TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 18982 SUBJECT: The bright GRB160203A: X-shooter spectroscopy and redshift DATE: 16/02/03 04:22:29 GMT FROM: Giovanna Pugliese at API/UvA G. Pugliese (API/UvA), S. Covino (INAF/OAB), T. Kruehler (MPE Garching), D. Xu (NAOC/CAS), N. R. Tanvir (Leicester), report on behalf of a larger collaboration: We observed the afterglow of GRB 160203A (D'Avanzo et al., GCN 18979; Kruehler et al., GCN 18980; Xu, GCN 18981) with ESO's Very Large Telescope UT2 equipped with X-shooter. Our observations were performed in Rapid Response Mode and started at 02:31:35 UT on 03-02-2016, just about 18 min after the Swift trigger. The X-shooter spectra cover the range between 3000 and 23000 AA, and were obtained at a seeing of around 0.8". A preliminary analysis of the spectrum shows a clear continuum with absorption features due to Lyman-alpha and various metal lines (SII 1254, SiII 1259/60, OI 1302, SiII 1304, CII 1334, Si IV 1393/1402, SiII 1526, CIV 1548/1550, FeII 1608, AlII 1670) at a common redshift of 3.52, which we propose as the redshift of the GRB. We also detect an intervening system at z=2.203. We acknowledge the fast and efficient support provided by Paranal staff. In particular we thank Dimitri Gadotti, Boris Haeussler, and Marcela Espinoza for their excellent job.