Recent sounding rocket and satellite studies suggest that simultaneous measurements of the OI &lgr;989-¿ and &lgr;1304-¿ resonance lines and of the forbidden &lgr;1172.6-¿ and &lgr;1641.3-¿ transitions which also originate from the 3s'3 D¿ and 3s 3S¿ states would form the basis of a useful remote sensing technique for measuring the O I density and optical opacity of a planetary or stellar atmosphere. Because the &lgr;1172.6-¿ and &lgr;1641.3-¿ emissions are weak lines and are emitted in a wavelength region rich in spectral features, it is important to determine whether typical flight instruments can make measurements with sufficient spectral purity so that the remote sensing observations will yield accurate results. We have made a detailed, high-resolution study of the far ultraviolet emission features in the regions surrounding the atomic oxygen transitions at &lgr;1172.6-¿ and &lgr;1641.3-¿. These spectra, which were excited by electron impact on O2 and N2, are presented in an attempt to display some potential sources of interference in aeronomical measurements of these O I lines. Both atomic and molecular emissions are found, and the spectral resolution necessary to make unaimbiguous measurements is discussed. ¿American Geophysical Union 1987