ABSTRACT
The nuclear region of NGC 2782 has been observed at radio, millimeter, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, and X-ray frequencies to understand the ionization source that gives rise to the narrow emission lines. The continuum is probably caused by a normal galactic population plus considerable numbers of young stars and warm dust. In the ultraviolet and optical spectra, which are powerful diagnostics, no strong lines are detected in the 1200 A-3200 A region aside from L-alpha, and the optical emission lines cover only a narrow ionization range. The line and continuum properties suggest that NGC 2782 is a starburst galaxy, in which young stars photoionize the surrounding gas.