//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 29057 SUBJECT: GRB 201216A: Fermi GBM Final Real-time Localization DATE: 20/12/16 19:10:45 GMT FROM: Fermi GBM Team at MSFC/Fermi-GBM The Fermi GBM team reports the detection of a likely LONG GRB At 19:00:31 UT on 16 Dec 2020, the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) triggered and located GRB 201216A (trigger 629838036.239118 / 201216792). The on-ground calculated location, using the Fermi GBM trigger data, is RA = 190.6, Dec = 40.3 (J2000 degrees, equivalent to J2000 12h 42m, 40d 17'), with a statistical uncertainty of 7.5 degrees. The angle from the Fermi LAT boresight is 39.0 degrees. The skymap can be found here: https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/FTP/fermi/data/gbm/triggers/2020/bn201216792/quicklook/glg_skymap_all_bn201216792.png The HEALPix FITS file, including the estimated localization systematic, can be found here: https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/FTP/fermi/data/gbm/triggers/2020/bn201216792/quicklook/glg_healpix_all_bn201216792.fit The GBM light curve can be found here: https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/FTP/fermi/data/gbm/triggers/2020/bn201216792/quicklook/glg_lc_medres34_bn201216792.gif //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 29059 SUBJECT: GRB 201216A: Swift/BAT-GUANO detection and arcminute localization DATE: 20/12/16 22:05:10 GMT FROM: Aaron Tohuvavohu at U Toronto Aaron Tohuvavohu (U Toronto), James DeLaunay (PSU), Jamie Kennea (PSU) report: Swift/BAT did not trigger on GRB 201216A (T0: 2020-12-16 19:00:31 UTC, Fermi/GBM TRIGGER 629838036, GCN 29057). The Fermi/GBM notice, distributed in near real-time triggered the Swift Mission Operations Center operated Gamma-ray Urgent Archiver for Novel Opportunities (GUANO; Tohuvavohu et al. 2020, ApJ, 900, 1). Upon trigger by this notice, GUANO sent a command to the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) to save 200 seconds of BAT event-mode data from [-50,+150] seconds around the time of the burst. All the requested event mode data was delivered to the ground. Using the normal BAT imaging technique, we find the location of the GRB with an SNR of 8.9. The BAT position is RA, Dec = 201.4872, +36.3116 deg which is RA(J2000) = 13h 25m 56.93s Dec(J2000) = +36d 18' 41.76" with an estimated uncertainty of 3 arcmin. This position is consistent with the Fermi GBM localization (GCN 29057). XRT and UVOT follow-up has been requested. Results of follow-up observations will be reported in future circulars. GUANO is a fully autonomous, extremely low latency, spacecraft commanding pipeline designed for targeted recovery of BAT event mode data around the times of compelling astrophysical events to enable more sensitive GRB searches. A live reporting of Swift/BAT event data recovered by GUANO can be found at: https://www.swift.psu.edu/guano/ //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 29060 SUBJECT: Fermi GRB 201216A: Global MASTER-Net observations report DATE: 20/12/16 22:45:26 GMT FROM: Vladimir Lipunov at Moscow State U/Krylov Obs V. Lipunov, E. Gorbovskoy, V.Kornilov, N.Tyurina, P.Balanutsa, A.Kuznetsov, F.Balakin, V.Vladimirov, D. Vlasenko, I.Gorbunov, D.Zimnukhov, V.Senik, T.Pogrosheva, D.Kuvshinov, D. Cheryasov (Lomonosov Moscow State University, SAI, Physics