Electronic Telegram No. 167 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 2005ch M. Modjaz, R. Kirshner, and P. Challis, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; and T. Matheson, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, report that a spectrum (range 340-730 nm) of SN 2005ch (cf. IAUC 8539, 8540), obtained on June 10.28 UT by M. Calkins with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST), shows it to be a type-Ia supernova well before maximum light. The spectrum consists of a blue continuum and the characteristic Si II feature (rest 635.5 nm), in addition to absorption lines due to Ca II, Mg II, Fe II, Si II, and S II. NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes superseded by text appearing later in the formal IAU Circulars. (C) Copyright 2005 CBAT 2005 June 11 (CBET 167) Daniel W. E. Green