GRB 971214 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// From vxw@capella.gsfc.nasa.gov Sun Dec 14 22:11:00 1997 Date: Sun, 14 Dec 97 22:10:56 -0500 From: vxw@capella.gsfc.nasa.gov (Bacodine) To: bacodine@lheawww.gsfc.nasa.gov Subject: GCN/RXTE_ASM_POSITION TITLE: GCN/RXTE_ASM BURST POSITION NOTICE NOTICE_DATE: Mon 15 Dec 97 03:09:37 UT NOTICE_TYPE: RXTE-ASM Initial TRIGGER_NUM: 6533 GRB_DATE: 10796 TJD; 348 DOY; 97/12/14 GRB_TIME: 84041.00 SOD {23:20:41.00} UT POSITION_TYPE: Line GRB_RXTE_RA: 180.921d {+12h 03m 41s} (J2000), 180.895d {+12h 03m 35s} (current), 180.287d {+12h 01m 09s} (1950) GRB_RXTE_DEC: +64.912d {+64d 54' 43"} (J2000), +64.923d {+64d 55' 24"} (current), +65.190d {+65d 11' 25"} (1950) GRB_RXTE_ERROR: 2.200 [deg radius (stat+sys), 90%] GRB_RXTE_LINE_LENGTH: 4.400 [deg] GRB_RXTE_LINE_WIDTH: 0.200 [deg] GRB_RXTE_INTEN: 400.00 [mCrab] SUN_POSTN: 262.40d {+17h 29m 36s} -23.26d {-23d 15' 18"} SUN_DIST: 107.46 [deg] MOON_POSTN: 94.09d {+06h 16m 21s} +18.71d {+18d 42' 44"} MOON_DIST: 71.76 [deg] COMMENTS: RXTE-ASM GRB Coordinates. COMMENTS: The intensity is ~120 mCrab when averaged over 90 s. COMMENTS: The error box is long and thin. COMMENTS: The following are sample points along the "line": COMMENTS: RA Dec (J2000) COMMENTS: 185.148d +63.875d COMMENTS: 182.974d +64.433d COMMENTS: 180.921d +64.912d COMMENTS: 178.579d +65.404d COMMENTS: 176.152d +65.859d ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// From vxw@capella.gsfc.nasa.gov Sun Dec 14 22:31:34 1997 Date: Sun, 14 Dec 97 22:31:31 -0500 From: vxw@capella.gsfc.nasa.gov (Bacodine) To: bacodine@lheawww.gsfc.nasa.gov Subject: GCN/RXTE_PCA_ALERT TITLE: GCN/RXTE_PCA BURST ALERT NOTICE NOTICE_DATE: Mon 15 Dec 97 03:30:11 UT NOTICE_TYPE: RXTE-PCA TRIGGER_NUM: 6533 GRB_DATE: 10796 TJD; 348 DOY; 97/12/14 GRB_TIME: 84041.19 SOD {23:20:41.19} UT GRB_LOCBURST_RA: 180.00d {+11h 59m 60s} (J2000) GRB_LOCBURST_DEC: +64.97d {+64d 58' 12"} (J2000) COMMENTS: RXTE-PCA can NOT observe this LOCBURST GRB location. COMMENTS: RXTE will not observe because of various technical problems COMMENTS: in the re-planning process. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// From SURASAK@SSLLES.MSFC.NASA.GOV Mon Dec 15 15:06:06 1997 Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 14:05:48 -0600 (CST) Subject: Burst Trigger Message BATSE BURST TRIGGER NO.: 6533 TIME: TJD=0796 SECONDS=84041 TYPE: BURST SOLAR FLARE TRIGGER SIGNAL:N SIGNIFICANCE: SIGMA INTENSITY: COUNTS/CM2 LOCATION: ZENITH=121.4 AZIMUTH=76.9 ERROR=0.965 DEGREES COMMENTS: GRB. SINGLE PULSE WITH SUBSTRUCTURE. DURATION ABOUT 50S. VISIBLE ABOVE 300 KEV. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Circular No. 6787 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION Mailstop 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions) BMARSDEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or DGREEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science) URL http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html Phone 617-495-7244/7440/7444 (for emergency use only) GRB 971214 J. Heise and J. in 't Zand, Space Research Organization, Utrecht; G. Spoliti, V. Torroni, and D. Ricci, BeppoSAX, Rome; L. Piro, E. Costa, and M. Feroci, Instituto di Astrophysica Spaziale, Rome; and F. Frontera, Instituto di Tecnologie e Studio delle Radiazoni Extraterrestri, Bologna, report: "The BeppoSAX Gamma Ray Burst Monitor was triggered on Dec. 14.97272 UT. A quick-look analysis shows a structured gamma-ray burst lasting about 25 s with a peak flux of 650 counts/s. The gamma-ray burst was also detected by the Wide Field Camera WFC1 with a peak flux of about 1 Crab. The position from a quick-look analysis is R.A. = 11h56m30s, Decl. = +65o12'.0 (equinox 2000.0), with an error radius of 3'.9 (99- percent confidence). A BeppoSAX Narrow Field follow-up observation is in progress. Observations at all wavelengths are urged." (C) Copyright 1997 CBAT 1997 December 15 (6787) Daniel W. E. Green ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// GRB971214 - USNOFS Observations Summary #006 A.A. Henden, C.B. Luginbuhl and F.J. Vrba (U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station) report that they obtained a total of 111 min integration of the revised SAX localization for GRB971214. The data are a combination of 600-sec and 30-sec exposures taken with the 1.0-meter telescope using a Tek2048^2 CCD and a R-band filter. It is hoped that the short exposures will allow the recovery of at least some information in the region near the bright star HD103690 (V=6.7) located within the localization. The first image began 1997 Dec 15 10:44 UT, the last ended 13:42 UT. Images are presently being processed. There are no obvious differences between these images and the DSS. When completed, a stacked and trimmed composite of all images will be posted on our anonymous FTP site (ftp.nofs.navy.mil / 192.68.148.67) for comparison with earlier or later epoch data. To get the image, login as "anonymous", use your email address as the password if required. The file will be /pub/outgoing/fjv/grb971214-1214R.fts. We intend to observe the localization again tomorrow morning if possible (1997 Dec 16 UT). ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Circular No. 6788 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION Mailstop 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions) BMARSDEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or DGREEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science) URL http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html Phone 617-495-7244/7440/7444 (for emergency use only) GRB 971214 N. Itoh, Y. Nakada, and T. Soyano, Kiso Observatory, University of Tokyo, report: "The GRB error circle was surveyed done to I = 20 and R = 21 with the Kiso 1.05-m Schmidt telescope on Dec. 15.8 UT. The R-band image shows no new objects brighter than the limiting magnitude of the second Palomar Sky Survey. The I- band image from three 10-min exposures revealed one faint object 54" northeast of the BeppoSAX position, at R.A. = 11h56m25s.2, Decl. = +65o11'57".9 (equinox 2000.0; +/- 6"), I = 19.7 +/- 0.5." J. Halpern, J. Thorstensen, D. Helfand, E. Costa, and the BeppoSAX team have detected a fading optical transient within the error circle of GRB 971214 (IAUC 6787) in a series of I-band images taken on the MDM Observatory 2.4-m telescope on Kitt Peak. The position is R.A. = 11h56m26s.40, Decl. = +65o12'00".5 (equinox 2000.0). The I magnitude was 21.2 +/- 0.3 on Dec. 15.47 UT, and near the detection limit of 22.6 on Dec. 16.47. Images will be made available at http://www.astro.columbia.edu/~cba/mdm/. (C) Copyright 1997 CBAT 1997 December 16 (6788) Daniel W. E. Green ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Radio Observations of GRB 971214 at the VLA. #007 D. A. Frail and S. R. Kulkarni report on behalf of a large collaboration that two observations have been made of the GRB 971214 field at a frequency of 8.46 GHz. Data was taken beginning on December 15.67 and December 16.34 UT of a 5.3 arcminute field (half power diameter) centered on the NFI position. The rms noise for each of these fields is 50 microJy and 17 microJy, respectively, with a synthesized beamsize of approximately 11 arcseconds. Within the revised 1 arcminute radius error circle (as reported by L. Piro on December 16) there are no radio sources detected at a level of 3-sigma or greater. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Circular No. 6789 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION Mailstop 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions) BMARSDEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or DGREEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science) URL http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html Phone 617-495-7244/7440/7444 (for emergency use only) GRB 971214 R. M. Kippen and P. Woods, University of Alabama in Huntsville and Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC); and V. Connaughton, National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council and MSFC, for the CGRO BATSE team; and D. A. Smith, A. M. Levine, and R. Remillard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for the RXTE-ASM team; and K. Hurley, University of California at Berkeley, for the Ulysses team report: "The GRB detected by BeppoSAX (IAUC 6787) also triggered CGRO-BATSE on Dec. 14.97274 UT (trigger no. 6533). The BATSE event consists of a complex series of pulses lasting about 40 s, with an estimated total fluence above 20 keV of 1.09 (+/- 0.07) x 10E-5 erg cmE-2 and a peak flux, occurring at trigger + 13 s, of 1.95 (+/- 0.05) photons cmE-2 sE-1 (50-300 keV; 1.024-s integration). The burst was detected by Ulysses, yielding a preliminary joint BATSE/Ulysses Interplanetary Network (IPN) timing annulus of radius 53.762 deg, halfwidth 0.091 deg, and center at R.A. = 11h25m19s, Decl. = +11o43'.2 (equinox 2000.0). The entire duration of the event was also observed by a single RXTE-ASM camera, which detected a flux enhancement lasting 50 s and reaching a peak intensity of 470 +/- 140 mCrab (1.5-12 keV; 1-s integration), 15 s after the BATSE trigger. The single-camera ASM detection yields a localization region of dimensions 4.4 deg x 0.2 deg, centered at R.A. = 12h03m41s, Decl. = +64o54'.7, with the following corners: R.A. = 12h20m08s, Decl. = +63o47'.5; 12h21m04s, +63o57'.5; 11h44m59s, +65o56'.9; 11h45m08s, +65o43'.9. The intersection of the ASM and IPN localizations overlaps the location provided by BeppoSAX given on IAUC 6787. A sky-map of this event showing the various locations is available at http://www.batse.msfc.nasa.gov/~kippen/batserbr/brbr_obs.html." (C) Copyright 1997 CBAT 1997 December 16 (6789) Daniel W. E. Green ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// GRB971214 Optical Observations #008 A. Diercks, E.W. Deutsch, University of Washington, R. Wyse, The Johns Hopkins University, G. Gilmore, Cambridge University, C. Corson, Apache Point Observatory, F. Castander, University of Chicago, and E. Turner, Princeton University confirm the fading optical transient reported by Halpern et al. in IAU 6788. We measure R.A. = 11h56m26.35s Decl. = +65o12'0.7" (equinox 2000.0). The object was observed to fade by approximately 1.6 magnitudes in R-band over 24 hours in images taken by Corson, Gilmore and Wyse with the ARC 3.5-m telescope at Apache Point. On Dec 15.51 UT, R=22.1+-0.1 and on Dec 16.52 UT, R=23.7+-0.3. Magnitudes were calibrated based on R_F magnitudes for bright stars in the field from the APM survey. In this system we measure coordinates