2003IAUC.8187....2E

N. Elias-Rosa, S. Benetti, C. Marmo, A. Pastorello, G. Altavilla, H. Navasardyan, M. Riello, M. Turatto and L. Zampieri, Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova; and E. Cappellaro, Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, report, from an inspection of a spectrum (range 355-780 nm; resolution 2.4 nm) obtained on Aug. 22.48 UT with the Asiago 1.8-m telescope (+ AFOSC), that SN 2003hg (IAUC 8184) is a type-II supernova caught shortly after explosion. The spectrum is dominated by H_beta and H_gamma with P-Cyg profiles, while H_alpha still has a pure emission profile. The expansion velocity deduced from the H_beta and H_gamma absorptions and from the H_alpha FWHM is about 11300 km/s. A broad He I 587.6-nm emission is also present. A detection of a deep (EW about 0.2 nm) interstellar Na I D feature suggests high reddening for SN 2003hg.