GRB 120116A
GCN Circular 12834
Subject
GRB 120116A: Swift detection of a burst
Date
2012-01-16T18:17:28Z (13 years ago)
From
Scott Barthelmy at NASA/GSFC <scott@milkyway.gsfc.nasa.gov>
A. Melandri (INAF-OAB), S. D. Barthelmy (GSFC),
A. P. Beardmore (U Leicester), S. Campana (INAF-OAB),
P. D'Avanzo (INAF-OAB), N. Gehrels (NASA/GSFC), J. A. Kennea (PSU),
A. Y. Lien (NASA/GSFC/ORAU), D. M. Palmer (LANL),
T. Sakamoto (NASA/UMBC), B. Sbarufatti (INAF-OAB/PSU),
M. H. Siegel (PSU), R. L. C. Starling (U Leicester),
C. A. Swenson (PSU), T. N. Ukwatta (MSU), C. A. Wolf (PSU) and
B.-B. Zhang (PSU) report on behalf of the Swift Team:
At 18:06:28 UT, the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) triggered and
located GRB 120116A (trigger=511866). Swift slewed immediately to the burst.
The BAT on-board calculated location is
RA, Dec 16.248, +33.929, which is
RA(J2000) = 01h 05m 00s
Dec(J2000) = +33d 55' 44"
with an uncertainty of 3 arcmin (radius, 90% containment, including
systematic uncertainty). The BAT light curve shows at least two
precursor peaks followed by a complex FRED peak with a total duration
of at least 50 sec. The peak count rate was ~4000 counts/sec
(15-350 keV), at ~1 sec after the trigger.
The XRT began observing the field at 18:07:42.5 UT, 74.4 seconds after
the BAT trigger. Using promptly downlinked data we find a bright,
uncatalogued X-ray source located at RA, Dec 16.24183, 33.93034 which
is equivalent to:
RA(J2000) = 01h 04m 58.04s
Dec(J2000) = +33d 55' 49.2"
with an uncertainty of 4.0 arcseconds (radius, 90% containment). This
location is 19 arcseconds from the BAT onboard position, within the BAT
error circle. This position may be improved as more data are received;
the latest position is available at http://www.swift.ac.uk/sper. We
cannot determine whether the source is fading at the present time.
A power-law fit to a spectrum formed from promptly downlinked event
data gives a column density consistent with the Galactic value of 4.64
x 10^20 cm^-2 (Kalberla et al. 2005).
The initial flux in the 2.5 s image was 6.52e-10 erg cm^-2 s^-1 (0.2-10
keV).
UVOT took a finding chart exposure of 150 seconds with the White filter
starting 83 seconds after the BAT trigger. No credible afterglow candidate has
been found in the initial data products. The 2.7'x2.7' sub-image covers 100% of
the XRT error circle. The typical 3-sigma upper limit has been about 19.6 mag.
The 8'x8' region for the list of sources generated on-board covers 100% of the
XRT error circle. The list of sources is typically complete to about 18 mag. No
correction has been made for the expected extinction corresponding to E(B-V) of
0.05.
Burst Advocate for this burst is A. Melandri (andrea.melandri AT brera.inaf.it).
Please contact the BA by email if you require additional information
regarding Swift followup of this burst. In extremely urgent cases, after
trying the Burst Advocate, you can contact the Swift PI by phone (see
Swift TOO web site for information: http://www.swift.psu.edu/too.html.)
