TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 17170 SUBJECT: GRB 141212A: extended object within the XRT error circle DATE: 14/12/12 22:18:17 GMT FROM: Daniele Malesani at Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Inst D. Malesani (DARK/NBI), P. D'Avanzo (INAF/OABr), V. D'Elia (INAF/OAR and ASI/ASDC), S. D. Vergani (CNRS/GEPI), G. Andreuzzi (INAF/TNG), A. Garcia de Gurtubai Escudero (INAF/TNG), A. Bonomo (INAF/OATo), report on behalf of the CIBO collaboration: We observed the field of GRB 141212A (Ukwatta et al., GCN 17158) using the TNG optical telescope located in La Palma. Observations started on 2014 Dec 12.832 UT (7.73 hr after the GRB) and consisted of 10x240 s in the R band. The PSF in our image was around 1.5". Within the XRT error circle (Osborne et al., GCN 17164; see also http://www.swift.ac.uk/xrt_positions/), we detect a single, extended object (A), with coordinates (J2000): RA = 02:36:29.95 Dec = +18:08:47.2 Its Vega magnitude is R = 22.66 +- 0.23, assuming R = 16.83 for the USNO star at RA = 02:36:35.95, Dec = +18:09:16.8. We cannot yet make any claim about variability, so the connection of this object with GRB 141212A is unclear. This may be the GRB host, though some contribution from an afterglow cannot be excluded. We also note the presence of two extended objects just outside the XRT error circle. (B): RA = 02:36:30.25, Dec = +18:08:50.1, R = 22.29 +- 0.16; (C): RA = 02:36:29.64, Dec = +18:08:50.2, R ~ 24.0 Object (C) is barely detected. No other sources are visibile in the proximity of the XRT error circle down to a limiting magnitude of R = 24. A finding chart can be seen at the following URL: http://www.astro.ku.dk/~malesani/GRB/141212A/GRB141212A_TNG.jpg