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    PR # 32084                                                                   
     We propose to observe the massive X-ray binary Vela X-1 again with          
     ASCA during eclipse in order to better understand the line spectrum.        
     The goals are to search for variations in the energy and intensity of       
     the iron K line with pulse phase.  Such variations are expected from        
     the components of the line which are Compton scattered.  We also wish       
     to test whether the mean ionization state of the wind changes with          
     pulse phase.  This could explain the apparently large line widths in        
     the pulse-averaged spectra.  Finally, it is desirable to know how           
     reproducible are the results of the first observation of Vela X-1           
     using ASCA; models for the hydrodynamics predict variability on             
     timescales of at least $\sim$hours, but the variability in the              
    spectrum has not been tested o                                               
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