UV spectroscopy of the extended solar corona: Results from UVCS/Spartan

Remote sensing of the solar corona using ultraviolet spectroscopy can be used to characterize the physical state of the plasma along a wide region around the trajectory of a near-Sun flyby spacecraft (solar probe). Data from such an instrument can be used to separate spatial from temporal variations in the data received from in situ instruments aboard the probe. We present results from the UVCS/Spartan space shuttle missions in order to show examples of diagnostic techniques that can be used to determine velocity distributions and bulk outflow velocities of protons and minor ions in the solar wind.