Spectroscopic study of blue compact galaxies - I. The spectra

Blue compact galaxies are compact objects that are dominated by intense star formation. Most of them have dramatically different properties compared to the Milky Way and many other nearby galaxies. Using the IRAS, H I data, and optical spectra, we wanted to measure the current star formation rates, stellar components, metallicities, and star formation histories and evolution of a large blue compact galaxy sample. We anticipate that our study will be useful as a benchmark for studies of emission line galaxies at high redshift. In the first paper of this series, we describe the selection, spectroscopic observation, data reduction and calibration, and spectrophotometric accuracy of a sample of 97 luminous blue compact galaxies. We present a spectrophotometric atlas of rest-frame spectra, as well as tables of the recession velocities and the signal-to-noise ratios. The recession velocities of these galaxies are measured with an accuracy of deltaV < 67 km s(-1). The average signal-to-noise ratio of sample spectra is ∼51. The spectral line strengths, equivalent widths and continuum fluxes are also measured for the same galaxies and will be analyzed in the next paper of this series. The atlas and tables of measurements will be made available electronically.