Far ultraviolet observations of the expanding shell in Eridanus

After correcting for hot stars in the instrument field of view, 1350-1750 A wavelength band observations of a thin strip of the sky near the south galactic pole have yielded count rates which vary smoothly from a minimum of about 55/cs near l = 30 deg, b = -60 deg to a maximum of about 740/cs in the direction of l = 199 deg, b = -49 deg. These values correspond to specific intensities of 600-8000 photons/sq cm per sec per sr per A, assuming a flat incident spectrum in this wavelength range. The magnitude and spatial variation of the observed signal are incompatible with any known source of terrestrial far-UV airglow, zodiacal light, or with the expected emission of high latitude reflection nebulosities. Attention is given to alternative sources that, together with the reflection nebulae, may explain the high intensities in this region.