2008CBET.1585....1C

R. Chornock, M. Modjaz, and S. B. Cenko, University of California, Berkeley, report that spectra (range 340-810 nm), obtained on Nov. 23 UT using the Kast spectrograph on the Lick 3-m telescope, reveal that 2008gw (CBET 1559) is a type-Ia supernova, a couple of weeks after maximum light. Cross- correlation with a library of supernova spectra using the "SuperNova IDentification" code (SNID; Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J. 666, 1024) finds a best-fit redshift of 0.064 ± 0.004 from the spectrum and an age of 19 ± 4 days after maximum light. The best individual match is with SN 1981B at an age of +20 days.

SN 2008hj (CBET 1579) is a type-Ia supernova before maximum light; SNID finds a best-fit age of 7 ± 3 days before maximum light (the best match is with SN 2003du at -9 days). Adopting a redshift of 11360 km/s for the host galaxy (Huchra et al. 1993, A.J. 105, 1637) of 2008hj, the flux minimum of the Si II 635.5-nm line is blueshifted by 13100 km/s.

A very noisy spectrum of 2008gh (CBET 1539) reveals broad features consistent with an underluminous type-Ia supernova. SNID finds a best match with the spectrum of the peculiar type-Ia supernova 1991bg at an age of 47 days after maximum light.