for two reference stars. Ref1 (11h56m25.75s, +65o12'0.7") R=20.10 +- 0.01, Ref2 (11h56m34.22s, +65o11'44.2") R=20.78 +- 0.03. Estimated zero point errors are approximately 0.3 magnitudes. No other object brighter than approx R=21.5 was observed to vary. Our R-band observations on Dec 15 and Dec 16 were approximately coincident with the reported MDM I-band detections by Halpern et al, (IAUC 6788) giving an R-I color for this object of R-I = 1 +/- 0.4. Within the quoted measuring errors, the color is constant during the fading. Images are available at http://www.astro.washington.edu/deutsch/misc/grb971214/ ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Optical Observations of GRB 971214 at Keck #009 S. R. Kulkarni (CIT), J. S. Bloom (CIT), D. A. Frail (NRAO), R. Goodrich (CARA), and A. N. Ramaprakash (CIT) report on behalf of the Caltech GRB collaboration: "We have obtained a series R- and I-band images of the SAX localization (IAUC 6787) of GRB 971214 using the LRIS instrument on the Keck II 10-m telescope on the nights of Dec 16 and Dec 17, 1997 UT. The OT reported by Halpern et al. (IAUC 6788) appears to have faded by about 0.5 magnitude with respect to two nearby faint stars over a 24-hour interval between UT Dec 16, 1997 and UT Dec 17, 1997. We note that Diercks et al. (GCN email) report a faster fading rate but in the R-band. We caution our results are preliminary. Pending a more thorough analysis of the photometry we request that the above photometric information not be cited. The OT is very well detected on Dec 16, 1997. The photometric precision is 0.7%. The seeing during the first epoch I-band images was ~0.65 arcsec (FWHM) and the OT appears completely consistent with a point source (similar to that of GRB 970508). Two extended galaxies are found within a radius of 5-arcsecond of the OT. The seeing during the second epoch is comparbly good." ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// GRB 971214 optical observations #010 On 17 December UT, we observed the candidate optical counterpart to GRB 971214 that was reported by Halpern, Thorstensen, Helfand, Costa, et al (IAU Circular 6788). We used the Kitt Peak National Observatory 0.9 meter telescope with a Harris I band filter. The transient source is seen in the clipped average of forty-four 300 second exposures, though it is quite near the detection limit. We also detect the two nearby faint sources that are reported by Kulkarni et al and apparent in the R band images by Diercks et al. The brighter of the two is clearly nonstellar in our data. The observations spanned the period UT 08:55 to 13:18 on 971217. The point spread function of the final image has approximately a 2 pixel (approx 1.6 arcsec) full width at half maximum. Photometry with a 2 pixel (approx 1.6 arcsec) radius aperture yields an I magnitude difference of +4.4 +- 0.4 magnitudes between the optical transient and to the bright star ~ 26 arcseconds SSW of the transient. Other magnitudes relative to this same reference star are -2.52 +- 0.015 Bright star ~ 26 arcsec NE of transient; +0.33 +- 0.02 Bright star ~ 55 arcsec NW of transient; +4.35 +- 0.35 Fainter nearby fuzzball, ~ 5 arcsec N of transient; +3.48 +- 0.15 Brighter nearby galaxy, ~ 5.5 arcsec SW of transient; +3.15 +- 0.15 same object, but comparing 3 pixel radius apertures. We do not have absolute photometric calibration for our data. A crude estimate suggests that the 3 sigma limiting magnitude of the data set ought to be in the range 23 < I < 24. The combined image will be linked to the KPNO GRB followup web page at http://www.noao.edu/noao/grb/971214.html . This message is quotable in publications. -James Rhoads, on behalf of the Kitt Peak National Observatory GRB followup team. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// GRB971214 Optical Observations #011 F.J. Castander, University of Chicago, R. Wyse, The Johns Hopkins University, G. Gilmore, Cambridge University, C. Corson, Apache Point Observatory, A. Diercks, E.W. Deutsch, University of Washington, D.Q. Lamb, University of Chicago, and E. Turner, Princeton University report: ``Observations made on Dec 17 UT using the ARC 3.5-meter telescope at Apache Point Observatory show that the optical transient reported by Halpern et al. in IAUC 6788 has continued to fade. We measure on Dec 17.51 UT a magnitude R=24.4+-0.5 for the OT, from six 10 min exposures taken by Corson, Gilmore and Wyse. Calibration of photometry has been done using Landolt standard star 104239." This message is quotable in publications. --Francisco Javier Castander ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// GRB 971214 Optical Observations #012 S. G. Djorgovski, S. R. Kulkarni, J. S. Bloom (Caltech), R. Goodrich (WMKO), and D. A. Frail (NRAO) report on behalf of the Caltech GRB collaboration: "We obtained spectra of the proposed optical transient counterpart (OT) of GRB 971214 (Halpern et al., IAUC 6788) at the Keck-II 10-m telescope, on the night of 17 Dec 1997 UT. Our preliminary data reductions reveal no strong emission lines from the OT itself. However, we also obtained at the same time spectra of the faint galaxy approximately 4.5 arcsec to the north of the OT. This galaxy shows a relatively blue continuum and an extended emission line at a wavelenght of 7533 A, which we tentatively interpret as [O II] 3727 line at z = 1.02." ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Circular No. 6791 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION Mailstop 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions) BMARSDEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or DGREEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science) URL http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html Phone 617-495-7244/7440/7444 (for emergency use only) GRB 971214 A. Diercks and E. W. Deutsch, University of Washington; R. Wyse, The Johns Hopkins University; G. Gilmore, Cambridge University; C. Corson, Apache Point Observatory; F. J. Castander, University of Chicago; and E. Turner, Princeton University, write: "We confirm the fading optical transient reported by Halpern et al. on IAUC 6788, which we measure to be at R.A. = 11h56m26s.35, Decl. = +65o12'00".7 (equinox 2000.0). The object was observed to fade by about 1.6 mag in R over 24 hr in images taken by Corson, Gilmore, and Wyse with the ARC 3.5-m telescope at Apache Point: Dec. 15.51 UT, R = 22.1 +/- 0.1; 16.52, 23.7 +/- 0.3. No other object brighter than R about 21.5 was observed to vary. Magnitudes and positions were calculated based on photometry and astrometry of two stars measured in the `Automatic Plate Measuring' (APM) survey (Maddox et al. 1990, MNRAS 243, 692); neither star varied (within uncertainties) over the 24-hr period, their position end figures and magnitudes being 25s.75, 11'35".7, R = 20.10 +/- 0.01; 34s.22, 11'44".2, 20.78 +/- 0.03. Estimated zero-point errors in converting from the APM R_F band to the R band are about 0.3 mag. Our R-band observations on Dec. 15 and 16 were approximately coincident with the reported MDM I-band detections by Halpern et al., giving a color for this object of R-I = +1.0 +/- 0.4. Within the quoted errors, the color is constant during the fading. Images are available at http://www.astro.washington.edu/deutsch/misc/grb971214/." Castander, Wyse, Gilmore, Corson, Diercks, and Deutsch; D. Q. Lamb, University of Chicago; and Turner report an additional magnitude from six 10-min exposures (using Landolt standard star 104239), indicating that the observed R-band fluxes are consistent with a power-law decay in time: Dec. 17.51 UT, R = 24.4 +/- 0.5. The first of the unvarying stars noted above was measured at R = 20.14 +/- 0.02 at this time. Regarding their item on IAUC 6788, N. Itoh et al. note that their faint object is near HD 103690; though the position accuracy is limited by poor seeing, they provide the following improved position end figures: 25s.6 +/- 0s.2, 55".7 +/- 0".1. Also, on line 1, for done read down (C) Copyright 1997 CBAT 1997 December 18 (6791) Daniel W. E. Green ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// GRB 971214 Optical Observations #013 S. G. Djorgovski, S. R. Kulkarni, J. S. Bloom (Caltech), R. Goodrich (WMKO), and D. A. Frail (NRAO) report on behalf of the Caltech GRB collaboration: "Analysis of the spectra of the proposed optical transient counterpart (OT) of GRB 971214, obtained at the Keck-II 10-m telescope on 17 Dec 1997 UT, shows a possible detection of an extended emission line at a wavelength of 7567 A. It is also intriguing that a faint emission line at a similar wavelength (7533 A) has been detected from a faint galaxy about 4.5 arcsec north of the OT (see our previous email on GCN3). If this line emission from the OT is real, it can be interpreted as the [O II] 3727 line at z = 1.03. However, we emphasize that this marginal detection has to be checked with additional data." ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Circular No. 6792 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION Mailstop 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions) BMARSDEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or DGREEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science) URL http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html Phone 617-495-7244/7440/7444 (for emergency use only) GRB 971214 L. A. Antonelli, BeppoSAX, Rome; R. C. Butler, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, Rome; L. Piro, Istituto Astrofisica Spaziale, CNR, Rome; and G. Celidonio, A. Coletta, A. Tesseri, and C. De Libero, BeppoSAX, Rome, report on behalf of the BeppoSAX team: "A fast follow-up observation of GRB 971214 was carried out with BeppoSAX 6.67 hr after the initial burst. A previously unknown x- ray source (1SAX J1156.4+6513) was clearly detected within the WFC error circle (IAUC 6787) in the LECS and MECS x-ray telescopes, at R.A. = 11h56m25s, Decl. = +65o13'11" (equinox 2000.0; uncertainty about 1', currently dominated by systematics in the position reconstruction with the new 1-gyro mode). The position of the optical transient (IAUC 6788) can be considered as consistent with the x-ray source. The average source countrate in the range 1.3-10 keV was 0.0056 +/- 0.0005 counts/s in two MECS units and 0.0036 +/- 0.0005 counts/s in the LECS (0.1-5 keV). This corresponds to a 2- 10-keV flux of 4 x 10E-13 erg cmE-2 sE-1. From a preliminary analysis of the first day of observation, the source faded by a factor of about 5. These results strongly suggest that 1SAX J1156.4+6513 is the x-ray afterglow of GRB 971214." M. R. Garcia, A. Muench, and