Mean intensity, J_v, of the continuum emission of H₂ from excited electronic states as a function of wavelength, λ, for a molecular cloud with a column density N = 10²³ cm⁻² illuminated by one side. The contribution of each excited electronic state (solid lines) is shown by solid coloured lines, while the dashed black line shows the total continuum emission. The inset shows the emission in the range 120–180 nm. Results are shown for model ℋ, H₂ o:p=0:1, and R_V = 3.1.