TITLE: GCN GRB OBSERVATION REPORT NUMBER: 2624 SUBJECT: GRB040709 J,H-band observations DATE: 04/07/10 09:40:30 GMT FROM: Bruce A. Peterson at MSSSO/RSAA/ANU B. A. Peterson (Australian National University, RSAA, Mt. Stromlo) S. Oyabu, and Y. Hamada (University of Tokyo, Institute for Astronomy) report: Starting at about UT 2004/07/09 12:45 (JD 2453196.0312) we obtained a series of J and H-band images covering 2 x 2 arcmin with the ANU 2.3m telescope at Siding Spring Observatory (E Long 149:03:39.8, S Lat 31:16:23.5). The images are centered on 20:53:53.0 -28:13:29 J2000 (GRB040709, HETE trigger 11549 at UT 2004/07/09 00:58:07.96, JD 2453195.54037). Comparison of our J, H images with the STScI DSS (B, R, and IR UKST plate scans from http://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_form ) reveals objects in the J, H images beyond the limit of the DSS. We plan to obtain J, H images at a second epoch in order to identify the GRB with a variable object declining in intensity. Our images may be downloaded from the URL http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/~peterson/GRB040709 When using our images, please cite this GCN and URL.