Carbon Monoxide in type II supernovae

Infrared spectra of two type II supernovae 6 months after explosion are pre sented. The spectra exhibit a strong similarity to the observations of SN19 87A and other type II SNe at comparable epochs. The continuum can be fitted with a cool black body and the hydrogen lines have emissivities that are a pproximately those of a Case B recombination spectrum. The data extend far enough into the thermal region to detect emission by the first overtone of carbon monoxide. The molecular emission is modeled and compared with that i n the spectra of SN1987A. It is found that the flux in the CO first overton e is comparable to that found in SN1987A. We argue that Carbon Monoxide for ms in the ejecta of all type II SNe during the first year after explosion.