TITLE: GCN GRB OBSERVATION REPORT NUMBER: 3204 SUBJECT: GRB 050408: Moderate-resolution Gemini Spectroscopy DATE: 05/04/09 09:41:01 GMT FROM: Josh Bloom at Harvard/CFA Jason X. Prochaska (UCO/Lick Obs.), J. S. Bloom (UCB), H.-W. Chen (MIT), R. J. Foley (UCB) & K. Roth (Gemini Obs.) report on behalf of the GRAASP collaboration: "We acquired a Gemini/GMOS optical spectrum (R~3000) of the afterglow GRB 050408 (GCN #3189) on UT April 9.42. We identify MgI absorption at a heliocentric redshift of z=1.2357 +/- 0.0002, consistent with the previously reported value (GCN #3201). In addition we confirm the presence of a resolved emission doublet consistent with redshifted [OII]3727. We also report tentative detections of the TiII 3230, 3384 transitions suggesting the gas associated with the host galaxy is relatively dust poor and/or high in metal content." We thank the Gemini observing staff for assistance.