IUE observations of the dwarf novae OY Car in superoutburst

The May 1985 superoutburst of OY Car, an eclipsing member of the SU UMa subclass of dwarf novae, was observed extensively with IUE to obtain phase-resolved spectra throughout several orbital cycles, when the superhump was well developed and lay close in phase to the eclipse. The UV lines and continuum vary with orbital phase and show a strong UV eclipse coincident with the optical eclipse. This implies that the superhump source at eclipse is not a strong contributor in the ultraviolet. The UV emission line spectrum and lack of X-ray eclipse suggest the presence of an extended coronal region. The flux evolution observed is unusual in that gross changes occur during the decline from superoutburst. The later spectra actually appear hotter than spectra earlier in the decline, and suggest that, early on, the inner disk is obscured from view.