Ground based solar spectra between 1 and 5 &mgr;m (10,000 and 2000 cm-1) have been obtained with a new, absolutely calibrated spectrometer. These spectra have sufficient spectral resolution (2 cm-1) to allow atmospheric absorption lines to be distinguished from underlying continuum absorption. Continuum absorption due to O2 has been identified around 1.06 &mgr;m (9366 cm-1), 1.27 &mgr;m (7882 cm-1), and 1.6 &mgr;m (6326 cm-1). These continuum absorptions are not included in the HITRAN database. Similar continuum absorption should be present around the 0.762 &mgr;m (13121 cm-1) and 0.688 &mgr;m (14525 cm-1) bands of O2.¿ 1997 American Geophysical Union