We present preliminary results on the low-redshift Ly \alpha forest as based on STIS spectra of 3C 273 .
A total of 121 intergalactic Ly \alpha -absorbing systems were detected , of which 60 are above the 3.5 \sigma completness limit , log N _ { HI } \approx 12.3 .
The median line-width parameter , b = 27 km/s , is similar to that seen at high redshift .
However the distribution of HI column densities has a steeper slope , \beta = 2.02 \pm 0.21 , than is seen at high redshift .
Overall , the observed N _ { HI } – b distribution is consistent with that derived from a \Lambda CDM hydrodynamic simulation .