2010CBET.2184....2S

M. Stritzinger, Las Campanas Observatory (LCO); G. Folatelli, Universidad de Chile; G. Pignata, Universidad Andres Bello; and M. M. Phillips, LCO, on behalf of the Carnegie Supernova Project and the Millennium Center for Supernova Science, report that they obtained an optical spectrum (range 486-750 nm) of supernova 2010ae on Feb. 23.1 UT with the Gemini South telescope (+ GMOS). This spectrum suggests that the object is a reddened (the equivalent width of Na I D is 0.12 nm), peculiar type-Ia event most similar to supernova 2006gz (Hicken et al. 2007, Ap.J. 669, 17). The spectrum consists of prevalent Si II (rest 635.5 nm) and S II (rest 544.9 and 562.3 nm) absorption features. In addition, a strong absorption feature is present at 651 nm and a weaker one at 718.1 nm, which is tentatively suggested to be formed by C II (rest 658.0 and 723.4 nm). Adopting a recession velocity of 1098 km/s (H I Parkes All-Sky Survey Final Catalog; Wong et al. 2006, MNRAS 371, 1855) for the host galaxy (ESO 162-17 is classified as a possible type-Sb-peculiar), an approximate expansion velocity of 4600 km/s was derived from the absorption minimum of the Si II line (rest 635.5 nm). A similar measurement of the C II feature (rest 658.0 nm) yields a blue-shift of 4300 km/s. Alternatively, if the 651-nm feature was formed from H-alpha, an expansion velocity of approximately 3600 km/s is obtained.