356 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Nov. 
intensity of the spectrum. F is broad and soft, as is also, and much 
fainter, the one at Hy. I could just make out a number of faint dark 
lines between C and E, and the bright line at D is still visible. 
July 30. — Magnitude = 4 + ; very slightly brighter than 8 Aquilae. 
Spectrum as on 25th, also red border to star at focus. 
Notes by C. Monro Hector, M.D., B.Sc., F.E.A.S. 
1918, June 10, 9.15 p.m.—In the 1 in. finder of Sin. Watson-Conrady 
altazimuth the Nova appeared to be of a distinctly yellow-white colour— 
not the steel-blue of Sirius. With a power of 80 on the same telescope 
the Nova fills the tube with rapid scintillations like Sirius. With the 
McClean star spectroscope (five prisms) there is seen a very brilliant 
spectrum crossed by dark bands. The dark bands in disposition resemble 
those in the light of Sirius. They were not so broad but quite as intense. 
The one most easily seen was in the blue-green (? F). Another fainter band 
was seen towards the red end of the green ; it was sharp, but narrower 
than the first. Between these, two faint lines could be glimpsed. A dark 
line was seen in the deep red and another in the mid-violet, but they were 
difficult to fix under the adverse conditions prevailing. No bright lines 
could be made out, and no fluting such as can easily be seen with this 
instrument under favourable conditions. 
June 11.—Observed Nova Aquilae from 10 p.m. till midnight. The 
star appeared to be of lesser magnitude than on the previous evening. With 
the spectroscope a complete change was noted. The continuous spectrum 
has now a fluted appearance with conspicuous bright bands as follows : 
(1.) An intensely bright line in the red. (2.) Three bright lines in the 
green-blue. The green portion of the spectrum appears to end abruptly 
in a bright line ; the second in intensity of these three is the blue, and the 
third is a fainter one between the others. These lines appear to be bordered 
on the violet side by dark bands.* (3.) A bright line in the violet-purple. 
Numerous fine dark lines are visible from the red to the blue, particularly 
one in the position of the D line. The brightest line is of a pale-green 
colour, and appears to occupy the position of the bright line of the 
spectrum of the Orion nebula. With a power of 80 the star looks more 
blue-white than on the previous night. With a camera attached to the 
equatorial a photo was taken of the Nova and surrounding stars over 
a field of 7J degrees radius. Busch portrait lens F/6, 11 in., exposure 
5 minutes, Imperial Special Rapid ” unbacked plate. Result fairly good. 
Actinic power seems high in proportion to visual intensity. 
June 12.—Observed Nova Aquilae at Kelburn with a McClean spectro¬ 
scope on King Sin. equatorial telescope by Grubb : (1) Red end of spectrum 
appears to be cut off abruptly by a vivid bright line (? C) ; (2) pronounced 
dark line in position of D ; (3) a faint bright line half-way between 1 and 2 ; 
(4) a narrow black line in position of E ; (5) two bright bands in green 
fairly broad ; (6) a faint band in the blue with a dark (equally broad) 
band on the violet side (? F) ; (7) a broad bright band at the junction of 
the blue and violet ; (8) a bright band almost at the extreme end of the 
violet. Magnitude, rather less than Altair ; colour, yellowish inclining to 
red. 
June 13.—Observed Nova Aquilae from 8.30 to 9.30 p.m. at Lower Hutt 
with McClean spectroscope on 3 in. Watson-Conrady telescope. Spectrum 
still shows—(I) Vivid bright band in red ; (5) (6) bright lines (as before) 
