TITLE: GCN GRB OBSERVATION REPORT NUMBER: 2327 SUBJECT: XRF 030723: VLT spectra DATE: 03/07/26 16:07:13 GMT FROM: Jens Hjorth at U.Copenhagen J. P. U. Fynbo (U. Aarhus), J. Hjorth (U. Copenhagen), J. Gorosabel (IAA-CSIC/STScI), P. M. Vreeswijk (ESO Chile), J. E. Rhoads (STScI), on behalf of GRACE, report: "We have obtained VLT spectra of the candidate afterglow of XRF 030723 (Fox et al. GCN #2323). 22 600-sec spectra covering 3650 - 7500 A at 13 A resolution were obtained with FORS1/UT1 starting on July 26.25 2003 UT. A preliminary reduction of the spectra indicates a blue, featureless continuum with no obvious absorption or emission features. The apparent absence of absorption lines may indicate a low redshift or a low-density environment. The absence of a Lyman Forest suggests a redshift below 2.1. A detailed analysis is in progress. We thank the Paranal Observatory staff for efficiently conducting the reported service-mode observations."