Optical spectroscopy of Nova LMC 1988 No. 2 during its early decline stage

This paper presents the results obtained from optical spectroscopy of Nova LMC 1988 No. 2 made at the SAAO. It was a very fast nova (t₂ = 5 d) of large amplitude ($$\Delta m\gt 11.2$$ mag) and the visual maximum reached $$m_\nu = 10.3$$ on 1988 October 13.75 UT. A spectrogram taken 1.34 d after the maximum showed strong Balmer, He I and Fe II lines with P Cyg profiles. The broad (FWZI> 4000 km s⁻¹) emission features extend to +3000 km s⁻¹. Two principal absorption systems at ∼ − 1700 km s⁻¹ and ∼ − 2500 km s⁻¹ and higher velocity diffuse-enhanced absorption systems extending to −4000 km s⁻¹ were seen. By 1988 December 2 (50 d after the maximum) the nova had developed into the early nebular phase and showed very strong [Ne III] emissions. The characteristics of the nova closely resemble those of V 1500 Cyg and V 1370 Aql.