A luminosity calibration of galactic novae indicates that all novae at brightness maximum radiate over-Eddington, and that speed- and light curve classes are intimately related. In later stages, the Balmer and [O III] line fluxes decline in similar ways for novae of all speed classes, except in slow ones where Balmer emission diminishes faster, and [O III] persists for decades. The brightness of the central source declines during the first century after outburst; decline rates for novae with orbital periods above 0.2 days are in good agreement with theoretical predictions, but there are indications that the luminosity will remain constant afterwards. Postnovae with shorter periods appear to decline more rapidly, and they often erupt from low-luminosity stages.
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