Spectroscopic Classification of ASASSN-15bb as a Type II Supernova
ATel #6948; D. Milisavljevic, V. A. Villar, R. Lunnan, M. Drout, D. Patnaude, E. Berger (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
on 18 Jan 2015; 22:39 UT
Credential Certification: D. Milisavljevic (dmilisav@cfa.harvard.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Supernovae
A low resolution (R ~ 2000) optical spectrum (range 4200-9400 Angstroms) of ASASSN-15bb (ATel # 6936) was obtained January 17.4 UT with the Walter Baade Magellan 6.5m telescope (+ IMACS) at Las Campanas Observatory. Cross-correlation with a library of supernova spectra using the "Supernova Identification" code (SNID; Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J. 666, 1024) shows the transient to be consistent with a Type II supernova. Several good matches are found with Type IIP supernovae (e.g., 1999em, 2004et) around maximum light. After correcting for the redshift z = 0.0159 of the host galaxy ESO 381-IG048 (Theureau et al., 2007, A&A, 465, 71), the minimum of the Halpha P-Cyg absorption is measured to be blueshifted by approximately 13000 km/s.
