2008CBET.1246....1B

S. Blondin, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), on behalf of the CfA Supernova Group, reports that spectra (range 350-740 nm) of 2008Y (cf. CBET 1240) and 2008Z (cf. CBET 1243), obtained respectively on Feb. 9.41 and 9.31 UT by M. Calkins with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST), show them both to be type-Ia supernovae. Cross-correlation with a library of supernova spectra using the "Supernova Identification" code (SNID; Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J. 666, 1024) indicates that 2008Y is most similar to the type-Ia supernova 2005cf (cf. IAUC 8534) at 5 days past maximum light, and that 2008Z is most similar to the type-Ia supernova 2003du (cf. IAUCs 8121, 8122) at 6 days before maximum. Adopting a recession velocity of 20892 km/s for the host galaxy of 2008Y (Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 3), the maximum absorption in the Si II line (rest 635.5 nm) is blueshifted by roughly 11600 km/s; narrow H_alpha emission is detected in the spectrum at the redshift of the apparent host galaxy (SDSS J094315.36+361709.2; cz = 6293 km/s; SDSS Data Release 4). Adopting this recession velocity for the host galaxy of 2008Z, the maximum absorption in the Si II line is blueshifted by roughly 12700 km/s.