SIMBAD references

S. Blondin, M. Modjaz, R. Kirshner, and P. Challis, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, report that a spectrum (range 350-740 nm) of 2006ke (cf. CBET 682), obtained on Oct. 21.50 UT by W. Peters with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST), shows it to be a reddened type-Ia supernova around maximum light. Cross-correlation with a library of supernova spectra shows that 2006ke is most similar to the subluminous supernova 1999by at -3 days from maximum light. Given the estimated magnitude of the event (cf. CBET 682), and assuming no peculiar motion, the absolute visual magnitude is at most roughly -17.9. Even allowing for significant reddening does not yield an absolute magnitude consistent with a normal type-Ia supernova at that phase, thereby confirming the subluminous nature of this event. Adopting a recession velocity of 5150 km/s for the host galaxy (from Falco et al. 2000, "The Updated Zwicky Catalog", vol. 1), the maximum absorption in the Si II line (rest 635.5 nm) is blueshifted by roughly 11000 km/s. Also, interstellar Na I D absorption at the redshift of the host galaxy is visible in the spectrum with an equivalent width of 0.3 nm.