TITLE: GCN GRB OBSERVATION REPORT NUMBER: 3014 SUBJECT: GRB050209: P60 Optical Observations DATE: 05/02/09 08:27:51 GMT FROM: S. Bradley Cenko at Caltech S. Bradley Cenko and Derek B. Fox report on behalf of the Caltech-NRAO-Carnegie GRB collaboration: We have imaged the full error circle of GRB050209 (HETE 11568, GCN 3013) with the automated Palomar 60-inch telescope. Observations commenced approximately 6 minutes after receiving the HETE trigger. We have obtained two epochs of coverage in the Kron R filter at median epochs of approximately 4:15 UT (2.7 hours after the burst) and 6:00 UT (4.5 hours after the burst). In the first epoch, we find no new source by comparison with the Digitized Sky Survey to a limiting magnitude of R ~ 20.5 (magnitudes calculated with reference to the Guide Star Catalog). Visual comparison between our two epoch shows no sign of any fading sources in the field. We also note the presence of a minor planet, 1998 WB7, about to enter the HETE error circle at the time of our second epoch. Further observations are planned.