The spectrum of Nova Casssiopeia 1995

Abstract

We observed the spectrum of Nova Cas 1995 using the 2.16-m telescope (dispersion 50 Å/mm) over the years 1995–1997. The spectra of 1995 had as main characteristic features Fe II and H I emission lines, all showing the P Cygni profile. The spectra of 1996 mainly had emission in H I and He II. The spectra of 1997 showed strong emission in [Fe X], [Fe VII] and [O III], showing that the nova had entered the nebular stage. Using the observed continuum we estimated the effective temperature of the ejected mass as follows: 21300 K on 1995-10-14, 9700 K on 1996-10-26, 10200 K on 1997-12-16. Using the measured line flux the total ejected mass was estimated to be 4.7 × 10 −5 M ⊙, and the helium abundance, N He N H = 0.047 .