Infrared and Optical Study of the Type Ia SN 1998bu in M96

The type Ia SN 1998bu was discovered in the galaxy M96 on 9 May 1998. It is one of the closest type Ia events of modern times and good temporal coverage has been achieved. Moreover its distance is well-determined. We describe here some of the first-season photometric and spectroscopic observations. While SN 1998bu is unusually highly reddened, we can still deduce that it was a typical type Ia event. Preliminary analysis suggests that for an Ho of about 60 km/(s Mpc), its (de-reddened) peak luminosity, light curve shape and spectroscopic behaviour confirms the relationships found between these parameters in other classic type Ia supernovae.