The chromosphere of Beta Cassiopeiae

High-resolution, long-wavelength IUE observations and ground-based photometry of the Delta Scuti star Beta Cas is reported. The ground-based observations were used together with previous results of Antonello et al. (1986) to ensure that the IUE observations were correctly phased relative to the photometric variation. Fluxes for the emission core of the Mg II k 2796-A line were obtained from the UV spectra over several cycles in 1986 and 1987. It is found that there is an increase in the emission during part of the cycle, but it occurs near minimum light in contrast to another Delta Scuti star, Rho Pup, and the classical Cepheids (where it occurs near maximum light). The mean level of chromospheric activity is comparable to other early F dwarfs.