2003IAUC.8071....3M

T. Matheson, P. Challis, and R. Kirshner, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, report that a spectrum (range 370-750 nm) of SN 2003af (cf. IAUC 8066), obtained by P. Berlind on Feb. 9.37 UT with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST spectrograph), shows it to be a type-Ia supernova near maximum. Narrow emission lines superposed on the spectrum of the supernova indicate a recession velocity of 6100 km/s for the host galaxy. Using this value, the supernova expansion velocity is about 12000 km/s for Si II (rest 635.5 nm). The spectral-feature age of the supernova is 1 ± 2 days after maximum light.