  The 17O(p,g)18F reaction plays an important role in hydrogen burning
processes in different stages of stellar evolution. The rate of this reaction
must therefore be known with high accuracy in order to provide the necessary
input for astrophysical models.
  The cross section of 17O(p,g)18F is characterized by a complicated resonance
structure at low energies. Experimental data, however, is scarce in a wide
energy range which increases the uncertainty of the low energy extrapolations.
The purpose of the present work is therefore to provide consistent and precise
cross section values in a wide energy range.
  The cross section is measured using the activation method which provides
directly the total cross section. With this technique some typical systematic
uncertainties encountered in in-beam gamma-spectroscopy experiments can be
avoided.
  The cross section was measured between 500 keV and 1.8 MeV proton energies
with a total uncertainty of typically 10%. The results are compared with
earlier measurements and it is found that the gross features of the 17O(p,g)18F
excitation function is relatively well reproduced by the present data.
Deviation of roughly a factor of 1.5 is found in the case of the total cross
section when compared with the only one high energy dataset. At the lowest
measured energy our result is in agreement with two recent datasets within one
standard deviation and deviates by roughly two standard deviations from a third
one. An R-matrix analysis of the present and previous data strengthen the
reliability of the extrapolated zero energy astrophysical S-factor.
  Using an independent experimental technique, the literature cross section
data of 17O(p,g)18F is confirmed in the energy region of the resonances while
lower direct capture cross section is recommended at higher energies. The
present dataset provides a constraint for the theoretical cross sections.
