Spectrophotometric follow-up of GU Mus, the (X-ray) Nova MUSCAE 1991

The spectrophotometric follow-up of the X-ray nova GU Mus (=GS 1124-68) is presented. We have analysed 128 B, V and R frames and 19 optical spectra, collected at ESO-La Silla, from the epoch of the discovery to January 1992. The optical lightcurve appears to be typical for a X-ray nova and exhibits secondary maxima in coincidence with the X-ray ones. The spectra show that Balmer and He ii lambda 4686 emission lines and the N iii lambda 4640 emission blend widen during the decline. A possible explanation of this behaviour is proposed and applied to the spectral evolution of other X-ray novae. Based on observations obtained at the European Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile.