Angle-resolved ion yield (ARIY) spectroscopy has been carried out on high-temperature N2O molecules. From spectra recorded at 300 K (room temperature) and at 700 K, symmetry-resolved absorption profiles of the N 1s(-1) 3 pi and 0 1s(-1) 3 pi resonances have been extracted from molecules in the vibrational ground state and in bending-vibration excited states. The spectra show dramatic differences, and the Renner-Teller effect becomes more evident for the vibrationally excited molecules. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.