SIMBAD references

Further to IAUC 8071, T. Matheson et al. report that a spectrum (range 370-750 nm) of SN 2003ai (IAUC 8068), obtained by P. Berlind on Feb. 10.38 UT with the 1.5-m telescope, shows it to be a type-Ia supernova before maximum. A weak, narrow H-alpha emission line superposed on the spectrum of the supernova indicates a recession velocity of 10600 km/s for the host galaxy. Using this value, the supernova expansion velocity is about 10400 km/s for Si II (rest 635.5 nm). The silicon line appears to be weaker in comparison with typical type-Ia supernovae at a similar phase. The spectral-feature age of the supernova is 7 ± 2 days before maximum light.