TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 8438 SUBJECT: GRB 081029: UVES/VLT Absorption Redshift DATE: 08/10/29 06:08:18 GMT FROM: Paolo D'Avanzo at INAF-OAB V. D'Elia, (INAF-OAR), S. Covino, P. D'Avanzo (INAF-OAB), report on behalf of the MISTICI collaboration Following the detection of GRB 081029 (Sakamoto et al. GCN 8435), we triggered observations with the UVES camera, mounted at ESO-VLT. The observations were performed using both dichroics. We took two spectra starting around Oct 29 at 02:06 UT (about 23 minutes after the burst) and covering the range 300-1000 nm. We detect several absorption features, both ground and fine structure, namely, the SiII 1253, SiII 1260, SiII* 1264, OI 1302, SiII 1304, SiII* 1309, CII 1334 and CII* 1335. These features are interpreted as produced by the gas in the GRB host galaxy, at the redshift z=3.8479+/-0.0002 Further analysis is in progress. We are very grateful for the excellent support of the VLT staff and in particular to Antonio De Ugarte Postigo.