GCN Circular 43854
Subject
GRB 260226A: NuSTAR detection of bright prompt emission
Event
Date
2026-02-26T20:10:43Z (7 days ago)
From
Gaurav Waratkar at Caltech <gauravwaratkar@iitb.ac.in>
Via
Web form
G. Waratkar (Caltech) and B. Grefenstette (Caltech) report on behalf of the NuSTAR Search for INteresting Gamma-ray Signals (SINGS) working group:
The NuSTAR SINGS working group reports the detection of bright prompt emission from the long-duration GRB 260226A in both the NuSTAR CsI anti-coincidence shields. Details of the search algorithm will be described in a future paper.
The NuSTAR SINGS algorithm, triggered at 2026-02-26 10:38:05.0, shows a detection of GRB 260226A consistent with the detections by Fermi/GBM (Fermi GBM Team, GCN Circ. 43840) and AstroSat/CZTI (Harsha et al., GCN Circ. 43846).
The NuSTAR CsI shield data are recorded at 1 Hz. We detect a single bright peak lasting for ~20-s, consistent with the bright episode from the lightcurve of Fermi/GBM. The peak count rate is ~14000-cps with a baseline rate of ~1000-cps during this time period. We also see clear evidence above 100 keV in the CdZnTe detectors, lasting for ~20-s.
The Fermi/LAT localization (Depalo et al., GCN Circ. 43844) at RA = 42.05, Dec = 8.033 implies an offset from the NuSTAR boresight of 91-deg (i.e. from the side of the instrument) and an offset from the geocenter of 68-deg.
Lightcurves and analysis for this GRB can be found here:
https://nustarsoc.caltech.edu/NuSTAR_Public/grbs/reports/2026/260226A
Information on NuSTAR SINGS can be found here:
https://nustarsoc.caltech.edu/NuSTAR_Public/grbs/
NuSTAR is a NASA Small Explorer mission led by Caltech and managed by JPL for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.