Optical observations of an SN 2002cx-like peculiar supernova SN 2013en in UGC 11369

We present optical observations of an SN 2002cx-like supernova SN 2013en in UGC 11369, spanning from a phase near maximum light (t = + 1 d) to t = + 60 d with respect to the R-band maximum. Adopting a distance modulus of μ = 34.11 ± 0.15 mag and a total extinction (host galaxy+Milky Way) of AV ≈ 1.5 mag, we found that SN 2013en peaked at MR ≈ −18.6 mag, which is underluminous compared to the normal SNe Ia. The near maximum spectra show lines of Si ii, Fe ii, Fe iii, Cr ii, Ca ii and other intermediate-mass and iron group elements which all have lower expansion velocities (i.e. ∼ 6000 km s− 1). The photometric and spectroscopic evolution of SN 2013en is remarkably similar to those of SN 2002cx and SN 2005hk, suggesting that they are likely to be generated from a similar progenitor scenario or explosion mechanism.