Abstract:
Nova Cyg 1992 was one of the brightest novae of the previous century. Its UV
spectrum was recorded with the IUE high resolution spectrograph from two days
before the maximum to 300 days after maximum. The spectrum shows spectacular
changes over time, both in the types of lines and their velocity structure.
From these changes we can reconstruct the mass loss history during this
Nova-event.
There were at least four distinct phases of mass ejection, two of which
resulted in strong absorption lines. I will discuss the evidence for these
phases, the peculiar acceleration of the shells after (!) their ejection and
the sudden appearance of X-rays 60 days after maximum. This results in the
most detailed empirical model of the mass ejection by a nova.