We report spectra of the forbidden origin and several hot bands of the (A) over tilde E-2 '' <- (X) over tilde (2)A(2)' transition of NO3 using cavity ringdown and enhanced absorption spectroscopies. We directly observed the origin at T-0((A) over tilde) = 7062.25(50) cm(-1), which arises from a magnetic-dipole or rotationally-forbidden transition. We used this assignment to estimate fundamental frequencies in the A state. The Jahn Teller (JT) effect splits the vibronic levels E(Gamma(ev)) of the nu(4)' = 1, E ''circle times e' manifold. We measured E(E '')-E(A(1)'') to be 1.6(1.9) cm(-1) implying weak JT effect in the Q(4) mode. We discuss the possible assignment of a band observed near the origin to either spin-orbit splitting or an A(2)'' level. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.