2004IAUC.8425....2S

M. Salvo, Australian National University (ANU); A. Pastorello, Arcetri Observatory; and B. Schmidt, ANU, report that a low-S/N spectrum (range 400-900 nm) of SN 2004ew (cf. IAUC 8418), obtained with the ANU 2.3-m telescope (+ Double-Beam Spectrograph) at Siding Spring on Oct. 22.64 UT, shows this object to be a type-Ib (or possibly IIb) supernova, resembling SN 2000H (cf. IAUC 7375) a few weeks past maximum light. The spectrum shows the prominent He I lines at 447.2, 587.6, 667.8, 706.5, and 728.1 nm with velocities of about 8200 km/s. A relatively faint, high-velocity H_alpha absorption is also visible (v about 13300 km/s).