358 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Nov. 
out towards the violet end of the spectrum, and seemed to correspond to 
the solar line G. 
The first band a was very dark and sharply defined on the edge of the 
bright line ( 1 ), and faded off slightly to the orange, where it ended apparently 
near the solar line D. The second band b was fainter but still sharper on 
the red side than on the blue side. The third, c, was very pronounced 
and almost as wide as the first; very sharply cut on the red side, and fading 
off to the blue. 
June 29.—9 p.m. At Nelson. Nova slightly fainter than A Aquilae ; 
estimated as magnitude 3-7. Spectrum appeared the same except for a 
fourth darker band d on the red side of the line (2). This was sharpest on 
the red side and almost gave the impression of another bright line. At 
times the spectrum between the bands a and d appeared to be fluted, 
though this is doubtful. 
July 3. The Nova appeared to be between r\ Serpentis and A Aquilae 
in magnitude— i.e., 3-5, a slight increase since the previous observation. 
The spectrum showed a few changes. The red end was very much brighter 
in comparison than the blue, and this probably accounts for the star’s 
increasing reddish colour. Line ( 1 ) was extremely bright, and immediately 
attracts attention by its strikingly brilliant colour. Line (2) appeared to 
have faded slightly in comparison with (3), as also had (4) and (5). 
Line (3) was still sharply defined, but (4) and (5), particularly (4), were 
becoming broader and more diffuse. 
The band a was not so pronounced as formerly—that is, it showed 
more spectrum colour ; also b, d , and even c appeared to be less marked. 
Just at the red edge of d there appeared to be a bright line. A fine but 
faint bright line ( 6 ), not noted in previous observations, appeared to be 
in the position of the solar line D. Also, between line ( 1 ) and the edge of 
band d there seemed to be several more bright lines. 
July 4 .—8 p.m. Nova was certainly brighter, and now appeared as 
equal to 77 Serpentis, or possibly even slightly brighter. Telescopically it 
had the appearance not of a red or orange star, but of a white star with a 
red flash in it. Other stars in the same field do not show this. The blue 
end of the spectrum was much fainter, and the bright line (5) was very faint 
and diffuse. Line ( 6 ) was unmistakably present, though faint and fine. 
July 6.—8 p.m. Seen through drifting cloud. Nova appeared about 
magnitude 3-5. There appeared to be no change in the spectrum. 
July 11.—10*15 p.m. Nova now fainter, and appears equal to /3 Aquilae, 
3*9, or 0 Serpentis, 4*1. Spectrum rather hard to focus. Blue and still 
fading slightly. Line (5) very faint, (4) fainter and wider ; (2) and (3) 
appeared to have brightened and widened slightly. Line ( 6 ) very faint. 
No dark lines were seen, although the fluted appearance noted before still 
appeared. 
July 25, 26.—Only slight changes were noted. Line (5) was very faint 
indeed, and (4) almost as faint. 
July 28.—40 p.m. Night very clear. Magnitude equal to 0 Serpentis, 
or slightly brighter than (3 Aquilae. In the spectrum, line ( 1 ) was quite plain 
and bright, (2) and (3) were about equal and very bright, while (4) was 
faint and diffuse, and (5) extremely faint and very broad. Line ( 6 ) was 
brighter than ever seen before, although it was still faint. There was also 
a suspected bright line about one-third way from ( 2 ) to ( 6 ) which puts it 
just on the red side of band d. The bands all seemed to be less marked, 
except c, which was very pronounced. The orange region seemed more 
distinct. 