E. Tollestrup, Harvard- Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; and P. J. Callanan and J. McCarthy, University College, Cork, report on observations made with the Whipple Observatory 1.2-m telescope (+ STELIRCAM) in bands J and K during Dec. 15.519-15.562 and 16.524-16.569 UT (limiting mag K = 18.5, J = 20.0), in which the K-band and Dec. 16 J-band images cover the entire revised (1'-radius) error circle reported by Antonelli et al., above: "We find a limit of 1 mag to the variability of the dozen stars seen within the error circle; this upper limit is applicable at the position of the fading optical counterpart reported by Halpern et al. (IAUC 6788). Our images suffer due to light scattered from HR 103690, which covers about half of the revised error box." (C) Copyright 1997 CBAT 1997 December 19 (6792) Daniel W. E. Green ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// EUVE Observations #014 M. Boer (Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements / CNRS Toulouse), B.A. Roberts, R. Malina (Center for EUVE Astrophysics, Berkeley), M. Feroci, L. Piro (Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale / CNR Roma), K. Hurley (Space Sciences Laboratory, University of Berkeley), communicates: EUVE observed the position of the X-ray counterpart of GRB 971214 between December 15.8, and December 16.16 UT. No source was detected during the 2000 second observation made with the Lexan (100 A) filter. The 3 sigma upper limit to the count rate us 0.002 c/s. Assuming an hydrogen column density of 10^20 cm^2 this converts to an upper limit to the flux of about 1.7 x 10^-13 erg/cm^2/s. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Circular No. 6793 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION Mailstop 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions) BMARSDEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or DGREEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science) URL http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html Phone 617-495-7244/7440/7444 (for emergency use only) GRB 971214 J. Rhoads, Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), for the KPNO gamma-ray-burst follow-up team, reports: "We imaged the field surrounding GRB 971214 with the KPNO 0.9-m telescope in the I band from Dec. 17.37 to 17.55 UT. The proposed optical counterpart (Halpern et al., IAUC 6788) was detected in a combined image with 220 min of total integration time. The transient was at mag I = 22.9 +/- 0.4, based on stellar magnitudes and positions provided by J. Halpern (priv. comm.) for stars of I = 15.93 and 18.46 at R.A. = 11h56m29s.86, Decl. = +65o12'15".9 (equinox 2000.0), and 11h56m25s.80, +65o11'35".9, respectively. Images and further details are available at http://www.noao.edu/noao/grb/971214.html." (C) Copyright 1997 CBAT 1997 December 20 (6793) Daniel W. E. Green ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Circular No. 6794 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION Mailstop 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions) BMARSDEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or DGREEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science) URL http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html Phone 617-495-7244/7440/7444 (for emergency use only) GRB 971214 E. Waxman, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, writes: "The data of the detected optical and x-ray afterglow from GRB 971214 (IAUC 6787-6791 and references therein, plus private comm. by L. Piro et al.) were used to make approximate predictions for its behavior at different wavelengths, which may be useful in planning observations. The detected flux reported in the first two days of observations is consistent with general fireball-model predictions, yielding optical-band magnitudes predicted by m_o + 3 log t, where t is measured in days and m_o = 24.6 for B, 23.4 for V, 22.9 for R, 22.1 for I, and 21.1 for J. The x-ray flux is predicted at about 4 keV by 5 x 10E-13 (t)E-1.2 erg sE-1 cmE-2. Simultaneous observations at different optical colors (and at x- rays) would provide strong constraints on the model. There is some indication for extinction at the source (incorporated in the above numbers); if real, it implies that absorption lines should be detected (EW about 0.004 nm for Mg II), with the equivalent width significantly changing on timescales of about 1 day -- and spectra taken at different times would therefore be useful. Monitoring of optical fluxes on < 1-day timescales would also be useful in constraining fireball characteristics." (C) Copyright 1997 CBAT 1997 December 20 (6794) Daniel W. E. Green ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Sub-millimeter Observations of GRB 971214 at the JCMT #015 I. A. Smith and R. P. J. Tilanus report on behalf of the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) GRB collaboration: We used the SCUBA sub-millimeter continuum bolometer array on the JCMT to observe GRB 971214 on several occasions. We mapped the error box of 1SAX J1156.4+6513 (IAUC 6792) on UT 1997 Dec 16. No sources were detected at 850 microns, with a preliminary rms of 3 mJy in the central region of the map. The optical transient (IAUC 6788) was near the edge of this map, where the rms is approximately 5 mJy. Follow