{
  "bibcode": "2004GCN..2555....1G",
  "body": "A. Gal-Yam, D. Fox, and E. Berger (Caltech), with P. Wyatt (OCIW)\nreport on behalf of a larger collaboration:\n\nWe have observed the INTEGRAL localization of GRB040323 (Mereghetti et\nal., GCN 1551) using the PANIC NIR camera on the Baade 6.5-m telescope\nat Las Campanas Observatory.  The PANIC field of view covers the\ncentral ~50% of the INTEGRAL error circle (Mereghetti et al. 2004; GCN\n2551). Two epochs of J-band (1.25 micron) and one epoch of K-band\n(2.16 micron) imaging have been obtained on the nights of March 24 (J\nand K) and March 25 (J only) UT.\n\nPSF-matched image subtraction of the two J-band epochs reveals a\nbright point-like source at RA 13:53:53.20, Dec -52:20:31.3 (J2000;\nuncertainty ~0.3 arcsec), which decays by ~0.3 mag from the first\nepoch (March 24.35 UT; 0.81 days post-burst) to the second epoch\n(March 25.37 UT; 1.83 days post-burst), with approximate magnitude\nJ=18.0 at the second (later) epoch.  Referenced to the time of the\nburst, this corresponds to a power-law decay with index alpha~-0.34.  \n\nA faint source is present at the position of this variable J-band\nobject on the red DSS plates.  We are therefore uncertain whether this\nfading source is related to GRB040323 or is an unrelated variable star\nor AGN.\n\nContinued monitoring of the field is advocated.",
  "circularId": 2555,
  "createdOn": 1080344388000,
  "email": "derekfox@astro.caltech.edu",
  "subject": "GRB040323: NIR Observations and Variable Object",
  "submitter": "Derek Fox at CIT  <derekfox@astro.caltech.edu>",
  "eventId": "GRB 040323"
}