  There is a consensus that Type-Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) arise from the
thermonuclear explosion of white dwarf stars that accrete matter from a binary
companion. However, direct observation of SN Ia progenitors is lacking, and the
precise nature of the binary companion remains uncertain. A temporal series of
high-resolution optical spectra of the SN Ia PTF 11kx reveals a complex
circumstellar environment that provides an unprecedentedly detailed view of the
progenitor system. Multiple shells of circumsteller are detected and the SN
ejecta are seen to interact with circumstellar material (CSM) starting 59 days
after the explosion. These features are best described by a symbiotic nova
progenitor, similar to RS Ophiuchi.