up photometric observations of the optical transient did not detect a source at 850 microns, with rms 1.4 mJy on UT 1997 Dec 17, 1.9 mJy on Dec 19, and 1.3 mJy on Dec 22. Combining all the photometric observations gives an rms of 1.0 mJy. Note. Due to hacker activity at Rice University, Ian Smith is unable to access his regular accounts. Please cc any email to ian@ssa1.arc.nasa.gov ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Circular No. 6795 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION Mailstop 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions) BMARSDEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or DGREEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science) URL http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html Phone 617-495-7244/7440/7444 (for emergency use only) GRB 971214 M. Boer, Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements, CNRS, Toulouse; B. A. Roberts and R. Malina, Center for EUVE Astrophysics, Berkeley; M. Feroci and L. Piro, Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale, CNR, Rome; and K. Hurley, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of Berkeley, communicate: "EUVE observed the position of the x-ray counterpart of GRB 971214 between Dec. 15.8 and 16.16 UT. No source was detected during the 2000-s observation made with the Lexan (10.0 nm) filter. The 3-sigma upper limit to the countrate is 0.002 counts/s. Assuming a hydrogen column density of 10E20 cmE-2, this corresponds to an upper limit to the flux of about 1.7 x 10E-13 erg cmE-2 sE-1." (C) Copyright 1997 CBAT 1997 December 24 (6795) Daniel W. E. Green ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// GRB971214 Optical Observations and Calibrations #016 A.A. Henden, C.B. Luginbuhl and F.J. Vrba, U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station, report a single measure of the OT reported by Halpern et al. (IAUC 6788), obtained from a composite R-Band image with 80min total exposure spread over Dec 15.4535-15.5593 UT (midpoint Dec 15.5064) as R=21.67 +/- 0.10. This is in effect a differential magnitude with respect to stars 1,5-9 listed in the table below. We caution that this measure is approximate since we as yet have no calibrated color information for the OT to permit accurate transformation to the standard system; the error of +/- 0.10 mag includes only the photon statistical contribution and does not include any error introduced by the lack of the color correction. We would like to here acknowledge the assistance of Jan van Paradijs at UAH/University of Amsterdam and J. Heise at SRON Utrecht, whose prompt dissemination of the SAX-WFC position allowed us to make this early observation. Local Standards in the GRB971214 Field We have further obtained calibrated BVR photometry for several objects near the OT position, and offer them as local "standards" for calibrating measures of the OT. The "standards" are listed here with RA and DEC positions based on the GSC; we omit the RA hours (all 11) and Declination degrees (all +65). Obj RA (2000) DEC B err V err R err I err 1 56 29.896 12 16.29 17.651 0.024 16.835 0.011 16.370 0.009 2 56 25.832 11 36.29 20.1 0.1 3 56 20.239 12 34.64 4 56 13.434 11 16.00 5 56 15.102 9 47.35 19.378 0.079 18.039 0.022 17.175 0.009 6 56 6.309 10 5.77 15.412 0.018 14.816 0.090 14.445 0.008 7 56 22.332 8 26.01 18.261 0.027 17.249 0.009 8 56 33.250 9 17.90 16.449 0.019 15.861 0.009 15.471 0.021 9 55 52.290 10 15.61 19.964 0.120 18.919 0.019 NOTES: The object referred to as Ref1 by Dierks et al. (GCN Message 17 Dec 1997 and IAUC 6791) is our #2; our measure of R~20.1 is an independent measure from the APM measure and is approximate because of a poor measure at V and therefore uncertain color correction, but nonetheless verifies their measure. We caution that their object Ref2 is slightly non-stellar in our images and should probably be avoided as a local calibration source. Castander et al. (IAUC 6791) report R=20.14 +/- 0.02 for our #2. The source located approximately 26" SSW as noted by Rhodes et al. (GCN Message 17 Dec 1997 and IAUC 6793) is also our #2; their object 26" NE of the OT is our #1 (they report I=15.93 and 18.46 for #1 and #2, respectively); their object 55" NW is our #3. We plan to obtain further calibrated VR and I measures in this field, weather permitting, in the coming months. A finding chart showing these local "standards" is posted on our ftp site at ftp.nofs.navy.mil (192.68.148.67) as file /pub/outgoing/fjv/grb971214/locstds.ps.gz. We will update the photometric measures as we obtain and reduce more data, and will keep the latest data in the file /pub/outgoing/fjv/grb971214/locstds.dat. We encourage observers to consult this file to put their measures on a standard system. This message is quotable in publications. C.B. Luginbuhl; cbl@nofs.navy.mil ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Circular No. 6796 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION Mailstop 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions) BMARSDEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or DGREEN@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science) URL http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html Phone 617-495-7244/7440/7444 (for emergency use only) GRB 971214 N. Tanvir, Cambridge