Department), R. Podesta, C.Lopez, F. Podesta, C.Francile (Observatorio Astronomico Felix Aguilar OAFA), R. Rebolo, M. Serra (The Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias), D. Buckley (South African Astronomical Observatory), O.A. Gres, N.M. Budnev, O.Ershova (Irkutsk State University, API), A. Tlatov, D. Dormidontov (Kislovodsk Solar Station of the Pulkovo Observatory), V. Yurkov, A. Gabovich, Yu. Sergienko (Blagoveschensk Educational State University) MASTER-Tavrida robotic telescope (Global MASTER-Net: http://observ.pereplet.ru, Lipunov et al., 2010, Advances in Astronomy, vol. 2010, 30L) located in Russia (Lomonosov MSU, SAI Crimea astronomical station) started inspect of the Fermi GRB 201216A ( Fermi GBM team, GCN 29057) errorbox 9093 sec after notice time and 9123 sec after trigger time at 2020-12-16 21:32:34 UT, with upper limit up to 18.8 mag. The observations began at zenith distance = 74 deg. The sun altitude is -69.3 deg. The galactic latitude b = 77 deg., longitude l = 129 deg. Real time updated cover map and OT discovered available here: https://master.sai.msu.ru/site/master2/observ.php?id=1504672 We obtain a following upper limits. Tmid-T0 | Date Time | Site | Coord (J2000) |Filt.| Expt. | Limit| Comment _________|_____________________|_____________________|____________________________________|_____|_______|_______|________ 363 | 2020-12-16 19:06:04 | MASTER- | (13h 07m 43.55s , +46d 36m 09.3s) | C | 60 | 17.5 | 363 | 2020-12-16 19:06:04 | MASTER- | (12h 56m 31.09s , +45d 15m 10.4s) | C | 60 | 17.5 | 614 | 2020-12-16 19:10:15 | MASTER- | (13h 17m 46.46s , +40d 35m 28.8s) | C | 60 | 17.5 | 614 | 2020-12-16 19:10:15 | MASTER- | (13h 07m 38.14s , +39d 14m 22.3s) | C | 60 | 17.0 | 775 | 2020-12-16 19:12:56 | MASTER- | (12h 35m 54.29s , +40d 38m 28.4s) | C | 60 | 17.9 | 775 | 2020-12-16 19:12:56 | MASTER- | (12h 25m 42.42s , +39d 17m 23.9s) | C | 60 | 18.1 | 860 | 2020-12-16 19:14:21 | MASTER- | (13h 07m 48.15s , +46d 38m 21.3s) | C | 60 | 17.5 | 860 | 2020-12-16 19:14:21 | MASTER- | (12h 56m 33.49s , +45d 17m 18.4s) | C | 60 | 17.5 | 1201 | 2020-12-16 19:20:02 | MASTER- | (13h 17m 40.00s , +40d 36m 02.3s) | C | 60 | 17.5 | 1201 | 2020-12-16 19:20:02 | MASTER- | (13h 07m 32.84s , +39d 14m 53.9s) | C | 60 | 17.7 | 1365 | 2020-12-16 19:22:46 | MASTER- | (12h 35m 53.87s , +40d 40m 42.6s) | C | 60 | 17.7 | 1365 | 2020-12-16 19:22:46 | MASTER- | (12h 25m 42.35s , +39d 19m 32.2s) | C | 60 | 18.1 | 1529 | 2020-12-16 19:25:30 | MASTER- | (12h 56m 52.61s , +40d 39m 36.4s) | C | 60 | 17.6 | 1529 | 2020-12-16 19:25:30 | MASTER- | (12h 46m 41.02s , +39d 18m 11.5s) | C | 60 | 17.9 | 1613 | 2020-12-16 19:26:54 | MASTER- | (12h 37m 40.78s , +42d 40m 05.5s) | C | 60 | 17.7 | 1613 | 2020-12-16 19:26:54 | MASTER- | (12h 27m 08.40s , +41d 18m 42.9s) | C | 60 | 18.2 | 1702 | 2020-12-16 19:28:23 | MASTER- | (12h 59m 14.32s , +42d 39m 51.6s) | C | 60 | 17.7 | 1702 | 2020-12-16 19:28:23 | MASTER- | (12h 48m 43.16s , +41d 18m 30.3s) | C | 60 | 17.6 | 1779 | 2020-12-16 19:29:39 | MASTER- | (12h 55m 28.20s , +38d 39m 04.6s) | C | 60 | 17.5 | 1779 | 2020-12-16 19:29:39 | MASTER- | (12h 45m 33.95s , +37d 17m 42.3s) | C | 60 | 18.0 | 1870 | 2020-12-16 19:31:11 | MASTER- | (12h 56m 47.12s , +40d 38m 06.5s) | C | 60 | 17.6 | 1871 | 2020-12-16 19:31:11 | MASTER- | (12h 46m 35.22s , +39d 16m 45.1s) | C | 60 | 18.0 | 1955 | 2020-12-16 