{
  "bibcode": "2017GCN.21638....1C",
  "body": "R. Chornock (Ohio University) and E. Berger (Harvard) report on behalf of a \nlarger collaboration:\n\nWe have been obtaining a sequence of near-infrared spectroscopy (range 1-1.8 \nmicrons) of the optical counterpart (SSS17a: Coulter et al., GCN 21529; Allam et \nal., GCN 21530) of LIGO/Virgo G298048 (GCNs 21509, 21513) using FLAMINGOS2 on \nGemini-South (PI: Chornock).\n\nOur initial spectra, taken on 20170819 at 00:45 UT (~1.5 days after the \nLIGO/Virgo event) have a smooth blue continuum.  Data taken the following night \nshow a few broad, low-amplitude features starting to develop.  An initial \nreduction of data taken on 20170821 at 23:40 UT (~4.5 days after the LIGO/Virgo \nevent) shows that these features (including a possible spectral peak near 1.05 \nmicrons) have strengthened.  Analysis is ongoing and further observations are \nplanned to constrain the potential presence of lanthanide opacities in the \nnear-infrared.\n\nWe thank the Gemini staff, particularly Hwihyun Kim, Gonzalo Diaz, Pablo Candia, \nand Laura Ferrarese for their support of these operations.",
  "circularId": 21638,
  "createdOn": 1503379211000,
  "email": "chornock@ohio.edu",
  "subject": "LIGO/Virgo G298048: Gemini-South Near-Infrared Spectroscopy",
  "submitter": "Ryan Chornock at Ohio U  <chornock@ohio.edu>",
  "eventId": "LIGO/Virgo G298048"
}