GCN Circular 29703
Subject
GRB 210323A: NOT optical afterglow candidate
Date
2021-03-24T06:43:12Z (3 years ago)
From
Daniele B Malesani at DTU Space <malesani@space.dtu.dk>
D. B. Malesani (DTU Space), A. de Ugarte Postigo (HETH/IAA-CSIC and
DARK/NBI), Z. Zhu, D. Xu (NAO/CAS), D. A. Kann (HETH/IAA-CSIC), J.
Martikainen (NOT and Univ. Helsinki) report on behalf of a larger
collaboration:
We observed the field of the short GRB 210323A (Gropp et al., GCN 29699)
using the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) equipped with the ALFOSC
camera. Three observations of 10 min each were secured in the SDSS r
filter, starting on 2021 Mar 24.229 UT (7.45 hr after the GRB). The
field was observed at an airmass of ~2 and the seeing was 1.6".
No sources are detected within the currently available XRT error circle
(3.5"; Gropp et al., GCN 29699). We note however the presence of an
object about 2" S-E of the XRT circle, with coordinates (J2000):
RA = 21:11:47.33
DEC = +25:22:09.2
Its magnitude is r = 22.91 +- 0.09 AB, calibrated against nearby stars
from Pan-STARRS. This object is not readily visible in the Pan-STARRS
images, though its magnitude is close to the survey limit.
We consider this object as a viable afterglow candidate to GRB 210323A,
but a confirmation is necessary to assess variability. Further
observations are planned.