[Previous] | [Session 40] | [Next]

[40.07] The Structure of Shells Around Classical Novae

J. J. Johnson, D. M. Leeber, T. E. Harrison (NMSU)

We trace the changing shape of a nova shell using high-resolution spectra obtained at the Apache Point Observatory 3.5 meter telescope. We compare the structures evident in different atomic species and show how different excitation conditions exist in different areas of the shell. We will discuss the consequences of this result for the modeling of abundances of classical novae using codes such as CLOUDY, etc. This work is supported by NSF award number AST-9806114.