The Supernova Associated with GRB 030329

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Abstract
The relative proximity of the recent gamma ray burst (GRB) 030329 resulted in a large gamma-ray fluence and in the brightest-ever afterglow (AG), hours after the burst, in the radio, optical and X-ray bands, permitting precise AG measurements, sensitive tests of models and an excellent occasion to investigate the association of GRBs with supernovae (SNe). The Cannonball (CB) model provides a good, simple and universal description of all AGs of GRBs of known redshift, so that it is straightforward to use it to predict what the expected SN signatures are. In the case of GRB 030329, 10 days after burst the AG should begin to reveal the lightcurve, spectrum and polarization of an underlying SN --akin to SN1998bw-- which will peak in the NIR/optical band around day 15. These effects will be easily observable if indeed SN1998bw is a good ``standard candle'' for GRB-associated SNe and if the so far unknown extinction in the host galaxy is not too large.