{
  "bibcode": "2023GCN.33374....1D",
  "body": "P. D'Avanzo, A. Rossi (INAF-OAS), R. Brivio (INAF-OAB), D. B. Malesani (Radboud Univ.and DAWN/NBI), A. Saccardi (GEPI, Observatoire de Paris), \nS. Campana (INAF-OAB), B. Gompertz (Univ. Birmingham), D. Hartmann (Clemson Univ.), D. A. Kann (Goethe Univ). A. J. Levan (Radboud Univ.), \nG. Tagliaferri (INAF-OAB), N. R. Tanvir (Univ. Leicester) report on behalf of the Stargate consortium:\n\nWe observed the field of the short GRB 230217A (Moss et al. GCN Circ. 33339) with the ESO/VLT equipped with the FORS2 instrument. \nA series of optical images has been obtained with the I filter on 2023 February 20 (i.e. about 2.5 days after the burst) and on 2023 \nFebruary 23 (i.e. about 5.5 days after the burst). \n\nImage subtraction carried out between the two epochs shows a residual at the following position:\nRA (J2000) = 18:43:04.97\nDec (J2000) = -28:50:16.4 \n\n+/- 0.3\". \n\nThis position lies inside the XRT error circle of the X-ray afterglow position (Capalbi et al., GCN Circ. 33365) and is consistent with the \nposition of the radio source reported by Schroeder et al. (GCN Circ. 33358). \n\nFrom preliminary photometry, we measure for this source a magnitude of I ~ 24.5 (AB) at t-t0 = 2.5 days.\n\nWe propose this source as a candidate optical counterpart of GRB 230217A. \n\nFurther observations are planned.\n\n\nWe acknowledge excellent support from the ESO observing staff in Paranal, in particular Julia Seidel, Konrad Tristram and Thomas Rivinius.",
  "circularId": 33374,
  "createdOn": 1677253832000,
  "email": "pda.davanzo@gmail.com",
  "subject": "GRB 230217A: VLT/FORS2 optical observations and candidate counterpart",
  "submitter": "Paolo D'Avanzo at INAF-OAB  <pda.davanzo@gmail.com>",
  "eventId": "GRB 230217A"
}