GCN Circular 12835
Subject
GRB 120116A: MASTER Early optical limit
Date
2012-01-16T18:33:12Z (13 years ago)
From
Vladimir Lipunov at Moscow State U/Krylov Obs <gcncirc@observ.inetcomm.ru>
V. Lipunov, E. Gorbovskoy, V.Kornilov, D.Kuvshinov, A.Belinski, N.Tyurina,
N.Shatskiy, P.Balanutsa, V.V.Chazov, A.Kuznetsov,
D.Zimnukhov, M. Kornilov, A.Kuznetsov, D.Zimnukhov, M. Kornilov,
A.Sankovich, S. Shurpakov
Moscow State University, Sternberg Astronomical Institute
K.Ivanov, V.A.Poleshchuk, S.Yazev, N.M.Budnev, O.Gres,
O.Chuvalaev,E.Konstantinov,
Irkutsk State University
V.Krushinski, I.Zalozhnich, A. Popov
Ural State University, Kourovka
E. Sinykov, V.Yurkov, Yu.Sergienko, D.Varda,
Blagoveschensk Educational State University, Blagoveschensk
A. Tlatov, A.V. Parhomenko, D. Dormidontov, V.Sennik
Kislovodsk Solar Station of the Pulkovo Observatory
MASTER II robotic double telescope (MASTER-Net:
http://observ.pereplet.ru) located in Tunka was pointed to the
GRB120116A 10 sec s after notice time and 31 sec after GRB time
at 2012-01-16 18:06:59.889 UT.
On our first (10s exposure) set we haven`t found optical transient
within SWIFT XRT error-box (Melandri et al, GCN Circ 12834) in both
polarizations.
The 3-sigma unfiltered upper limit has been about 15.0 mag
This circular was generated automatically.
The message may be cited.
GCN Circular 12836
Subject
GRB 120116A: Bassano Bresciano Observatory optical observations
Date
2012-01-16T21:37:31Z (13 years ago)
From
Ulisse Quadri at Bassano Bresciano Obs <oabb@ulisse.bs.it>
U.Quadri, L.Strabla and R.Girelli report:
We imaged the field of GRB 120116A detected
by SWIFT(trigger 511866) with the robotic
telescope of (IAU station 565) Bassano Bresciano
Observatory, Italy.
The observations started 3min 41sec. after the
GRB trigger,with our Schmidt telescope
D=320 mm F/D=3.1.
Weather conditions were discrete.
We co-added a series of 15 exposures of 120sec.
We did not found any optical counterpart
in the error box of the XRTcandidate
(Melandri et al, GCN Circ 12834).
Start End Vlim
03min 30min 17.0
Magnitudes were estimated with the UCAC-3
catalog and are not corrected for galactic
dust extinction.
The message may be cited.
GCN Circular 12837
Subject
GRB 120116A: IAC80 I-band observations
Date
2012-01-16T22:49:38Z (13 years ago)
From
Javier Gorosabel at IAA-CSIC <jgu@iaa.es>
R. Sanchez-Ramirez (IAA-CSIC), D. Jimenez Mejias (IAC), J.C. Tello (IAA-CSIC), A. de Ugarte Postigo (IAA-CSIC, DARK), J. Gorosabel (IAA-CSIC), report on behalf of a larger collaboration:
"We observed the field of GRB 120116A (Melandri et al., GCNC 12834) with the 82cm IAC80 telescope at the Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife, Spain. The observations were carried in the I-band on Jan 16.83154 -- 16.91640 UT (1.85-3.89 hours post burst) with a total exposure time of 22x300s. A preliminary analysis of the combined image shows no object brighter than I~21.8 inside the XRT error circle."
GCN Circular 12838
Subject
GRB 120116A: NOT observations
Date
2012-01-16T23:13:41Z (13 years ago)
From
Paul Vreeswijk at U of Iceland <pmv@raunvis.hi.is>
Paul Vreeswijk (U. Iceland), Don Pollacco, David Armstrong, Paul
McDaid (Queens U. of Belfast), Dong Xu (WIS), A. De Cia and P�ll
Jakobsson (U. Iceland), report on behalf of a larger collaboration:
Using ALFOSC on the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) we have obtained
Sloan r'- (3 x 600 s) and z'-band (6 x 300 s) imaging of the field of
the Swift GRB 120116A (Melandri et al., GCN 12834), starting on 2012
January 16 at 19:59 UT, just under 2 hours after the burst. The
observations were performed in clear conditions, with a seeing of
about 1".
We do not detect any object within the XRT error circle, down to
approximate limiting magnitudes of r'>24.1 and z'>22.4 (calibrated
against the SDSS catalog).
