2003IAUC.8198....3H

M. Hamuy and M. Roth, Carnegie Observatories, report that a spectrum (range 360-900 nm) of SN 2003ho (cf. IAUC 8186), obtained on Sept. 7.04 UT with the Clay 6.5-m telescope (+ LDSS-2) at Las Campanas, shows that this is a normal type-II supernova with a red continuum and broad Balmer P-Cyg lines. The minimum of the H_beta absorption yields an expansion velocity of -5420 km/s (assuming the NED recession velocity of 4265 km/s for the host galaxy), which suggests that the supernova is probably one month old.