2012CBET.3117....2M

G. H. Marion, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), on behalf of the CfA Supernova Group, reports that a spectrum (range 340-740 nm) of PSN J15060254+4125327 = 2012ch was obtained on May 18 UT by J. Irwin with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST). Cross-correlation with a library of supernova spectra using the "Supernova Identification" code (SNID; Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J. 666, 1024) shows that 2012ch is a type-IIP supernova before maximum light. A good fit is found to the template of the type-IIP supernova 1999em at four days before maximum. Prominent P-Cyg features from Balmer-series lines are present, and the velocity of H-alpha (measured at the absorption minimum) is 14200 km/s; a redshift of z = 0.008637 for the presumed host galaxy was used (from 2004 SDSS 3.C).