Early-time spectroscopic observations of SN 1998aq in NGC 3982

Medium resolution spectroscopic observations of SN 1998aq made in April - M ay. 1998, are presented. We confirm its Type Ta classification based on the prominent Si II lambda 6355 line and other features similar to SNe Ia. No significant sign of hydrogen Balmer-alpha line was seen in high-resolution spectra taken at 8 days before maximum. Preliminary estimate of reddening a nd distance modulus, based on the correlation between the line depth ratio of two Si II features around 6000 Angstrom and BVRI light curves of Type Ia SNe (Riess et al., 1998), is presented. Moreover, lin emission from the co re of the Seyfert 2 type host galaxy NGC 3982 has also been detected.