GCN Circular 12839
Subject
GRB 120116A: Swift-BAT refined analysis
Date
2012-01-16T23:16:16Z (13 years ago)
From
Scott Barthelmy at NASA/GSFC <scott@lheamail.gsfc.nasa.gov>
D. M. Palmer (LANL), S. D. Barthelmy (GSFC), W. H. Baumgartner (GSFC/UMBC),
J. R. Cummings (GSFC/UMBC), E. E. Fenimore (LANL), N. Gehrels (GSFC),
H. A. Krimm (GSFC/USRA), C. B. Markwardt (GSFC), A. Melandri (INAF-OAB),
T. Sakamoto (GSFC/UMBC), G. Sato (ISAS), M. Stamatikos (OSU),
J. Tueller (GSFC), T. N. Ukwatta (MSU)
(i.e. the Swift-BAT team):
Using the data set from T-61 to T+242 sec from the recent telemetry downlink,
we report further analysis of BAT GRB 120116A (trigger #511866)
(Melandri, et al., GCN Circ. 12834). The BAT ground-calculated position is
RA, Dec = 16.240, 33.927 deg, which is
RA(J2000) = 01h 04m 57.7s
Dec(J2000) = +33d 55' 36.3"
with an uncertainty of 1.0 arcmin, (radius, sys+stat, 90% containment).
The partial coding was 85%.
The mask-weighted light curve shows a couple small precursor peaks
starting at ~T-30 sec. The main peak has a fast rise starting around T-2 sec,
peaking at ~T+0 sec, and a roughly linear decay ending around T+30 sec.
T90 (15-350 keV) is 41.0 +- 5.0 sec (estimated error including systematics).
The time-averaged spectrum from T-33.44 to T+26.57 sec is best fit by a power law
with an exponential cutoff. This fit gives a photon index 1.31 +- 0.41,
and Epeak of 19.4 +- 6.3 keV (chi squared 55.4 for 56 d.o.f.). For this
model the total fluence in the 15-150 keV band is 2.9 +- 0.1 x 10^-6 erg/cm2
and the 1-sec peak flux measured from T+0.00 sec in the 15-150 keV band is
4.1 +- 0.3 ph/cm2/sec. A fit to a simple power law gives a photon index
of 2.70 +- 0.07 (chi squared 101.2 for 57 d.o.f.). All the quoted errors
are at the 90% confidence level.
The results of the batgrbproduct analysis are available at
http://gcn.gsfc.nasa.gov/notices_s/511866/BA/
GCN Circular 12840
Subject
GRB 120116A: Optical observations at Crni Vrh
Date
2012-01-16T23:33:02Z (13 years ago)
From
Bojan Dintinjana at OCV <bojan.dintinjana@fmf.uni-lj.si>
S. Maticic, B. Dintinjana and H. Mikuz on behalf of PIKA observing
program at Crni Vrh Observatory.
We observed the field of GRB 120116A (GCN 12834) from Crni Vrh
Observatory with a 60 cm robotic telescope, R filter and CCD. Twenty
consecutive exposures of 60 second duration were taken. First exposure
started at 2012-01-16 18:07:47 UT, 79 seconds after the burst (60
seconds after the SWIFT trigger).
No optical candidate was detected within the uncertainty radius on
single exposures, having R limiting magnitude 20.0 +/-0.2. Also we found
no optical candidate on 20 sumed R images with total exposure of 1200
seconds and limiting R band magnitude 22.0 +/-0.2 (all magnitudes
calibrated against the nearby USNO B1.0 R2 magnitude stars).
GCN Circular 12841
Subject
GRB 120116A: WHT optical observations
Date
2012-01-17T00:32:20Z (13 years ago)
From
Andrew Levan at U.of Leicester <A.J.Levan@warwick.ac.uk>
A.J. Levan, S. Parsons (U. Warwick), N.R. Tanvir, K. Wiersema (U.