19:32:36 | MASTER- | (12h 37m 47.00s , +42d 39m 43.4s) | C | 60 | 17.6 | 1955 | 2020-12-16 19:32:36 | MASTER- | (12h 27m 14.01s , +41d 18m 21.4s) | C | 60 | 17.9 | 2056 | 2020-12-16 19:34:17 | MASTER- | (12h 59m 18.21s , +42d 40m 03.2s) | C | 60 | 17.8 | 2056 | 2020-12-16 19:34:17 | MASTER- | (12h 48m 46.39s , +41d 18m 42.0s) | C | 60 | 17.5 | 2133 | 2020-12-16 19:35:34 | MASTER- | (12h 55m 26.16s , +38d 38m 24.3s) | C | 60 | 17.5 | 2133 | 2020-12-16 19:35:34 | MASTER- | (12h 45m 31.47s , +37d 17m 03.0s) | C | 60 | 18.1 | 9153 | 2020-12-16 21:32:34 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 45m 40.62s , +40d 18m 38.4s) | C | 60 | 17.7 | 9153 | 2020-12-16 21:32:34 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 53m 28.77s , +40d 16m 14.0s) | C | 60 | 17.0 | 9233 | 2020-12-16 21:33:54 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 24m 52.90s , +40d 17m 40.3s) | C | 60 | 18.0 | 9233 | 2020-12-16 21:33:54 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 32m 41.13s , +40d 15m 19.0s) | C | 60 | 17.5 | 9783 | 2020-12-16 21:43:04 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 45m 48.84s , +40d 17m 40.0s) | C | 60 | 17.6 | 9783 | 2020-12-16 21:43:04 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 53m 37.95s , +40d 15m 15.4s) | C | 60 | 16.8 | 9862 | 2020-12-16 21:44:23 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 26m 14.09s , +42d 16m 45.6s) | C | 60 | 18.1 | 9862 | 2020-12-16 21:44:23 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 34m 18.02s , +42d 14m 26.0s) | C | 60 | 17.3 | 10178 | 2020-12-16 21:49:39 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 31m 52.23s , +38d 16m 14.2s) | C | 60 | 17.2 | 10178 | 2020-12-16 21:49:39 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 24m 16.46s , +38d 18m 38.4s) | C | 60 | 18.3 | 10257 | 2020-12-16 21:50:58 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 44m 44.32s , +38d 17m 29.0s) | C | 60 | 18.1 | 10257 | 2020-12-16 21:50:58 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 52m 19.55s , +38d 15m 01.7s) | C | 60 | 17.2 | 10542 | 2020-12-16 21:55:43 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 31m 51.85s , +38d 16m 13.5s) | C | 60 | 17.1 | 10542 | 2020-12-16 21:55:43 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 24m 16.24s , +38d 18m 37.4s) | C | 60 | 18.1 | 10823 | 2020-12-16 22:00:24 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 55m 48.97s , +42d 14m 10.9s) | C | 60 | 17.6 | 10823 | 2020-12-16 22:00:24 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 47m 51.94s , +42d 16m 04.5s) | C | 60 | 18.0 | 10904 | 2020-12-16 22:01:45 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 28m 51.45s , +44d 16m 33.9s) | C | 60 | 18.2 | 10904 | 2020-12-16 22:01:45 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 37m 04.73s , +44d 14m 43.5s) | C | 60 | 17.9 | 10983 | 2020-12-16 22:03:04 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 32m 06.09s , +36d 15m 53.7s) | C | 60 | 16.3 | 10983 | 2020-12-16 22:03:04 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 24m 48.08s , +36d 17m 48.3s) | C | 60 | 17.9 | 11491 | 2020-12-16 22:11:32 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 28m 47.70s , +44d 17m 34.5s) | C | 60 | 18.5 | 11491 | 2020-12-16 22:11:32 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 37m 05.31s , +44d 15m 26.3s) | C | 60 | 17.9 | 11571 | 