POST-MAXIMUM OPTICAL AND INFRARED OBSERVATIONS OF NOVA V1425-AQUILAE-1995

We present the post-maximum optical spectroscopy and infrared photomet ry of Nova V1425 Aquilae 1995. The data indicate that the nova belongs to the Fe II class and that it formed an optically thin dust shell at a very early phase compared to other dust forming novae of the same c lass. The total dust mass is very low with a dust-to-gas ratio of less than or similar to 10(-3). The optical spectrum and its evolution are similar to other Fe II novae. An extinction of EB-V=0.76 is derived f rom the He I line ratios and a distance of 2.7 kpc is estimated from t he magnitude-decay time relations. (C) 1997 American Astronomical Soci ety.