The Reflection Nebula Surrounding HD87643

Direct plates in narrow bands (H , [0 NI], [S Ii]) and in the broad (B)-band show that the nebula surrounding the nova- like object HD 87643 is of reflective origin. Furthermore, a spectrogram of the filamentary condensation lying east-west at 17" north of HD 87643 reveals strong Balmer emission lines, with a P Cygni structure at H fl H e, as well as many diffuse emission lines of Fe II: such features essentially form a replica of the spectrum of the central object. These results and other arguments strongly support the idea that the reflection nebula surrounding HD 87643 is associated with the mass-outflow observed from the central hot star. Key words: reflection nebula - HD 87643 - mass-loss