TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 7962 SUBJECT: GRB 080710: Gemini spectroscopy and probable redshift DATE: 08/07/10 12:00:49 GMT FROM: Daniel Perley at U.C. Berkeley D. A. Perley, R. Chornock, and J. S. Bloom report on behalf of a larger collaboration: Starting at 09:25 UT on 2008 July 10 we began spectroscopy of the optical counterpart (Li et al., GCN 7959) of GRB 080710 (Sbarufatti et al., GCN 7957) using Gemini-South (+GMOS). We acquired 2x1200s integrations using the B600 grism, covering a wavelength range from 3800 to 6700 Angstroms. The spectrum shows several strong absorption features, corresponding to the Mg II (2796+2803) doublet, Fe II (2586+2600) doublet, Mg I (2853), and Fe II (2344+2374+2382) at a common redshift of z=0.845. We tentatively associate this redshift with GRB 080710. Additional analysis of the spectrum is ongoing. We thank the Gemini staff for conducting these observations.