(fwd) Nova? in SMC comments from Della Valle hola Bill -- just to point out to you that a Nova with t2 of 6 days, has an absolute magnitude at max of -8.9 +-0.16 (1sigma). The distance modulus of the SMC looks like much more close to 18.7 rather than 18.5 (which corresponds to the distance to LMC). All of this would give V ~ 9.8 (if unreddened). If we assume A_v~0.15 (foreground absorption) in the direction of SMC, nova SMC was not brighter than V~10, at maximum light, likely fainter, once one takes into account the background absorption. I'm waiting for the spectrum. People in La Silla have promised to obtain it tonight.... let's see. massimo