GCN Circular 45178

Subject

GRB 260718A: SVOM/VT optical upper limits from VHF data

Event

GRB 260718A

Date

2026-07-18T14:52:36Z (a month ago)

Edited On

2026-08-02T17:18:29Z (11 days ago)

From

SVOM_group <svomgroup@bao.ac.cn>

Edited By

Vidushi Sharma at NASA GSFC/UMBC <vidushi.sharma@nasa.gov> on behalf of SVOM_group <svomgroup@bao.ac.cn>

Via

Web form

Y. N. Ma (NAOC), W. L. Zhang (PMO), C. Wu, L. P. Xin, Y.L. Qiu (NAOC), D. Turpin, A. Saccardi, J. T. Palmerio (CEA/Irfu) report on behalf of the SVOM/VT team.
 
After the trigger by SVOM/ECLAIRs at 2026-07-18T11:16:34 UTC (T0), SVOM performed an automatic slew on the burst location (Antier et al., GCN 45177Loading...
 
 ). SVOM/VT took images of the field in the VT_B (400nm-650nm) and VT_R (650nm-1000nm) channels simultaneously.

From a preliminary analysis of the 1-bit subimage and source list downloaded via VHF network, no uncatalogued optical source was detected at the ECLAIRs position (Antier et al., GCN 45177Loading...
 
 ) in our two sequence images, compared to Pan-STARRS1 DR1. The 5-sigma upper limits are:
 
Mid time | Band | Exposure Time | 5 sigma upper limit
44.5 min | VT_B |    6*50 sec   |   > 21.5 mag
44.5 min | VT_R |    6*50 sec   |   > 21.5 mag
49.5 min | VT_R |    6*50 sec   |   > 21.5 mag
 
The subimage and source list cover 100% of the SVOM/ECLAIRs R90 uncertainty region. Given the lack of detection in VT_B and VT_R at an early phase, deeper or redder follow-ups are encouraged to investigate the nature of the burst.
 
The Space-based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) is a China-France joint mission led by the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA), French Space Agency (CNES), and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), which is dedicated to observing gamma-ray bursts and other transient phenomena in the energetic universe.
SVOM/VT was jointly developed by Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM), CAS and National astronomical observatories (NAOC), CAS.
 
The Burst Advocate (BA) on shift for this alert is Yinuo Ma: mayn@bao.ac.cn.
Please contact the BA by email if you require additional information.