Leicester), T. R. Marsh (Warwick), S. Littlefair (Sheffield) report
on behalf of a larger collaboration:
We observed the field of GRB 120116A (Melandri et al. GCN 12834)
with ULTRACAM on the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope. Observations
began approximately 2 hours after the trigger, and 45, 60 second
exposures were obtained simultaneously in ug and r. In the XRT error
circle we do not locate any sources to preliminary limiting magnitudes
of g>25.4, r>24.8, calibrated against SDSS observations of the
field.
GCN Circular 12842
Subject
GRB 120116A: EVLA observations
Date
2012-01-17T09:00:04Z (13 years ago)
From
Ashley Zauderer at CfA <bevinashley@gmail.com>
A. Zauderer and E. Berger (Harvard) report on behalf of a larger
collaboration:
"We observed the position of GRB 120116A (GCN 12834) beginning 2012 Jan
17.06 (0.3 d after the burst) with the EVLA at a mean frequency of 5.8
GHz. We find no significant radio emission at the Swift-XRT position
(http://www.swift.ac.uk/sper/) to a 3-sigma limit of 45 uJy."
GCN Circular 12843
Subject
GRB 120116A: Gemini optical/IR candidate
Date
2012-01-17T16:37:18Z (13 years ago)
From
Andrew Levan at U.of Leicester <A.J.Levan@warwick.ac.uk>
A.J. Levan (U. Warwick) and N.R. Tanvir (U. Leicester) report for a
larger collaboration:
"We observed GRB 120116A (Melandri et al. GCN 12834) with Gemini
North beginning at Jan 17 04:54, approximately 11 hours after the
burst trigger. We obtained optical imaging in iz with GMOS and
near-IR imaging in JHK with GNIRS. Within the XRT localization of
the source we find a faint object at
RA(J2000) 01:04:57.84
DEC(J2000) 33:55:51.1
(error +/- 0.3") with preliminary magnitudes (calibrated against
SDSS and 2MASS) of
i=24.7 +/- 0.2
z=24.7 +/- 0.3
J> 23.0 (3-sigma)
H=22.8 +/- 0.4
K=21.6 +/- 0.3
This object is a plausible counterpart for GRB 120116A. However,
at present we cannot assess if the source is fading, as it is
significantly fainter than earlier optical limits (Quadri et al.
GCN 12836, Sanchez-Ramirez et al. GCN 12837, Vreeswijk et al. GCN
12838, Levan et al. GCN 12841). We further note that the probability
of a chance alignment of an object with this magnitude within a 2"
error XRT position is non-negligible.
We thank the staff of Gemini, in particular Richard McDermid for their
assistance in acquiring these data. "
GCN Circular 12844
Subject
GRB 120116A: Mondy optical observations
Date
2012-01-17T18:12:05Z (13 years ago)
From
Alina Volnova at SAI MSU <alinusss@gmail.com>
A. Volnova (SAI MSU), I. Korobtsev, E. Klunko (ISTP), A.Pozanenko
(IKI) on behalf of larger GRB follow up collaboration �report:
We observed the field of the Swift GRB 120116A (Melandri et al., GCN
12834) with AZT-33IK telescope of Sayan observatory (Mondy) on Jan, 16
between (UT) 18:49:24 - 19:20:20, i.e. starting 40 minutes after the
trigger. We took several series of 60 s exposures in R-filter. Within
the XRT error circle (Melandri et al., GCN 12834) �we do not detect
any source, in particular we do not detect the source reported by
Levan and Tanvir (GCN 12843). The photometry is based on the USNO-B1.0
1239-0020213 star (RA=01 05 04.50, Dec=+33 55 37.7) assuming R2=16.36.
UT_start, �T0+, � � � �Filter, �Exposure, � �OT � � � uplim,
� � � � � � � �d � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 sigma
18:49:24 � 0.03815 �R � � � �29x60 � � � � n/d � � 19.5
GCN Circular 12846
Subject
GRB 120116A: Enhanced Swift-XRT position
Date
2012-01-17T20:13:49Z (13 years ago)
From
Phil Evans at U of Leicester <pae9@star.le.ac.uk>
M.R. Goad, J.P. Osborne, A.P. Beardmore and P.A. Evans (U. Leicester)
report on behalf of the Swift-XRT team.
