2011CBET.2682....2V

J. Vinko, University of Szeged; G. H. Marion, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and University of Texas; and J. C. Wheeler, University of Texas, report that a spectrum of PSN J08230906+1604170 = SN 2011ba, obtained on Apr. 1.2 UT with the 9.2-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope (+ Marcario Low-Resolution Spectrograph) by J. Caldwell, shows it to be a type-Ia supernova. The spectrum shows the prominent Si II 635.5-nm feature and several other spectral features that are characteristic of a normal type-Ia supernova at or a few days after maximum light. According to SNID tool (Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J. 666, 1024), the spectrum closely resembles that of SN 2001ay at three days after maximum. The median redshift estimated from the supernova features is z = 0.144. Adopting this redshift, the photospheric velocity from the blueshift of the Si II 635.5-nm feature is about 12400 km/s.