Electronic Telegram No. 160 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) URL http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html SUPERNOVA 2005cf IN MCG -01-39-3 M. Modjaz, R. Kirshner, and P. Challis, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, report that a spectrum (range 350-740 nm) of SN 2005cf (cf. CBET 158), obtained on May 31.22 UT by P. Berlind with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST), shows it to be a type-Ia supernova, around ten (or more) days before maximum light. The supernova expansion velocity, derived from the minimum of Si II (rest 635.5 nm), and adopting the NED recession velocity of 1937 km/s for the host galaxy (de Vaucouleurs et al. 1991, Third Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies, ver. 3.9), is about 15000 km/s. NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes superseded by text appearing later in the formal IAU Circulars.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 May 31 (CBET 160) Daniel W. E. Green