University; R. Wyse, Johns Hopkins University; G. Gilmore, Cambridge University; C. Corson, Apache Point Observatory; and the APO GRB consortium write: "We obtained the following magnitude of GRB 971214 with the APO 3.5-m telescope: Dec. 15.44 UT, J = 20.27 +/- 0.25. Combined with the APO R-band measurement (IAUC 6791) on Dec. 15.51, this implies a color of R-J = +1.8 +/- 0.3. Observations by the same team on Dec. 16.45 provide a tentative detection at J = 21.5." (C) Copyright 1997 CBAT 1997 December 29 (6796) Daniel W. E. Green ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// #027 S. R. Kulkarni, A. N. Ramaprakash, J. Bloom, S. Djorgovski, Caltech; R. Goodrich, Keck Observatory/CARA and D. Frail, VLA/NRAO report on behalf of the Caltech GRB effort: "The optical transient (IAUC 6788) of GRB 971214 (IAUC 6787; IAUC 6792) was observed by J. Aycock using the LRIS instrument on Keck II. The observations were conducted between 1400--1600 UT of January 10, 1998 and images were obtained in the R band. The seeing was consistently 0.86 arcsec and 12 frames each of five minute duration were obtained. A source is clearly detected at the position of the OT. This source is fainter by 5.5 +/- 0.17 mag compared to object 2 of Henden et al. (GCN note [#016] of Dec 24, 1997). We measured pixel offsets between this source and object 2 and compared to similar offsets in the LRIS I-band image of Dec 15.47 1997 UT (see GCN note of Dec 17, 1997). The offsets match to better than 0.15 arcsec in each axis. A power law fit to the I-band data of Halpern et al. (IAUC 6788) and our LRIS I-band data of Dec 16.52 and Dec 17.45 UT predict an I-band magnitude between 26.2 and 27.0 on January 10, 1998. The uncertainty represents maximum errors in the extrapolation. Diercks et al. (IAUC 6791) note that the OT had R-I=1.0+/-0.4 on Dec 15.5 1997 UT. The subsequent two R band measurements (IAUC 6791) appear to track the I-band points (to within errors). Thus, if there is no color evolution in the OT then the predicted R band magnitude on 10 January 1998 UT is between 27.2 and 28.0 mag with an offset uncertainty of 0.4 mag. We conclude that either the OT has stopped its power law decay or more likely the host of the OT has an R magnitude of 25.6 mag." This is citable information. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// GRB 971214 Optical Observations #029 S. R. Kulkarni, K. L. Adelberger, J. S. Bloom, T. Kundic, L. Lubin, California Institute of Technology, report: "On December 28, 1997, Kundic and Lubin obtained spectra of the optical transient of GRB 971214 (IAUC 6788) with the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (LRIS) mounted on the Keck II telescope. The seeing conditions were excellent. If the transient continued the power-law decay as indicated by the data from Halpern et al. IAUC 6788) then by this epoch the light at this position should be dominated by the host (cf. Kulkarni et al. GCN #27; ATEL #5). Analysis of these spectra show a slightly extended emission feature at 5384 A. Additionally, a broad absorption feature is seen at 5752 A. We cannot at this time make a definitive statement about the redshift of the host. If, the emission feature is identified as Lyman-alpha and the absorption feature as OI 1302 A then the redshift of the (presumed) host is z=3.43. However, there appears to be no obvious depression bluewards of this feature as is normally seen in high-redshift objects (caused by the Lyman forest). If, however, the emission feature is identified with the [OII] 3727 line then the redshift is z=0.44. A strong emission feature at a wavelength of 5602 A is also seen in the spectrum of the nearby galaxy G1 (GCN #12; GCN #13). Identifying this as the [OII] 3727 A feature as well as matching major absorption features yields a redshift of z=0.50. We are in the process of analyzing additional LRIS data to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and also to understand the apparent discrepancy with similar data obtained on 17 Dec 1997 UT (GCN #12). We note that the earlier data were obtained under bright lunar conditions while the data reported herein was obtained during dark time. This message is citable." ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TITLE: GCN GRB OBSERVATION REPORT NUMBER: 98 SUBJECT: GRB971214 Secondary Standards DATE: 98/06/05 23:52:32 GMT FROM: Arne A Henden at USNO/USRA The U. S. Naval Observatory GRB team (A. A. Henden, C. B. Luginbuhl, F. J. Vrba, B. Canzian, S. E. Levine, H. H. Guetter, J. A. Munn) report follow up optical photometry of the secondary standards (see Henden, et. A. GCN 16) in the field of GRB971214. The observations were made on four photometric nights since the burst with the USNO 1.0m telescope. Johnson-Cousins BVRI filters were used, with an average of 50 Landolt standards of wide color range and extinction observed on each night. The transformations are accurate to 0.01-0.02mag per single observation. DAOPHOT psf fitting was used in the GRB field, with magnitude corrections to adjust the photometry to a standard aperture diameter. Given below is the photometry, with errors based on the variance between the four nights. More detail, including coordinates and comparisons between other published values for these stars, can be found next week on our