2012CBET.3163....2M

D. Milisavljevic, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA); R. Fesen, Dartmouth College; A. Soderberg and R. Margutti, CfA; T. Pickering, P. Kotze, and S. Crawford, South African Astronomical Observatory; and G. Pignata, Universidad Andres Bello, report that low-dispersion spectra (range 320-900 nm) obtained on June 28.84, 30.84, and July 2.84 UT with the 10-m SALT telescope (+ RSS) of PSN J13110904-2800331 = 2012dh show it to be a type-II supernova. All spectra are dominated by a very blue continuum and relatively weak H Balmer P-Cyg absorptions that have been increasing in strength between epochs, suggesting that these data have been obtained not long after outburst. The July 2 spectrum is similar to spectra of the type-IIb event 1987K at early times (Filippenko 1988, A.J. 96, 6). From this spectrum, the blueshifted velocity of the considerably broad H_alpha profile is estimated to be -11600 km/s after removal of the host-galaxy recession velocity of 2115 km/s (Garcia et al. 1994, A.Ap. Suppl. 107, 256).