TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 16654 SUBJECT: GRB 140801A: archival upper limits on the host galaxy DATE: 14/08/01 22:09:55 GMT FROM: Denis Denisenko at SAI MSU D. Denisenko, E. Gorbovskoy, V. Lipunov (Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University) report: Since the error box of GRB 140801A (FERMI trigger 428612396) was not covered by Sloan Digital Sky Survey, we have used the digitized Palomar plates of this area to create the color-combined finder chart and to estimate the upper limits on the host galaxy of this burst. There are in total 12 plates available (POSS-I red and blue ones from 1953 and 1954, two Quick-V plates from 1982 and six POSS-II plates from 1991-1995: 2 blue, 2 red and 2 infrared). There is nothing at the position of MASTER optical transient (Gorbovskoy et al., GCN 16653) on any individual plates, as well as on their combination to the limiting magnitude ~22.5. 5'x5' color-combined finder chart centered at MASTER OT J025616.43+305617.0 is uploaded to http://master.sai.msu.ru/static/GRB/GRB140801A-BRIR5x5.jpg (position of the OT is marked with dashes). We also note the nearby white dwarf 44" north of the OT which is marked by an arrow. It has the following entries in the major catalogues: USNO-B1.0 1209-0038230 (02 56 16.581 +30 57 02.09 pmRA=88 pmDE=32 B1=15.37 R1=15.54 B2=15.74 R2=16.06 I=16.20) GALEX J025616.6+305702 (FUV=15.09+/-0.02 NUV=15.41+/-0.01) 2MASS J02561657+3057017 (J=16.12+/-0.09) There is no mention of its variability in the literature. However, it should be used with caution in photometric purposes. This message can be cited.