The Mg II h and k lines in Vega

High resolution h (2802.7 A) and k (2795.5 A) lines Mg II obtained for the star Vega (Alpha Lyr, A0V) with Copernicus satellite and a balloon-borne ultraviolet stellar spectrometer (BUSS) are interpreted by means of theoretical NLTE line profiles in the frame work of complete (CR) and partial (PR) redistribution hypothesis. The PR profiles are remarkably coincident with the observed ones for a magnesium abundance Mg/H = 0.00001 and a projected rotation velocity v sin i = 17 km/s. LTE and NLTE atmospheric models with a temperature plateau or with temperature rises (depending on whether the atmosphere is in radiative equilibrium or not) are used to account for the possible presence of a chromosphere on Vega. The possible presence of an interstellar Mg II absorption line superimposed on the stellar ones is also discussed.