Electronic Telegram No. 131
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions)
CBAT@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science)
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SUPERNOVA 2005au IN NGC 5056
     M. Modjaz, R. Kirshner, and P. Challis, Harvard-Smithsonian Center
for Astrophysics; and T. Matheson, National Optical Astrononmy
Observatory, report that a spectrogram (range 350-740 nm) of SN 2005au
(cf. IAUC 8496), obtained by P. Nutzman on Mar. 31.27 UT with the F. L.
Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST), shows it to be a type-II
supernova, probably within a few weeks past explosion.  The spectrum
consists of a blue continuum and P-Cyg lines of H_alpha and H_beta.
Adopting the NED recession velocity of 5592 km/s for the host galaxy,
the expansion velocity derived from the minimum of the H_beta line is
about 9000 km/s.


NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes
      superseded by text appearing later in the formal IAU Circulars.

                         (C) Copyright 2005 CBAT
2005 March 31                    (CBET 131)               Daniel W. E. Green