ON THE NOVA RATE IN THE GALAXY

The nova rate in the Galaxy is determined, using the current estimates of nova rates in extragalactic systems as calibrators. A value of alm ost-equal-to 20 novae/yr is obtained. This is smaller by a factor 3-4 than some of the previous estimates. The comparison of the derived val ue with the 'observed' nova rate in the Galaxy of almost-equal-to 4 no vae/yr, shows that nova surveys in our Galaxy are strongly affected by incompleteness. The frequency of occurrence of classical novae that a re supersoft X-ray emitters, like GQ Mus, is also estimated.