The molecular-adapted quantum defect orbital (MQDO) method has been applied to the calculation of absorption oscillator strengths and Einstein emission coefficients for electronic transitions involving Rydberg states of N-2 and NO. These compounds have been found to play an important role in the evolution of Earth's upper atmosphere. However, the difficulties encountered in both laboratory measurements and theoretical calculations on the photoabsorption of these compounds are responsible for the scarcity of data in the literature. Predictions of unknown transition probabilities for the NO molecule are presently given. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.