2020-12-16 22:12:51 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 24m 42.22s , +36d 16m 17.9s) | C | 60 | 18.4 | 11571 | 2020-12-16 22:12:51 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 32m 03.55s , +36d 14m 07.0s) | C | 60 | 16.5 | 11650 | 2020-12-16 22:14:11 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 59m 23.80s , +44d 14m 39.0s) | C | 60 | 17.7 | 11650 | 2020-12-16 22:14:11 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 51m 06.64s , +44d 16m 49.7s) | C | 60 | 18.6 | 11958 | 2020-12-16 22:19:19 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 12m 38.80s , +42d 16m 47.5s) | C | 60 | 18.0 | 11958 | 2020-12-16 22:19:19 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 04m 35.75s , +42d 19m 00.2s) | C | 60 | 18.7 | 12037 | 2020-12-16 22:20:38 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 44m 37.32s , +36d 17m 14.9s) | C | 60 | 18.3 | 12037 | 2020-12-16 22:20:38 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 51m 58.70s , +36d 14m 59.1s) | C | 60 | 16.9 | 12247 | 2020-12-16 22:24:08 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 11m 35.33s , +40d 16m 43.8s) | C | 60 | 17.8 | 12247 | 2020-12-16 22:24:08 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 03m 46.80s , +40d 18m 57.4s) | C | 60 | 18.6 | 12327 | 2020-12-16 22:25:27 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 41m 00.54s , +46d 15m 34.6s) | C | 60 | 18.3 | 12327 | 2020-12-16 22:25:27 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 32m 23.51s , +46d 17m 48.7s) | C | 60 | 18.8 | 12558 | 2020-12-16 22:29:19 | MASTER-Tavrida | (13h 14m 24.24s , +40d 15m 57.8s) | C | 60 | 17.6 | 12558 | 2020-12-16 22:29:19 | MASTER-Tavrida | (13h 06m 37.08s , +40d 18m 17.0s) | C | 60 | 18.0 | 12637 | 2020-12-16 22:30:38 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 12m 42.90s , +42d 15m 48.4s) | C | 60 | 18.1 | 12637 | 2020-12-16 22:30:38 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 04m 40.36s , +42d 17m 57.5s) | C | 60 | 18.5 | 12717 | 2020-12-16 22:31:57 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 11m 34.27s , +40d 14m 44.4s) | C | 60 | 17.8 | 12717 | 2020-12-16 22:31:57 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 03m 46.53s , +40d 16m 54.4s) | C | 60 | 18.6 | 12796 | 2020-12-16 22:33:17 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 40m 58.33s , +46d 14m 45.0s) | C | 60 | 18.2 | 12796 | 2020-12-16 22:33:17 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 32m 22.10s , +46d 16m 55.3s) | C | 60 | 18.5 | 12875 | 2020-12-16 22:34:36 | MASTER-Tavrida | (12h 14m 41.97s , +44d 16m 31.5s) | C | 60 | 18.0 | 12954 | 2020-12-16 22:35:55 | MASTER-Tavrida | (13h 14m 26.63s , +40d 14m 07.0s) | C | 60 | 17.5 | 12954 | 2020-12-16 22:35:55 | MASTER-Tavrida | (13h 06m 39.70s , +40d 16m 25.9s) | C | 60 | 18.0 | Filter C is a clear (unfiltred) band. The observation and reduction will continue. The message may be cited. