Supernovae 2008hv and 2008ia

G. Folatelli and F. Forster, on behalf of the Carnegie Supernova Project and Millennium Center for Supernova Studies collaboration, report that they obtained spectra (range 330-930 nm) of SN 2008hv (CBET 1601, 1603, 1604) and SN 2008ia (CBET 1612) with the New Technology Telescope (+ EFOSC2) at La Silla on Dec. 10.2-10.3 UT. The spectrum of 2008hv shows this to be a type-Ia supernova at about one week before maximum light. The "Supernova Identification" code (SNID; Blondin and Tonry 2007, Ap.J. 666, 1024) yields a good match to the type-Ia supernova 1994D at 9 days before maximum. Adopting a recession velocity of 3762 km/s for the host galaxy (NGC 2765; Wegner et al. 2003, A.J., 126, 2268), the Si II 635.5-nm blend appears to be blueshifted by about 11400 km/s. The blend of the Ca II H and K lines shows a double-minimum structure, suggesting two absorbing components centered at 18000 and 22000 km/s.