Electronic Telegram No. 1200 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://www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html SUPERNOVA 2008B IN NGC 5829 S. Blondin, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), on behalf of the CfA Supernova Group, reports that a spectrum (range 350-740 nm) of 2008B (cf. CBET 1194), obtained on Jan. 10.55 UT by M. Calkins with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST), shows it to be a type-IIn supernova around maximum light. Cross-correlation with a library of supernova spectra using the "Supernova Identification" code (SNID; Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J. 666, 1024) indicates that 2008A is most similar to the type-IIn supernova 2000eo at two days before maximum. The spectrum consists of a blue continuum and emission lines of the Balmer series, with a narrow component of about 500 km/s (FWHM for H_alpha) superposed on a weaker and broader component of about 3800 km/s (FWHM for H_alpha). The H_alpha and H_beta profiles also display a narrow absorption component, present in early-time spectra of some type-IIn supernovae. Corrigendum. On CBET 1194, last line, FOR from 1991 (limiting magnitude 18.6). READ from 1991. NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars. (C) Copyright 2008 CBAT 2008 January 10 (CBET 1200) Daniel W. E. Green