Spectroscopic Confirmation and Classification of PSN J14323388-4413278 in NGC 5643
ATel #4817; J. T. Parrent (LCOGT/Dartmouth College), D. Sand (Texas Tech), S. Valenti, M. J. Graham, D. A. Howell (LCOGT/UCSB)
on 15 Feb 2013; 21:14 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Supernovae
Credential Certification: J. T. Parrent (jparrent@lcogt.net)
Subjects: Optical, Supernovae
We report spectroscopic observations of PSN J14323388-4413278 (listed on the IAU Central Bureau's TOCP page) that was discovered by the Backyard Observatory Supernova Search (BOSS) team on Feb 13.62 UT. A spectrum (range 350-1000 nm) obtained robotically on Feb. 15.70 UT with the FLOYDS (FTS) spectrograph shows it to be a type-Ia supernova, a few days before maximum light. A second spectrum (range 350-950 nm) was also acquired with the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) on the 8-m Gemini South telescope on Feb 15.38 UT, confirming the classification. After correcting for the recession velocity of its host-galaxy, NGC 5643 (1199 km/s, NED), the minimum of the Si II 635.5-nm absorption feature is found to be blue-shifted by ~10,960 km/s. Comparisons to other spectra with "Superfit" (Howell et al. 2005, Ap.J. 634, 1190) show similar overlap with SN 1996X near maximum light. By Feb 15.38 UT, there is no conspicuous signature of C II 657.8-nm, however a small depression is seen on top of the Si II 635.5-nm emission component, at 634.7-nm, similar to that of SN 2011fe near maximum light (Pereira et al. 2013, pre-print, astro-ph/0008463).
