We present low–medium resolution optical spectroscopy of the eclipsing AM Her system MN Hya ( RX J0929–24 ) .
We determine the magnetic field strength at the primary accretion region of the white dwarf to be 42MG from the spacing of cyclotron features visible during \phi \sim 0.4–0.7 .
From spectra taken during the eclipse we find that the secondary has a M3–4 spectral type .
Combined with the eclipse photometry of Sekiguchi , Nakada & Bassett and an estimate of the interstellar extinction we find a distance of \sim 300–700pc .
We find unusual line variations at \phi \sim 0.9 : H \alpha is seen in absorption and emission .
This is at the same point in the orbital phase that a prominent absorption dip is seen in soft X-rays .