The latitudinal distribution of the solar wind is one of the main themes in solar wind research. This distribution can be studied by in situ measurements (Ulysses) or by remote sensing methods. Measurements of the interplanetary Lyman &agr; radiation make it possible to study remotely the latitudinal distribution of the solar wind mass flux. The SWAN instrument on board SOHO has continuously measured Lyman &agr; all sky maps since the beginning of 1996. A preliminary analysis of the Lyman &agr; maps measured in 1996 showed that the solar wind mass flux distribution seems to be nearly flat for all solar latitudes outside the equatorial region from −20° to 20°. In this central region the mass flux shows a prominent increase. This result is very similar to the one obtained from the Lyman &agr; measurements by the Prognoz satellites in 1976-77 and to the results from in situ measurements by the Ulysses spacecraft in 1994-95 near solar minimum. ©1999 American Institute of Physics.