Abstract:
Spectroscopy of the moderately fast nova V443 is presented. Observations were made during the brightness fluctuations following maximum and during the transition stage. A few broadband polarimetric observations are also given. The spectrum and its evolution are similar to novae with the same type of light curves. The extinction E(B-V) = 0.4 is derived from ratios of higher members of the hydrogen Balmer and Paschen series; a distance of 8.0 kpc is estimated from magnitude-decay time relations. Balmer line fluxes at late stages are used to derive the mass of the ejected ionized shell, about 3.5 x 10 exp -5 solar masses.