We report spectroscopic observations of the alpha,alpha-dichlorobenzyl radical obtained by corona excited supersonic jet expansion using a pinhole-type glass nozzle. Vibronically excited but jet-cooled radicals were generated by corona discharge of the precursor benzotrichloride with a large amount of helium carrier gas, from which the visible vibronic emission spectrum was recorded using a long path monochromator. From an analysis of the spectrum observed, the electronic energy of the D-1 -> D-0 transition and a few vibrational mode frequencies in the ground electronic state were obtained for the alpha,alpha-dichlorobenzyl radical by comparing observed frequencies with those obtained by ab initio calculation. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.