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 29062 SUBJECT: Swift GRB201216.96: Global MASTER-Net observations report DATE: 20/12/16 23:16:12 GMT FROM: Vladimir Lipunov at Moscow State U/Krylov Obs V. Lipunov, E. Gorbovskoy, V.Kornilov, N.Tyurina, P.Balanutsa, A.Kuznetsov, F.Balakin, V.Vladimirov, D. Vlasenko, I.Gorbunov, D.Zimnukhov, V.Senik, T.Pogrosheva, D.Kuvshinov, D. Cheryasov (Lomonosov Moscow State University, SAI, Physics Department), R. Podesta, C.Lopez, F. Podesta, C.Francile (Observatorio Astronomico Felix Aguilar OAFA), R. Rebolo, M. Serra (The Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias), D. Buckley (South African Astronomical Observatory), O.A. Gres, N.M. Budnev, O.Ershova (Irkutsk State University, API), A. Tlatov, D. Dormidontov (Kislovodsk Solar Station of the Pulkovo Observatory), V. Yurkov, A. Gabovich, Yu. Sergienko (Blagoveschensk Educational State University) MASTER-Tavrida robotic telescope (Global MASTER-Net: http://observ.pereplet.ru, Lipunov et al., 2010, Advances in Astronomy, vol. 2010, 30L) located in Russia (Lomonosov MSU, SAI Crimea astronomical station) was pointed to the Swift GRB201216.96 (trigger No 1013243,01h 05m 25.92s , +16d 32m 13.2s, R=0.05) errorbox 39 sec after notice time and 68 sec after trigger time at 2020-12-16 23:08:40 UT, with upper limit up to 17.6 mag. The observations began at zenith distance = 79 deg. The sun altitude is -62.3 deg. The galactic latitude b = -46 deg., longitude l = 129 deg. Real time updated cover map and OT discovered available here: https://master.sai.msu.ru/site/master2/observ.php?id=1504800 We obtain a following upper limits. Tmid-T0 | Site |Filt.| Expt. | Limit| Comment _________|_____________________|_____|_______|______|________ 159 | MASTER-Tavrida | C | 180 | 17.6 | Filter C is a clear (unfiltred) band. The observation and reduction will continue. The message may be cited. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 29065 SUBJECT: GRB 201216A: Swift ToO observations DATE: 20/12/17 01:00:14 GMT FROM: Phil Evans at U of Leicester P. A. Evans (U. Leicester) reports on behalf of the Swift team: Swift has initiated a ToO observation of the Swift/BAT GRB 201216A. Automated analysis of the XRT data will be presented online at https://www.swift.ac.uk/ToO_GRBs/00021408 Any uncatalogued X-ray sources detected in this analysis will be reported on this website and via GCN COUNTERPART notices. These are not necessarily related to the Swift/BAT event. Any X-ray source considered to be a probable afterglow candidate will be reported via a GCN Circular after manual consideration. Details of the XRT automated analysis methods are detailed in Evans et al. (2007, A&A, 469, 379; 2009, MNRAS, 397, 1177 and 2014, ApJS, 210, 8). This circular is an official product of the Swift-XRT team. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 29069 SUBJECT: GRB 201216A: Swift-XRT observations DATE: 20/12/17 09:36:13 GMT FROM: Phil Evans at U of Leicester K.L. Page (U. Leicester), A.P. Beardmore (U. Leicester), M.G. Bernardini (INAF-OAB), E. Ambrosi (INAF-IASFPA) , M. Capalbi (INAF-IASFPA), B. Sbarufatti (PSU), D.N. Burrows (PSU), J. D. Gropp (PSU) and P.A. Evans (U. Leicester) report on behalf of the Swift-XRT team: Swift-XRT has performed follow-up observations of the Fermi-GBM and Swift/BAT-detected burst GRB 201216A (GBM team, GCN Circ. 29057; Tohuvavohu et al. GCN Circ. 29059), collecting 4.9 ks of Photon Counting (PC) mode data between T0+21.5 ks and T0+34.2 ks. No X-ray sources have been detected consistent with being within 197 arcsec of the Swift/BAT position. The 3-sigma upper limit in the field ranges from ~0.002 to ~0.003 ct s^-1, corresponding to a 0.3-10 keV observed flux of 7.3e-14 to 1.1e-13 erg cm^-2 s^-1 (assuming a typical GRB spectrum). Seven uncatalogued sources were detected too far from the GRB position to be likely afterglow candidates. The results of the XRT-team automatic analysis of the XRT observations, including a position-specific upper limit calculator, are available at https://www.swift.ac.uk/ToO_GRBs/00021408. This circular is an official product of the Swift-XRT team. