2008CBET.1219....1H

E. Y. Hsiao, M. L. Graham, C. J. Pritchet, and D. Balam, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Victoria, report that a spectrogram (range 390-703 nm, resolution 0.4 nm) of 2008L (cf. CBET 1212), obtained on Jan. 23.18 UT with the 1.82-m Plaskett Telescope of the National Research Council of Canada, shows it to be a type-Ia supernova before maximum light. Adopting the host-galaxy redshift of 0.0194 from Falco et al. (1999, PASP 111, 438), the Si II 635.5-nm expansion velocity is 12400 km/s. According to the 'superfit' matching program of Howell et al. (2005, Ap.J. 634, 1190), the best fit is to the spectrum of SN 2002bo at one day before maximum light.