The featureless continua and hydrogen lines of Seyfert 2 galaxies

Optical and ultraviolet spectra taken in similar sized large apertures for 15 Seyfert 2 galaxies are presented. Measurements of emission-line strengths of Ly-alpha, H-alpha, and H-beta are used together with measurements of the ultraviolet slopes to estimate the ratio of recombination photons to ionizing photons. The photon ratios indicate that the ionizing continuum is being emitted anisotropically for at least six of the eight objects with UV slope measurements. The median value of the UV slope is indistinguishable from the UV slope of Seyfert 1 galaxies. This result suggests that in the occultation/reflection picture of Seyfert nuclei, the reflecting particles are free electrons and not dust. Previous observations of variability in Mrk 477 are verified, and it is shown that this galaxy exhibits characteristics of both Seyfert 1 and Seyfert 2 galaxies.