations of the white dwarf Sirius B, obtained in the far ultraviolet with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer Satellite (FUSE), reveal the Lyman line region of Sirius B free from significant photometric contamination from Sirius A. The FUSE spectra provide a new estimate of the white dwarf gravitational redshift based on the Lyman lines, as well as Lyman line-based determination of the surface gravity, and an estimate of the absolute flux from the white dwarf in the FUV. Sirius B is seen to possess strong quasi-molecular Lyman line features associated with the Lyman Beta and Lyman Gamma lines. No spectroscopic features due to any elements other than hydrogen are found in the Sirius B photosphere.