2008CBET.1224....1H

E. Y. Hsiao, M. L. Graham, C. J. Pritchet, and D. Balam, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Victoria, report that a spectrum (range 390-703 nm, resolution 0.4 nm) of 2008P (cf. CBET 1223), obtained on Jan. 25.46 UT with the 1.82-m Plaskett Telescope of the National Research Council of Canada, shows it to be a type-II supernova around maximum light. Cross-correlation with a library of supernova spectra using the "superfit" matching program of Howell et al. (2005, Ap.J. 634, 1190) indicates that 2008P is most similar to the type-II supernova 1993W at four days past maximum. The spectrum shows a wide emission feature of H_alpha (FWHM = 6000 km/s) showing a P-Cyg profile. A narrow H_alpha emission (FWHM = 600 km/s) is visible at the redshift of the host galaxy.