Electronic Telegram No. 817 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 2007J IN UGC 1778 A. V. Filippenko, R. J. Foley, J. M. Silverman, University of California, Berkeley; S. Blondin, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; and T. Matheson, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, report that a spectrum (range 350-740 nm) of SN 2007J (cf. CBET 809), obtained on Jan. 17.25 UT by P. Berlind with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST), shows that it is probably a peculiar type-Ia supernova similar to SN 2002cx and SN 2005hk (Li et al. 2003, PASP 115, 453; Chornock et al. 2006, PASP 118, 722; Jha et al. 2006, A.J. 132, 189). Inspection of high-signal-to-noise-ratio CCD spectra (range 320-920 nm), obtained on Jan. 21 with the Keck I 10-m telescope (+ LRIS), confirms that 2007J is a type-Ia supernova similar to SNe 2002cx and 2005hk at approximately 2 months after maximum brightness. Comparison plots can be seen at the following URLs: http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/oir/Research/supernova/spectra/sn2007J_comp.gif and /sn2007J_Keck_comp.gif NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars. (C) Copyright 2007 CBAT 2007 January 22 (CBET 817) Daniel W. E. Green