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 29072 SUBJECT: GRB 201216A: Fermi GBM detection DATE: 20/12/17 15:01:51 GMT FROM: Christian Malacaria at NASA-MSFC/USRA C. Malacaria (NASA-MSFC/USRA), P. Veres (UAH) and C. Meegan (UAH) report on behalf of the Fermi GBM Team: "At 19:00:31.24 UT on 16 December 2020, the Fermi Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor (GBM) triggered and located GRB 201216A (trigger 629838036 / 201216792), which was also detected by the Swift/BAT (Tohuvavohu et al. 2020, GCN 29059) and initiated a Swift/XRT ToO (Evans 2020, GCN 29065). The Fermi GBM Final Real-time Localization (GCN 29057) is consistent with the Swift position. The angle from the Fermi LAT boresight at the GBM trigger time is 30 degrees. The GBM light curve consists of a main peak followed by multiple subsequent peaks. The duration (T90) is about 25.6 s (50-300 keV). The time-averaged spectrum from T0-10 s to T0+13 s is best fit by a power law function with an exponential high-energy cutoff. The power law index is -0.51 +/- 0.22 and the cutoff energy, parameterized as Epeak, is 263 +/- 55 keV. The event fluence (10-1000 keV) in this time interval is (2.343 +/- 0.330)E-06 erg/cm^2. The 1-sec peak photon flux measured starting from T0+64 ms in the 10-1000 keV band is 1.6 +/- 0.2 ph/s/cm^2. The spectral analysis results presented above are preliminary; final results will be published in the GBM GRB Catalog: https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/W3Browse/fermi/fermigbrst.html For Fermi GBM data and info, please visit the official Fermi GBM Support Page: https://fermi.gsfc.nasa.gov/ssc/data/access/gbm/" //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 29137 SUBJECT: GRB 201216A - further Swift-XRT observations DATE: 20/12/22 16:55:43 GMT FROM: Phil Evans at U of Leicester P.A. Evans (U. Leicester), A. Tohuvavohu (U Toronto), J.A. Kennea (PSU) and T. Sbarrato (INAF-OAB) report on behalf of the Swift-XRT team. Swift has reobserved the field of GRB 201216A (GCN Circs. 29057, 29059) for a further 4 ks, between 00:18 UT and 11:58 UT on 2020 December 22. One of the sources in the XRT field of view appears to have faded (with 2.1 sigma significance). This source, “source 5” in the automated analysis (https://www.swift.ac.uk/ToO_GRBs/00021408/) is located at RA,Dec = 201.45786, +36.3944, which is equivalent to: RA(J2000): 13h 25m 49.89s Dec (J2000): +36d 23’ 39.8” with an uncertainty of 3.0 arcsec (radius, 90% confidence). This position is 5.2 arcmin away from the BAT/GUANO position (Tohovavohu et al. GCN Circ. 29059), well outside the 3 arcmin, 90% confidence BAT error region. It is also coincident with a catalogued object in (among others) the USNO-B1, 2MASS, SDSS and WISE catalogues, which NED classifies as a galaxy. We suggest therefore that this source is most likely simply a variable AGN near (in projection) to GRB 201216A, but cannot rule out the possibility of it being the GRB afterglow. This circular is an official product of the Swift-XRT team.