TITLE:   GCN CIRCULAR
NUMBER:  24916
SUBJECT: GRB 190627A: VLT/FORS2 spectroscopic redshift
DATE:    19/06/30 10:01:00 GMT
FROM:    Jure Japelj at API,U of Amsterdam  <japelj.jure@gmail.com>

J. Japelj (Uni. Amsterdam), D. A. Kann (HETH/IAA-CSIC), A. de Ugarte Postigo
(HETH/IAA-CSIC, DARK/NBI), L. Izzo (HETH/IAA-CSIC), J. P. U. Fynbo (DAWN/NBI
and DAWN/DTU), D. B. Malesani (DTU Space), V. D'Elia (SSDC), N. R. Tanvir
(Univ. Leicester), S. D. Vergani (CNRS -GEPI/Observatorie de Paris), G.
Pugliese,
L. Kaper (Uni. Amsterdam) report on behalf of the Stargate collaboration:

We observed the optical counterpart (Siegel et al., GCN 24889; Pozanenko
et al., GCN 24892) of GRB 190627A (Sonbas et al., GCN 24888) with the ESO
VLT UT1 equipped with the FORS2 spectrograph. We obtained a 30 min spectrum
with the 600RI (512 - 845 nm) and a 30 min spectrum with the 600z (737-1070
nm)
grism. Observations started at 01:12:41 UT on June 30 (i.e., 2.57 days
after the
GRB detection).

In the spectrum, the continuum is clearly detected. We detect three MgII
absorption systems at redshifts z = 1.942, 1.774 and 1.681. The redshift
z = 1.942 and 1.681 absorption systems also exhibit FeII lines. We conclude
that z = 1.942 is the likely redshift of GRB 190627A.

We acknowledge the ESO observing staff at Paranal, especially Karleyne Silva
and Juan Carlos Munoz.