2002IAUC.8015....4M

T. Matheson, P. Challis, and R. Kirshner, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, report that a spectrum (range 370-750 nm) of SN 2002hw, obtained by P. Berlind on Nov. 11.19 UT with the Mt. Hopkins 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST), shows it to be a reddened type-Ia supernova before maximum. Adopting the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database recession velocity of 5257 km/s for the host galaxy, the supernova expansion velocity is about 11000 km/s for Si II (rest 635.5 nm). The spectral-feature age of the supernova is 4 ± 2 days before maximum light. The spectrum shows a relatively strong Na I D absorption at the velocity of the host galaxy (equivalent width 0.2 nm). The dust maps of Schlegel et al. (1998 Ap.J. 500, 525) indicate a Galactic reddening of E(B-V) = 0.11. In addition, the overall shape of the spectrum is flat toward the blue, implying that the supernova is extinguished by dust.