The Relation between Light-Curves and Luminosities of Novae

Abstract

A few years ago the writer1 discussed available data on luminosities of novae. It was found that their mean absolute magnitude at maximum is close to 7.0, and that slow novae average approximately two magnitudes fainter than fast novae. Enough additional accurate determinations are now available to justify a preliminary attempt to define the relation between rate of decline and luminosity.