We present low-resolution ultraviolet spectra of 14 low redshift ( z _ { \mathrm { em } } \lesssim 0.8 ) quasars observed with HST/STIS as part of a Snap project to understand the relationship between quasar outflows and luminosity .
By design , all observations cover the C iv emission line .
Nine of the quasars are from the Hamburg-ESO catalog , three are from the Palomar-Green catalog , and one is from the Parkes catalog .
The sample contains a few interesting quasars including two broad absorption line ( BAL ) quasars ( HE 0143-3535 , HE 0436-2614 ) , one quasar with a mini-BAL ( HE 1105-0746 ) , and one quasar with associated narrow absorption ( HE 0409-5004 ) .
These BAL quasars are among the brightest known ( though not the most luminous ) since they lie at z _ { \mathrm { em } } < 0.8 .
We compare the properties of these BAL quasars to the z _ { \mathrm { em } } < 0.5 Palomar-Green and z _ { \mathrm { em } } > 1.4 Large Bright Quasar samples .
By design , our objects sample luminosities in between these two surveys , and our four absorbed objects are consistent with the v \sim L ^ { 0.62 } relation derived by Laor & Brandt ( 29 ) .
Another quasar , HE 0441-2826 , contains extremely weak emission lines and our spectrum is consistent with a simple power-law continuum .
The quasar is radio-loud , but has a steep spectral index and a lobe-dominated morphology , which argues against it being a blazar .
The unusual spectrum of this quasar resembles the spectra of the quasars PG 1407+265 , SDSS J1136+0242 , and PKS 1004+13 for which several possible explanations have been entertained .