Luminosities and Star Formation Rates Of Galaxies Observed With the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope: A Comparison of Far-UV, H-alpha, and Far-IR Diagnostics

During the UIT/Astro Spacelab missions, the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope obtained spatially resolved far-UV (lambda 1500 A) imagery of ~35 galaxies exhibiting recent massive star formation. The sample includes disk systems, irregular, dwarf, and blue compact galaxies. The objects span an observed FUV luminosity range from -17 to -22 magnitudes. We estimate global star formation rates by comparing the observed FUV fluxes to the predictions of stellar population models, and compare the FUV-derived astration rates to those derived from H-alpha and far-IR photometry.