A high-resolution IUE observation of the line of sight to nova V693 Corona Austrinae 1981.

Abstract

The authors have analyzed an IUE echelle image of nova V693 Coronae Austrinae 1981 obtained 12 days after its outburst. Broad (30 - 40 Å full width) emission lines dominate its spectrum and generally confirm the difficult identifications of emission features present in its low-resolution spectrum taken 12 days after outburst. Numerous sharp absorption lines of low-, intermediate-, and high-ionized metal species are present in the line of sight (l = 357°, b = -15°) to the nova but none show any appreciable velocity shifts beyond a deduced average interstellar medium velocity of >v_ism< = -17 km s^-1. Approximate column densities have been determined, by using the weak line approximation and, wherever possible, by constructing curves of growth. A hydrogen column N(H I) > 10¹⁰cm^-2 is deduced.