[IAUC] CBET 2939: 20111206 : SUPERNOVA 2011iu IN UGC 12809 = PSN J23510228+4643217

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                                                  Electronic Telegram No. 2939
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
CBAT Director:  Daniel W. E. Green; Hoffman Lab 209; Harvard University;
 20 Oxford St.; Cambridge, MA  02138; U.S.A.
e-mail:  cbatiau en eps.harvard.edu (alternate cbat en iau.org)
URL http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/index.html
Prepared using the Tamkin Foundation Computer Network


SUPERNOVA 2011iu IN UGC 12809 = PSN J23510228+4643217
     L. Cox, J. Newton, and T. Puckett report the discovery of an apparent
supernova (mag 17.2) on an unfiltered CCD image (limiting mag 19.5) taken with
a 0.40-m reflector at Portal, AZ, U.S.A., on Nov. 25.166 UT in the course of
the Puckett Observatory Supernova Search.  The new object is located at R.A. =
23h51m02s.28, Decl. = +46o43'21".7 (equinox 2000.0), which is 9".4 west and
4".1 south of the center of UGC 12809; an image is posted by the discoverers
at website URL http://www.possdata.com/PSNJ23510228+4643217.jpg.  The variable
was designated PSN J23510228+4643217 when it was posted at the Central
Bureau's TOCP webpage and is here designated SN 2011iu based on the
spectroscopic confirmation reported below.  Additional CCD magnitudes for
2011iu (unfiltered unless noted otherwise):  Oct. 25, [19.4 (Puckett);
Nov. 28.168, 17.2 (Puckett; 40-cm reflector at Portal); 29.049, 17.1 (R. A.
R. A. Koff, Bennett, CO, USA; Meade 0.25-m f/10 reflector + Apogee AP-47p
camera; limiting magnitude 19.0; position end figures 02s.27, 21".3; UCAC3
reference stars); 29.083, 17.1 (J. Brimacombe, Cairns, Australia; remotely
using a 51-cm RCOS telescope + STL11K camera + luminance filter at New Mexico
Skies Observatory near Mayhill, NM, U.S.A.; position end figures 02s.37, 21".8;
image posted at URL http://www.flickr.com/photos/43846774@N02/6428776279/).

     G. H. Marion, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), on
behalf of the CfA Supernova Group, report that a spectrum (range 340-740 nm)
of PSN J23510228+4643217 = 2011iu was obtained on Dec. 1 UT by P. Berlind with
the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST).  Cross-correlation
with a library of supernova spectra using the "Supernova Identification" code
(SNID; Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J. 666, 1024) shows that 2011iu is a type-Ia
supernova soon after maximum light.  A good fit is found to the template of
SN 2006cf at 3 days post-maximum.  The velocity of the Si II 635.5-nm
absorption feature is measured to be approximately 10000 km/s, using an
estimated redshift of z = 0.0460 that was measured from host-galaxy emission
lines.


NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes
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                         (C) Copyright 2011 CBAT
2011 December 6                  (CBET 2939)              Daniel W. E. Green