THE ULTRAVIOLET-SPECTRA OF THE SYMBIOTIC STARS MWC-960, FNSGR, SS-29 AND DRACO C-1

IUE observations of the symbiotic stars MWC 960, FN Sgr, SS 29 and C-1 in the Draco dwarf galaxy are presented. These systems were not forme rly observed by the IUE. C-1 qualifies as the farthest symbiotic star detected by the satellite with the SWP camera. At least three of the f our objects are found to contain very hot and luminous white dwarfs. T he WD luminosities cannot be explained by simple release of potential energy during the accretion process. Stable H-burning must be invoked. The WDs of all four systems are gaining mass in the form of non-degen erate He. Such systems stand as natural candidates in the search for t he progenitors of SNe Ia. A core-mass luminosity relation applied to t he hot components of the four program symbiotic stars suggests individ ual masses approximately 1.0 M..