Electronic Telegram No. 1224
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 2008P IN NGC 2550A
     E. Y. Hsiao, M. L. Graham, C. J. Pritchet, and D. Balam, Department of
Physics and Astronomy, University of Victoria, report that a spectrum (range
390-703 nm, resolution 0.4 nm) of 2008P (cf. CBET 1223), obtained on Jan.
25.46 UT with the 1.82-m Plaskett Telescope of the National Research Council
of Canada, shows it to be a type-II supernova around maximum light.
Cross-correlation with a library of supernova spectra using the "superfit"
matching program of Howell et al. (2005, Ap.J. 634, 1190) indicates that
2008P is most similar to the type-II supernova 1993W at four days past
maximum.  The spectrum shows a wide emission feature of H_alpha (FWHM = 6000
km/s) showing a P-Cyg profile.  A narrow H_alpha emission (FWHM = 600 km/s)
is visible at the redshift of the host galaxy.


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      superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars.

                         (C) Copyright 2008 CBAT
2008 January 25                  (CBET 1224)              Daniel W. E. Green