2008CBET.1317....1F

G. Folatelli, M. Hamuy, and N. Morrell, on the behalf of the Millennium Center for Supernova Studies and the Carnegie Supernova Project, report that they obtained a spectrum (range 320-1020 nm) of 2008bi (cf. CBET 1312) with the European Southern Observatory New Technology Telescope (+ EMMI) on Mar. 28.1 UT. The spectrum shows that 2008bi is a fast-declining type-Ia supernova at a few days afer maximum light. Using the "Supernova Identification" code (SNID; Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J. 666, 1024), 2008bi is found to be most similar to SN 1991bg at three days after maximum. Adopting a host-galaxy recession velocity of 4031 km/s (Oosterloo and Shostak, 1993, A.Ap. Suppl. 99, 379) for the host galaxy, NGC 2618, an expansion velocity of 9000 km/s is derived from the absorption minimum of the Si II 635.5-nm line.