Ultraviolet interstellar absorption toward HD 156359, a halo star at 11 kiloparsecs in the direction l = 329 deg and b = -15 deg

Results based on high-quality multiple IUE high-dispersion spectra are presented for the HD 156359 sight line in the direction l = 328.7 deg and b = -14.5 deg. The UV stellar spectrum of HD 156359 is consistent with an MK classification of O9.7 Ib-II. The high-ionization UV interstellar absorption line in the star's UV spectrum are very broad with negative velocity extensions. Comparison of apparent column density profiles Na(v) for lines within each doublet indicates that there is no significant unresolved saturated structure in the Si IV or N V profiles. Direct integration of the Na(v) profiles for Si IV, C IV, and N V over velocities from -150 km/s to +40 km/s yields total column densities of log N = 14.10, 14.77, and 14.09, respectively. The definite detection of N V absorption lines with profile shapes similar to the Si IV and C IV profiles favors a common origin for all three species. 57 refs