GCN Circular 1903

E.O. Ofek and A. Gal-Yam report:

We have observed the error circle of GRB030227 (GCN 1896
Not found
 
 
)
with the Wise Observatory 1-m telescope.

We obtained 6x500 sec R-band images of the GRB position.
Comparing the combined images to the DSS2 R/I/B plates
we find a possible OT candidate.
However, the magnitude of the OT candidate is near
the limiting magnitude of both our images and the DSS plates.
We therefore consider the validity and variable nature of this
source to be uncertain at this stage.

The coordinates of the questionable OT are:
      04:57:33.88 +20:29:43.3    (J2000.0)

Astrometry is based on 38 USNO-A2.0 stars with ~0.3" RMS.
The candidate approximate magnitude, based on ~40 USNO-A2.0 stars,
is R~21.3

Finding chart is available from:
     ftp://wise3.tau.ac.il/pub/eran/GRB030227/

At 2003-02-27.7186 UT, the "OT" magnitude relative to the star designated "A"
in the finding chart (RA=04:57:33.81 Dec=+20:29:22.2, J2000) is: 3.74 mag.
An hour later (27.7610 UT), the OT candidate is not visible.

The OT is found 1.0"E and 21.1"N of reference star A.

We have also searched for an optical counterpart
at the position of the X-ray source reported in GCN 1901
Not found
 
 
.
We detect no optical source to an approximate limiting magnitude of R~21.5
within the XMM error circle.

[GCN OPS NOTE (01mar03):  The "Re:" and "(fwd)" were removed 
from the Subject line.]