Gamma Ray Burst 990316

LOTIS has reported a candidate optical transient for this burst in GRB Coordinate Network Circular 277.

The Interplanetary Network has reported an error annulus for this burst. The LOTIS source lies approximately 0.5 degrees beyond the end of the tabulated 2 sigma confidence interval for the IPN; we'll see if the positional association holds up with further analysis by the IPN group.

Kevin McLin has observed the source with the KPNO 0.9m telescope in the R filter on 1999 March 18, 0630 UT (approximately), obtaining a total of 30 minutes of integration.

Howard Bond has observed the source with the KPNO 4 meter telescope in V band, 1999 March 18, 0645 UT (approximately), obtaining 5 minutes of integration.

No compelling source identifications brighter than the POSS-II plate limit were found. These results are summarized in our GCN Circular 278. Both images are available from our anonymous FTP server, at ftp://gemini.kpno.noao.edu/pub/grb/990316. If you use this data, an appropriate acknowledgement is requested.

Both observations were repeated on 19 March UT. Preliminary analysis shows no plausible fading optical transient down to the limit of the CCD photometry. We will try to quantify the approximate limiting magnitude presently. The second epoch 0.9m R band image is also available on the web, same site.

A 23 arcminute excerpt from the POSS-II plates is here in FITS format, The image is centered on the LOTIS location, RA=147.54 Dec=-4.95 (J2000).

Also, here is a list of stars in that field from the USNO-A1 catalog.

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jrhoads@noao.edu - Last updated: 19 March 1999