Excitation of the Rydberg A(2)Sigma (+) state of nitric oxide has been studied by electron impact in the energy region from threshold to 15 eV using an optical method. Absolute emission cross-sections of 13 bands of the gamma -system (A(2)Sigma (+) --> X-2 Pi (r) transition, and integral cross-sections for excitation of the nu = 0 and 1 vibrational levels of the A(2)Sigma (+) state have been determined. Emission spectra of nitric oxide have been also obtained for selected values of incident electron energy.