Using 1642 s of XRT Photon Counting mode data and 3 UVOT
images for GRB 120116A, we find an astrometrically corrected X-ray
position (using the XRT-UVOT alignment and matching UVOT field sources
to the USNO-B1 catalogue): RA, Dec = 16.24134, +33.93057 which is equivalent
to:
RA (J2000): 01h 04m 57.92s
Dec (J2000): +33d 55' 50.0"
with an uncertainty of 1.7 arcsec (radius, 90% confidence).
This position may be improved as more data are received. The latest
position can be viewed at http://www.swift.ac.uk/xrt_positions. Position
enhancement is described by Goad et al. (2007, A&A, 476, 1401) and Evans
et al. (2009, MNRAS, 397, 1177).
This circular was automatically generated, and is an official product of the
Swift-XRT team.
GCN Circular 12847
Subject
GRB 120116A: Swift-XRT refined Analysis
Date
2012-01-17T22:47:37Z (13 years ago)
From
Andrea Melandri at INAF-OAB <andrea.melandri@brera.inaf.it>
A. Melandri (INAF-OAB), S. Campana (INAF-OAB) and P. D'Avanzo
(INAF-OAB) report on behalf of the Swift-XRT team:
We have analysed 8.2 ks of XRT data for GRB 120116A (Melandri et al.
GCN Circ. 12834), from 64 s to 35.1 ks after the BAT trigger. The data
comprise 92 s in Windowed Timing (WT) mode (the first 9 s were taken
while Swift was slewing) with the remainder in Photon Counting (PC)
mode. The enhanced XRT position for this burst was given by Goad et al.
(GCN. Circ 12846).
The light curve can be modelled with a series of power-law decays. The
initial decay index is alpha=3.9 (+0.9, -0.8). Centered at T+114 s
there is a small flare. The light curve breaks again at T+205 s to a
decay with alpha=0.42 (+0.09, -0.07), before a final break at T+8394 s
s after which the decay index is 1.24 (+0.69, -0.24).
A spectrum formed from the WT mode data can be fitted with an absorbed
power-law with a photon spectral index of 2.93 (+0.33, -0.28). The
best-fitting absorption column is 2.5 (+/-0.6) x 10^21 cm^-2, in
excess of the Galactic value of 4.6 x 10^20 cm^-2 (Kalberla et al.
2005). The PC mode spectrum has a photon index of 2.19 (+0.19, -0.18)
and a best-fitting absorption column of 1.9 (+/-0.5) x 10^21 cm^-2. The
counts to observed (unabsorbed) 0.3-10 keV flux conversion factor
deduced from this spectrum is 3.5 x 10^-11 (5.5 x 10^-11) erg cm^-2
count^-1.
A summary of the PC-mode spectrum is thus:
Total column: 1.9 (+/-0.5) x 10^21 cm^-2
Galactic foreground: 4.6 x 10^20 cm^-2
Excess significance: 4.8 sigma
Photon index: 2.19 (+0.19, -0.18)
The results of the XRT-team automatic analysis are available at
http://www.swift.ac.uk/xrt_products/00511866.
This circular is an official product of the Swift-XRT team.
GCN Circular 12848
Subject
GRB 120116A: Swift/UVOT Upper Limits
Date
2012-01-17T22:57:58Z (13 years ago)
From
Paul Kuin at MSSL <npkuin@gmail.com>
N. P. M. Kuin (MSSL-UCL) and A. Melandri (INAF-OAB)
report on behalf of the Swift/UVOT team:
The Swift/UVOT began settled observations of the field of GRB 120116A
83 s after the BAT trigger (Melandri et al., GCN Circ. 12834).
No optical afterglow consistent with the enhanced XRT position
Goad et al, GCN_Circ. 12846) is detected in the initial UVOT exposures.
