GCN Circular 21

Optical Observations for GRB971227                                     #021

T.J. Galama, P.J. Groot (University of Amsterdam), T. von Hippel 
(University of Wisconsin) and A. Diercks (University of Washington, Seattle),
J. van Paradijs (UoA and University of Alabama in Huntsville), C. Kouveliotou 
(USRA at NASA/MSFC) report:
"R-band observations of the proposed OT to GRB971227 (Castro-Tirado 
et al., IAUC 6800) taken with the Kitt Peak 0.9m telescope at December 
29.53 UT and the 3.5m Apache Point Telescope at December 30.44 UT show this 
object at a constant level of R=20.4 +/- 0.1 mag, at a position 
RA=12h57m08.65s, Dec=+59d24'40" (J2000).  It is 1.4 magnitudes fainter than a 
relatively bright (R=19.0) star located at RA=12h57m04.8s, Dec=+59d24'42.0" 
(J2000).  Both object appear in the Digital Sky Survey with a relative 
magnitude difference comparable to this value.  In the Apache Point 
image the source appears to be slightly extended, which indicates it may be 
a galaxy.   
No object in the SAX NFI errorbox (Piro et al., IAUC 6797) appears to
vary at a level of more than 0.3 mag, down to a limiting magnitude of R=21.5".

Please direct communications to paulgr@astro.uva.nl