Ultraviolet photometry from the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory. VIII
A comprehensive ultraviolet photometric survey of the blue Ap stars was conducted in order to determine whether the close similarity, deduced from ground observations, between the blue Ap stars and normal B stars with similar UBV colors is maintained at wavelengths shortward of 3000 A. Data are presented for 24 Ap stars and 31 normal comparison standard dwarfs and giants observed by the Wisconsin Experiment Package on OAO 2. Both normal and peculiar stars were chosen, with a few exceptions, for their minimal interstellar reddening and for the absence of known bright companions. The similarity between blue Ap stars and normal B stars of similar UBV colors is not maintained in the ultraviolet. The blue Ap stars emit less ultraviolet flux than normal stars of like UBV colors. They are underluminous and cool in effective temperature for their colors.