2005IAUC.8514....2M

N. Morrell, G. Folatelli, M. Phillips, C. Contreras, and M. Hamuy, Carnegie Supernova Project, report that an optical spectrum (range 320-940 nm) of SN 2005bl (cf. IAUC 8512), obtained on Apr. 16.13 UT with the Las Campanas 2.5-m du Pont telescope (+ WFCCD spectrograph), reveals it to be a type-Ia supernova similar to the subluminous SN 1999by, probably a few days before maximum light. Strong Ti II absorption troughs are present at about 420 and 590 nm. The expansion velocity derived from the minimum of the Si II 635.5-nm line is 11000 km/s, assuming the recession velocity for NGC 4059 given by the NED database.