2005IAUC.8503....4M

M. Modjaz, R. Kirshner, and P. Challis, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; and T. Matheson, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, report that a spectrogram (range 350-740 nm) of SN 2005au (cf. IAUC 8496), obtained by P. Nutzman on Mar. 31.27 UT with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST), shows it to be a type-II supernova, probably within a few weeks past explosion. The spectrum consists of a blue continuum and P-Cyg lines of H_alpha and H_beta. Adopting the NED recession velocity of 5592 km/s for the host galaxy, the expansion velocity derived from the minimum of the H_beta line is about 9000 km/s.