2003IAUC.8151....2H

M. Hamuy and M. Phillips, Carnegie Observatories; N. Suntzeff, Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory; and J. Maza, University of Chile, report that spectroscopic observations (range 380-930 nm) of SN 2002ic (cf. IAUC 8019), obtained between 2002 Nov. 29 and 2003 Jan. 27 with the Baade telescope (+ Boller & Chivens spectrograph) and the Dupont telescope (+ WFCCD), show a persistent, strong H_alpha emission and a weaker H_beta emission. The H_alpha profile exhibits a double component, one unresolved (FWHM < 300 km/s) and the other with FWHM about 1800 km/s – both of which remained strong over the first two months of evolution. This feature is reminiscent of type-IIn supernovae and suggests that this is the first detection of interaction between the ejecta of a type-Ia supernova (cf. IAUC 8028) and a hydrogen-rich circumstellar medium. Hamuy et al. add that SN 2002ic is about to reappear from behind the sun, so further observations are urged in order to check or rule out this possibility.