Spectroscopic Classification of ASASSN-15pl as a Type Ia Supernova
ATel #8083; W. Zheng, M. Graham, and A. V. Filippenko (UC Berkeley)
on 23 Sep 2015; 04:38 UT
Credential Certification: Weikang Zheng (zwk@umich.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Supernovae
We report that a CCD spectrum (range 350-1050 nm) of ASASSN-15pl (ATel #8040)
was obtained on Sep. 16.7 UT with the 10-m Keck I telescope (+ LRIS) at
Keck Observatory. The spectrum shows that the object is a Type Ia supernova
before maximum brightness. Cross-correlation with a library of supernova spectra
using the "SuperNova Identification" code (SNID; Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J.
666, 1024) indicates a similarity with several normal Type Ia supernovae
a few days before maximum light. Adopting the redshift z = 0.016 of the host
galaxy ESO 545-G25, the rest-frame photospheric velocity estimated from
the minimum of the Si II 635.5-nm feature is about 12,500 km/s.
