Electronic Telegram No. 1521 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 2008fw IN NGC 3261 L. A. G. Monard, Pretoria, South Africa, reports his discovery of an apparent supernova (mag 14.3 +/- 0.2) on an unfiltered CCD image taken on Sept. 19.130 UT. The new object is located at R.A. = 10h28m55s.97, Decl. = -44o39'55".6, which is 52" west and 30" south of the galaxy core of NGC 3261. There is a red star of magnitude about 18 very close to this position, with USNO-B1.0-catalogue position end figures 55s.95, 56".4. Additional unfiltered CCD magnitudes for 2008fw: July 28.687, [18; Sept. 20.128, 14.2; 22.125, 14.1; 23.118, 14.2; 24.118, 14.2; 26.123, 14.2. Also on Sept. 22.125, V = 14.0, and B-V around -0.2. N. Morrell, on behalf of the Carnegie Supernova Project, reports on spectroscopy (range 380-920 nm) obtained on Sept. 28.39 UT with the Las Campans du Pont 2.5-m telescope (+ WFCCD spectrograph): Inspection of the spectrum shows that 2008fw is a type-Ia supernova near maximum light. Comparison with a library of supernova spectra via the "Supernova Identification" code (Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J. 666, 1024) gives excellent agreement with a number of normal type-Ia supernovae at ages between one week before and 3-4 days after maximum brightness. An expansion velocity of 9700 km/s is derived from the minimum of the Si II 635.5-nm absorption, when the NED redshift of 2563 km/s is assumed for the host galaxy (Koribalski et al. 2004, A.J. 128, 16). NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars. (C) Copyright 2008 CBAT 2008 September 28 (CBET 1521) Daniel W. E. Green