2008CBET.1200....1B

S. Blondin, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), on behalf of the CfA Supernova Group, reports that a spectrum (range 350-740 nm) of 2008B (cf. CBET 1194), obtained on Jan. 10.55 UT by M. Calkins with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST), shows it to be a type-IIn supernova around maximum light. Cross-correlation with a library of supernova spectra using the "Supernova Identification" code (SNID; Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J. 666, 1024) indicates that 2008A is most similar to the type-IIn supernova 2000eo at two days before maximum. The spectrum consists of a blue continuum and emission lines of the Balmer series, with a narrow component of about 500 km/s (FWHM for H_alpha) superposed on a weaker and broader component of about 3800 km/s (FWHM for H_alpha). The H_alpha and H_beta profiles also display a narrow absorption component, present in early-time spectra of some type-IIn supernovae.