Web site at: http://psyche.usno.navy.mil/nofs/grb/grb971214.html For further information contact A. A. Henden at aah@nofs.navy.mil or by telephone at (520) 779-5132. This GCN note can be cited. ID B err V err R err I err ------------------------------------------------------------ 1 17.676 0.026 16.849 0.022 16.378 0.006 15.971 0.011 2 22.636 0.177 21.142 0.029 20.123 0.061 18.629 0.105 3 23.337 0.329 21.641 0.221 20.462 0.055 18.959 0.053 4 23.019 0.287 21.501 0.152 20.573 0.041 19.321 0.053 5 19.418 0.031 18.069 0.039 17.194 0.016 16.382 0.041 6 15.423 0.018 14.790 0.037 14.431 0.025 14.117 0.069 7 19.934 0.081 18.298 0.036 17.270 0.014 15.971 0.011 8 16.490 0.031 15.871 0.025 15.478 0.032 15.139 0.031 9 21.341 0.056 19.913 0.035 18.970 0.040 17.991 0.053 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TITLE: GCN GRB OBSERVATION REPORT NUMBER: 150 SUBJECT: GRB971214, association with a Galactic star? DATE: 98/08/16 15:31:05 GMT FROM: David W. Hogg at Institute for Advanced Study David W. Hogg (Institute for Advanced Study) and Edwin L. Turner (Princeton University Observatory) report: The very nearby (~15 pc) Galactic star SAO 15663, with V=6.7 mag, lies 2.8 arcmin from the position of the optical transient associated with GRB971214 (not 1 arcmin as stated in Kulkarni et al, 1998, Nature 393 35; see the SIMBAD database). There are 1.0x10^{4} stars, all-sky, as bright as V=6.7 mag (Allen 1973, Astrophysical Quantities); the probability that the optical transient lies this close to one of them, by chance, is 1.7x10^{-3}. This is comparable to the probability that, by chance, the optical transient lies along the line of sight to the galaxy (at z=3.42) identified as the GRB971214 host, according to Kulkarni et al (ibid). This message may be cited. We thank Kulkarni and Ramaprakash for helping to check the GRB-star offset. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TITLE: GCN GRB OBSERVATION REPORT NUMBER: 702 SUBJECT: The Hosts of GRB 980703 and GRB 971214 DATE: 00/06/15 01:42:09 GMT FROM: Josh Bloom at CIT The Hosts of GRB 980703 and GRB 971214 J. S. Bloom and S. R. Kulkarni report on behalf of the larger Caltech-NRAO-CARA GRB Collaboration: "The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has recently observed the hosts of GRB 971214 and GRB 980703 with STIS as part of the Survey of the Host Galaxies of Gamma-Ray Bursts (see S. Holland, B. Thomsen, H. Hjorth et al. GCN #698). Here we present our data reduction of this public data and relate the new STIS images to our previously obtained ground-based data and space-based data. GRB 980703: This remains one of the brightest GRB host galaxies at R~22.8 and the inferred GRB energy release is at the high end of the GRBs energy distribution. The optical astrometry tie from Bloom et al. (1998, ApJL 508, 21) revealed the GRB to be nearly coincident with its host galaxy. The GRB host was observed for a total of 5264 s with the STIS long-pass filter (central wavelength ~ 7230 Ang and FWHM 2720 Ang) beginning 12.42 June 2000 UT. The galaxy is compact (though resolved) and has a low ellipticity (~12%). The effective seeing of the drizzled image is 85 milliarcsec (FWHM) as measured from a bright star in the image and the host has a FWHM diameter of 250 milliarcsec. This is consistent with our report in Bloom et al. of an unresolved source in 0.5 arcsec seeing on July 18 (when the host was thought to dominate the total light of the source). At a redshift of z=0.966 (Djorgovski et al. ApJL 508, 17, 1998), this implies a half-light radius of ~1.1 kpc (assuming H_0 = 65 km/s/Mpc, Omega_0 = 0.3, Omega_lam = 0.7). For photometric zero-pointing of the HST image, we compared two compact objects in common to our deep Keck images from 18 July 1998 in V, R, I. We find the host galaxy has R = 22.8 +/- 0.3 and I = 22.6 +/- 0.3. The error is dominated by the uncertainty in the color correction. These magnitudes are both within 1-sigma of those predicted for the host galaxy in Bloom et al. from the light curve data. We conclude therefore there is no evidence for the presence of a second light source (e.g. a supernova component) in the early time light curve. GRB 971214: At z=3.418, this burst and its host remains the furthest of GRBs with spectroscopically confirmed redshifts and also had an implied energy release at the high end of the GRB energy distribution (Kulkarni et al. 1998, Nature, 393, 35). Using STIS imaging from 13 April 1998 we previously reported (Odewahn et al. 1998 ApJL, 509, 5) the host as compact core with an irregular envelope (half-light radius of 1.3 kpc). Morphologically and in all other observed physical properties the host is rather typical Lyman break galaxy at comparable redshifts. Further, we found a small but significant offset of the GRB from the nucleus of the galaxy. The GRB host was observed for 8599s using STIS clear mode beginning 12.21 Jun 2000 UT. The final image has achieved approximately the same depth as our previous STIS clear imaging. A visual comparison of the two epochs reveals no obvious new or fading component. Our conclusions about the nature of the host and its relation to the GRB remain unchanged from Odewahn et al." Our final reduced images can be obtained in .fits format at http://astro.caltech.edu/~jsb/GRB/Host/ This message may be cited.