TITLE: GCN GRB OBSERVATION REPORT NUMBER: 4770 SUBJECT: GRB060213: Swift XRT observations and possible afterglow candidate DATE: 06/02/17 18:53:47 GMT FROM: David Morris at PSU/Swift-XRT D. C. Morris (PSU), J. A. Kennea (PSU), C. Pagani (PSU) report on behalf of the Swift XRT Team: Swift responded to the IPN trigger of GRB060213 (Pal'shin et al., GCN 4762) and has observed the entire IPN error polygon with the XRT during observations spanning T+174ks to T+285ks. We have analyzed the entire XRT ground-linked dataset. In 9ks of data we find a single, faint, uncatalogued source within the IPN localization at the following position: RA(J2000): 09 26 24.5 Dec(J2000): -09 06 58.5 with an estimated uncertainty of 10 arcseconds (90% containment). The source is detected at 2.6 sigma and the flux at T+3days from the GRB060213 trigger is 2e-13+/-5e-14 ergs/cm2/s. We note that this source does not show evidence of fading during the 1.25 day window of XRT observations and appears slightly extended to the east, which both suggest the possibility that it may be a faint serendipitous object and not the GRB afterglow. However, we also note that it is not uncommon for a GRB afterglow at this late stage to have a fairly flat lightcurve consistent with the observed counting statistics, and we therefore cannot rule this out as an afterglow candidate. Further observations will be required to determine conclusively whether this source is fading. No other point source is detected above a limiting flux of 1e-13 ergs/cm2/s anywhere in the IPN localization, or in the broader surrounding region covered by the XRT field of view during the observations. No further observations are planned for at least the next four days; however, we tentatively plan further observations in approximately a week to determine whether the source is fading. The XRT image of the field can be viewed at http://www.swift.psu.edu/images/GRB060213.jpg This circular is an official product of the Swift XRT Team.