TITLE: GCN GRB OBSERVATION REPORT NUMBER: 5617 SUBJECT: GRB 060912A: Redshift of probable host galaxy DATE: 06/09/26 20:17:04 GMT FROM: Pall Jakobsson at U Hertfordshire P. Jakobsson, A. Levan, R. Chapman (U. Hertfordshire), E. Rol, N. Tanvir (U. Leicester), P. Vreeswijk (ESO), D. Watson (DARK, NBI) We obtained 6*1200 s spectra of the proposed host galaxy of GRB 060912A (Levan et al. GCN 5573), using FORS2 on the VLT. The combined spectrum shows a very strong emission line at 7218A which we identify with [OII] 3727A at a redshift of z = 0.937. At the same redshift we also identify H-gamma in emission and possibly NeIII 3869A. The properties of this host galaxy (in particular strong [OII] emission) are similar to those seen in long-duration GRB hosts. We conclude that the proximity of this burst to a low redshift elliptical galaxy was most likely coincidental. We thank the VLT staff for their assistance in these observations.