TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 8698 SUBJECT: GRB 081221: Gemini-N nIR imaging DATE: 08/12/22 13:49:28 GMT FROM: Nial Tanvir at IofA U.Cambridge N. R. Tanvir (U. Leicester), A. J. Levan (U. Warwick), K. Wiersema (U. Leicester), A. S. Fruchter, J. Graham (STScI) report: We observed the field of GRB 081221 with Gemini-N/NIRI, starting 22 Dec 2008 04:20UT, approximately 12 hours post burst. Our preliminary analysis reveals a faint point source in the enhanced XRT error circle (GCN 8690) with magnitude K~20.1 at position: 01:03:10.19 -24:32:52.2 relative to three 2MASS stars in the field. The source is also marginally detected in J and H. We suggest this is most likely the afterglow of GRB 081221, but that its faintness and red colour (H-K>~2) argue for a dusty sight-line rather than a high redshift as the explanation for the absence of an optical detection (GCN 8688 and GCN 8689). Further analysis is ongoing. We thank Ricardo Schiavon (Gemini) for his assistance in obtaining these observations.