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GCN Circular 44178

Subject
GRB 260401A: NuSTAR detection of prompt emission
Date
2026-04-01T23:21:40Z (2 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 prompt emission from the long-duration GRB 260401A 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 2026-04-01 10:53:26.0 UTC, shows a detection of GRB 260401A, consistent with Fermi/GBM (Fermi GBM team, GCN Circ. 44174, MAXI/GSC (Usuki et al., GCN Circ. 44176), CALET/GBM (Cannady et al., GCN Circ. 44177) and SVOM/GRM (GCN Notices).

The NuSTAR CsI shield data are recorded at 1 Hz. We detect a single peak lasting for ~10-s which is consistent with the bright part of the burst as seen in the GBM lightcurve. The peak count rate is ~3000-cps with a baseline rate of ~1000-cps during this time period. We do not see any evidence in the signal above 100 keV in the CZT detectors. 

The GBM localization (GCN Circular 44174) at RA = 219.5, Dec = -17.4 implies an offset from the NuSTAR boresight of 42-deg (i.e. from the side of the instrument) and an offset from the geocenter of 73-deg.

Lightcurves and analysis for this GRB can be found here:
https://nustarsoc.caltech.edu/NuSTAR_Public/grbs/reports/2026/260401A/     

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.

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