  High resolution spectra with UVES/VLT of SN 1987A from December 2000 until
November 2005 show a number of high ionization lines from gas with velocities
of roughly 350 km/s, emerging from the shocked gas formed by the ejecta-ring
collision. These include coronal lines from [Fe X], [Fe XI] and [Fe XIV] which
have increased by a factor of about 20 during the observed period. The
evolution of the lines is similar to that of the soft X-rays, indicating that
they arise in the same component. The line ratios are consistent with those
expected from radiative shocks with velocity 310-390 km/s, corresponding to a
shock temperature of (1.6-2.5) x 10^6 K. A fraction of the coronal emission
may, however, originate in higher velocity adiabatic shocks.