Preliminary 3-sigma upper limits using the UVOT photometric system
(Breeveld et al. 2011, AIP Conf. Proc. 1358, 373) for the first
finding chart (FC) exposure and subsequent exposures are:
Filter T_start(s) T_stop(s) Exp(s) Mag
white_FC 83 233 147 >21.0
u_FC 296 546 246 >20.1
white 83 919 192 >21.1
v 4479 4679 197 >19.1
u 296 5173 324 >20.4
w1 4889 5089 197 >20.2
m2 4684 4884 197 >19.8
w2 4274 4474 197 >20.5
The magnitudes in the table are not corrected for the Galactic extinction
due to the reddening of E(B-V) = 0.05 in the direction of the burst
(Schlegel et al. 1998).
GCN Circular 12899
Subject
GRB 120116A: optical upper limit
Date
2012-01-27T09:42:18Z (13 years ago)
From
Alina Volnova at SAI MSU <alinusss@gmail.com>
A. Volnova (SAI MSU), E. Litvinenko (UBAI), I. Molotov (KIAM), A.
Pozanenko (IKI) on behalf of larger GRB follow up collaboration
report:
We observed the field of the Swift GRB 120116A (Melandri et al., GCN
12834) with ORI-40 telescope of Kitab ISON observatory on Jan. 16
starting (UT) 18:12:48, i.e. ~6 min after burst trigger. We obtained
several unfiltered images with exposure of 60 seconds. On the stacked
image we do not detect any source within the enhanced XRT error box
(Goad et al., GCN 12846). The photometry is based on nearby reference
stars of USNO-B1.0
(R2 magnitudes):
Tstart UT, T0+, Filter, Exposure, OT, UL (3 sigma)
(mid, d) (s)
18:12:48 0.01480 none 29x60 n/d 19.4
GCN Circular 12906
Subject
GRB 120116A, the review of the sky area in plate archives
Date
2012-01-31T14:27:52Z (13 years ago)
From
Valentyna Golovnya at Main Astro Obs,Kyiv <golov_v@ukr.ne>
V.V.Golovnya (Main Astro Obs, Kyiv)
report:
We have undertaken the review of the sky area in vicinity of
GRB 120116A (M.R. Goad et al., GCN Circ.12846) on astronegatives,
collected in Ukrainian NAS Main astronomical observatory plate
archive (1976-1996). All the plates with the possible object
appearance are digitized using Microtek ScanMaker 9800XL TMA
and Epson Expression 10000XL flatbed scanners and have been
placed into Golosiiv Plate Archive database DBGPA with open
access to them.
The list of plates is given in the table:
YYYYMMDD/TimeUT --Plates-- Exp. LimMag Star USNOA2
19770906/232931 GUA040C000721B 30.0 15.95 1200-00453119
19850919/225420 GUA040C000745A 16.0 15.95 1200-00453119
19860910/234443 GUA040C001009A 16.0 15.10 1200-00451448
19870917/232503 GUA040C001119A 16.0 15.55 1200-00452448
19871023/210844 GUA040C001139A 20.0 16.15 1200-00452199
19871024/204207 GUA040C001155A 17.0 15.10 1200-00451448
Plates: �the plates archive identifier of DWA (D/F=400/2000,
GUA040C M=103"/mm) of the Ukrainian NAS Main Astro obs.
(Marsden's number - 83) the plate number [1].
Exp. - Duration of the maximum exposure (minutes).
LimMag - Limited V mag, derived in the 23 minutes area around
the location given in M.R. Goad et al. GCN Circ. 12846:
RA(J2000): 01h 04m 57.92s, Dec(J2000): +33d 55' 50.0"
Star USNOA2 - Comparison star.
The preview images of 6 areas together with
the 23x19 min.of arc area from SkyMap can be found in
http://gua.db.ukr-vo.org/img/grb/120116A/index.html
The images with full resolution are available via e-mail on
demand.
References:
1.L.Pakuliak DATABASE of GOLOSIIV PLATE ARCHIVE (DBGPA V2.0),
http://gua.db.ukr-vo.org