Photometric and spectroscopic observations of the Nova Cygni 1975= the V1500 Cygni

The results of a photometric and spectroscopic study of Nova V1500 Cyg carried out jointly at the Observatories of Teramo (photoelectric photometry) and Asiago (spectroscopy) have presented. The brightness curve was distinguished by a sharp maximum and a steep fall. The Nova was remarkable for its very large amplitude (>18sup(m).5), the extremely rapid decline (t2=2sup(d)x5; t3=3sup(d)x9) and the high luminosity at maximum -10.25. The existence of a rapid brightness fluctuation with period 0sup(d).14096 was discovered. The pulsation showed variable amplitude, but the period was constant in the whole interval covered by long night runs of observation. The spectrum near maximum and during the first decline was characterized by the presence of wide emission bands, shortward accompanied by broad diffuse absorption features with mean radial velocities increasing from - 1700 on August 30-31 to -4200 km/s on Sep 23 when the absorptions disappeared. The emission bands were very broad and many of them overlapped. The expansion velocity derived by the half-width of the bright bands increased from 860 km/s to 1500 km/s on Sep 3, then remaining sensibly constant. The profiles of these bands were complex, of changing form, with several maxima and a saddle - shaped structure. The spectral evolution was rapid, the excitation went steadily increasing and the Nova entered in the nebular stage between 9-12 September. This phase was characterized by the strengthening of the forbidden lines of [Ne 3] lambda lambda 3869-3968, [O 3] lambda lambda 4363, 4958-5007, [N 2] 5754 and the permitted lines of N 3 4640, He 1 and He 2 lambda 4686, which soon became prominent. Later, at the end of September and the beginning of October, also emission lines of [Ne 5], [Ca 5], [Fe 6] and [Fe 7] appeared and rapidly strengthened. At the end of the year the forbidden line of [Fe 7] at lambda 6087 was still rising, being already as strong as He 1 lambda 5875. Some general considerations on the peculiarities of this nova have followed