Electronic Telegram No. 1396
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
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CBAT@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science)
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SUPERNOVA 2008cu IN UGC 11419
     S. Blondin, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), on
behalf of the CfA Supernova Group, reports that a spectrum (range 350-740 nm)
of 2008cu (cf. CBET 1394), obtained on June 4.42 UT by E. Falco with the
F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST), shows it to be a
type-IIn supernova past 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 2008cu is most similar to
the type-IIn supernova 2000eo at 56 days past maximum.  The spectrum
consists of a flat continuum and emission lines of the Balmer series, with a
narrow component of about 300 km/s (FWHM for H_alpha) superposed on a weaker
and broader component of about 2500 km/s (FWHM for H_alpha).  A recession
velocity of cz = 10655 +/- 173 km/s is derived using ten emission lines in
the host-galaxy spectrum.


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      superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars.

                         (C) Copyright 2008 CBAT
2008 June 4                      (CBET 1396)              Daniel W. E. Green