2004IAUC.8324....3M

T. Matheson, P. Challis, and R. Kirshner, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, write that a spectrogram of SN 2004bf (cf. IAUC 8317), obtained by J. Huchra with the Mt. Hopkins 1.5-m telescope on Apr. 13.42 UT, shows it to be a type-Ic supernova, similar to SN 1987M (see Filippenko et al. 1990, A.J. 100, 1575). The spectrum is reddened and shows a strong, narrow Na I D absorption at the velocity of the host galaxy with an equivalent width of 0.2 nm. The dust maps of Schlegel et al. indicate a low value for Galactic reddening of E(B-V) = 0.012. A spectrum of SN 2004bi (cf. IAUC 8321), obtained by Huchra on Apr. 15.22, shows it to be a type-Ic supernova. The spectrum is similar to early spectra of SN 1994I (Filippenko et al. 1995, Ap.J. 450, L11), but there are some peculiarities. An absorption near 625 nm (rest wavelength) may be Si II (rest 635.5 nm), but it is unusually strong compared to typical type-Ic supernovae.