TITLE: GCN GRB OBSERVATION REPORT NUMBER: 4834 SUBJECT: GRB 060218/SN 2006aj: ABT observations DATE: 06/02/25 17:40:22 GMT FROM: Klaas Wiersema at GRACE/U of Amsterdam K. Wiersema (University of Amsterdam) and F. Nieuwenhout report on behalf of the AWSV "Metius" ABT collaboration: "We observed GRB060218/SN 2006aj (Cusumano et al., GCN 4775) with the amateur 0.25m ABT telescope, from Alkmaar, The Netherlands, under moderate observing conditions. Starting from Feb 24 17:58 UT, a series of 1 minute exposures in V band were acquired, ending at 18:38 UT. 28 exposures were combined. The object is detected and we measure V = 17.37 +/- 0.21, using SDSS g' and r' data from Cool et al. (GCN 4777) and the transformation equations by Smith et al. (2002). We like to point out the suitability of this supernova for intensive amateur follow-up. The ABT telescope is an internet-controlled 0.25m telescope located in Alkmaar, The Netherlands, built and operated by members of local amateur astronomy club "Metius". This detection of GRB060218/SN 2006aj is the first reported detection of an optical GRB afterglow/SN from Dutch soil. We acknowledge the assistance of E. Rol and R. Wijers in making the ABT GRB follow-up program possible."