[IAUC] CBET 1585: 20081125 : SUPERNOVAE 2008gh, 2008gw, AND 2008hj

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                                                  Electronic Telegram No. 1585
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
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SUPERNOVAE 2008gh, 2008gw, AND 2008hj
     R. Chornock, M. Modjaz, and S. B. Cenko, University of California,
Berkeley, report that spectra (range 340-810 nm), obtained on Nov. 23 UT using
the Kast spectrograph on the Lick 3-m telescope, reveal that 2008gw (CBET
1559) is a type-Ia supernova, a couple of weeks after maximum light.  Cross-
correlation with a library of supernova spectra using the "SuperNova
IDentification" code (SNID; Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J. 666, 1024) finds a
best-fit redshift of 0.064 +/- 0.004 from the spectrum and an age of 19 +/- 4
days after maximum light.  The best individual match is with SN 1981B at an
age of +20 days.
     SN 2008hj (CBET 1579) is a type-Ia supernova before maximum light; SNID
finds a best-fit age of 7 +/- 3 days before maximum light (the best match is
with SN 2003du at -9 days).  Adopting a redshift of 11360 km/s for the host
galaxy (Huchra et al. 1993, A.J. 105, 1637) of 2008hj, the flux minimum of
the Si II 635.5-nm line is blueshifted by 13100 km/s.
     A very noisy spectrum of 2008gh (CBET 1539) reveals broad features
consistent with an underluminous type-Ia supernova.  SNID finds a best match
with the spectrum of the peculiar type-Ia supernova 1991bg at an age of 47
days after maximum light.


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                         (C) Copyright 2008 CBAT
2008 November 25                 (CBET 1585)              Daniel W. E. Green