2011CBET.2637....2V

J. Vinko, University of Szeged; J. C. Wheeler and E. Chatzopoulos, University of Texas; and G. H. Marion, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and University of Texas, report that PSN J10523453+2256052 appears to be a "supernova impostor" similar to SN 2008S (Smith et al. 2009, Ap.J. 697, L49; Botticella et al. 2009, MNRAS 398, 1041). A spectrum obtained on 2011 Jan. 15.30 UT with the 9.2-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope (+ Marcario Low-Resolution Spectrograph, range 420-1020 nm) by J. Caldwell shows prominent, narrow Balmer emission lines superimposed on a blue continuum. No other spectral features are detected. The absence of Na D absorption and the presence of the blue continuum argues against significant reddening. Unlike SN 2008S, the Ca II infrared triplet is not detected in PSN J10523453+2256052. The FWHM of H-alpha is about 1000 km/s. The redshift estimated from the emission peaks is z = 0.0047, in agreement with that of the host galaxy, NGC 3437. At the mean distance of 25 Mpc listed in NED, the absolute magnitude would be -13.6, which is consistent with the brightness of supernova impostors and much less bright than normal supernovae.