352 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Nov. 
ASTRONOMICAL NOTES. 
Nova Aquilae No. 3. 
The following reports on the visual spectrum and magnitudes of Nova 
Aquilae have been supplied by Mr. A. C. Gifford, M.A., F.R.A.S., Wellington 
College’Observatory; Mr. J. T. Ward, Wanganui Observatory; C. Monro 
Hector, M.D., B.Sc., F.R.A.S., Lower Hutt; and Mr. E. L. Morley, Nelson 
Observatory. The Hector (Government) Observatory has no spectroscopic 
apparatus; hence it furnishes no report on the spectrum. 
Notes by A. C. Gifford, M.A., F.R.A.S., Wellington College 
Observatory. 
The spectrum of Nova Aquilae has been observed at Wellington College 
Observatory through a small spectroscopic eye-piece attached to the 5 in. 
telescope. No scale or comparison spectra were available, so nothing more 
than eye estimates of the positions of the lines could be made. 
The approximate scale of wave-lengths shown on the drawing is con¬ 
structed on the assumption that the bright bands marked Ha, H/3, and 
Hy are correctly identified. The relative brightness of the bright lines is- 
indicated by numbers placed above them, the most noticeable line in every 
case being marked 1. The relative intensities of the dark lines are marked 
by numbers underneath them. 
The spectrum was examined for the first time about midnight on June 9, 
New Zealand time. It was then very bright and continuous, extending 
far both towards the red and towards the violet. No lines could be 
detected. On June 10 the sky was completely overcast in Wellington 
and no observations were obtained.* 
By the evening of June 11a complete change had taken place in the 
spectrum, which was now that of a typical nova.” The continuous 
spectrum was crossed by eight wide bright lines, three of which were 
bordered on the violet side by dark lines or bands. Owing to the small 
dispersion, narrow lines cannot be detected with this instrument. The 
most prominent line was a very brilliant one in the red (probably Ha). 
It was wide, and cut off sharply on the violet side by its dark companion. 
Next in brightness were one in the blue (probably H/3) and one in the 
green, then a line in the violet (probably Hy), and one in the yellow near D. 
Two fainter bright lines shone between Ha and D, and another between 
the bright lines in the green and blue. The dark lines detected were 
those accompanying the bright lines in the red, yellow, and green. The 
approximate positions are shown in the diagram. 
On June 12, at 9 p.m., twelve bright lines and seven dark ones could 
be seen crossing the continuous spectrum, which extended far into the 
red and the violet. The red end was fainter than on the previous night, 
but the violet extended as far beyond Hy as from H/3 to Hy. The new 
bright lines were two in the green, one in the blue, and one far away in 
the violet (possibly HS). A new decided dark line appeared in the green, 
* But see notes below of observations at Lower Hutt and Wanganui. 
