Electronic Telegram No. 1219
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 2008L IN NGC 1259
     E. Y. Hsiao, M. L. Graham, C. J. Pritchet, and D. Balam, Department of
Physics and Astronomy, University of Victoria, report that a spectrogram
(range 390-703 nm, resolution 0.4 nm) of 2008L (cf. CBET 1212), obtained on
Jan. 23.18 UT with the 1.82-m Plaskett Telescope of the National Research
Council of Canada, shows it to be a type-Ia supernova before maximum light.
Adopting the host-galaxy redshift of 0.0194 from Falco et al. (1999, PASP 111,
438), the Si II 635.5-nm expansion velocity is 12400 km/s.  According to the
'superfit' matching program of Howell et al. (2005, Ap.J. 634, 1190), the best
fit is to the spectrum of SN 2002bo at one day before maximum light.


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      superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars.

                         (C) Copyright 2008 CBAT
2008 January 23                  (CBET 1219)              Daniel W. E. Green