GRB 990704
GCN Circular 360
Subject
GRB990704: BeppoSAX detection
Date
1999-07-04T20:10:28Z (26 years ago)
From
Luigi Piro at IAS/CNR Frascati <piro@alpha1.ias.rm.cnr.it>
Luigi Piro, BeppoSAX Mission Scientist, reports:
On July 4, 17:30:20 UT a GRB (GRB990704) was detected
simultaneously by the GRBM and WFC of BeppoSAX.
Preliminary coordinates from WFC are:
R.A.(2000)= 184.87
DEC(2000)= -03.796
Due to the less-than-optimal attitude configuration the
error radius is of about 8'.
A follow-on with NFI is being planned.
GCN Circular 361
Subject
Refined BeppoSAX-WFC position of GRB990704
Date
1999-07-04T22:37:53Z (26 years ago)
From
Luigi Piro at IAS/CNR Frascati <piro@alpha1.ias.rm.cnr.it>
Giangiacomo Gandolfi on behalf of BeppoSAX Mission Scientist reports:
On July 4, 17:30:20 UT a GRB (GRB990704) was detected
simultaneously by the GRBM and WFC of BeppoSAX.
Refined coordinates of GRB990704 are:
R.A.(2000)=184.79
DEC(2000)= -03.80
Due to the less-than-optimal attitude configuration the
error radius is of about 7'.
A follow-up with NFI is in progress.
GCN Circular 362
Subject
GRB990704
Date
1999-07-05T01:28:14Z (26 years ago)
From
Alberto Castro-Tirado at LAEFF-INTA <ajct@laeff.esa.es>
GRB 990704 optical observations
-------------------------------
Alberto. Castro-Tirado, LAEFF-INTA (Madrid) and IAA-CSIC (Granada)
Maria Eva Alcoholado-Feltstrom, SMA (Malaga)
Maria Marcha and Alessandro Caccianiga, University Observatory (Lissabon)
Karl Heinz Mack, Radioastronomisches Institut (Bonn)
Jochen Greiner, AIP (Potsdam)
Javier Gorosabel, LAEFF-INTA (Madrid)
Marco Feroci and Enrico Costa, IAS (Frascati)
report:
"We have obtained four 4-minute R-band exposures through a cloudy sky
of the GRB 990407 error box (Piro et al. GCN 360) starting at 20:50 UT
on 4 July 1999 (3.33 hours after the trigger) with the 2.2 m telescope
at the German-Spanish Calar Alto Observatory (CAHA). After a visual
comparison with the the Digital Sky Survey, no new sources were seen to
a limiting magnitude of R = 18 within the 8 arcmin radius error box.
Deeper optical/IR observations are encouraged."
This message can be citted.
GCN Circular 363
Subject
Identification of a possible optical counterpart for GRB990704
Date
1999-07-05T12:54:24Z (26 years ago)
From
Alain Maury at OCA <Alain.Maury@obs-azur.fr>
Alain Maury (OCA), Boris Gaillard (OCA) and Michel Boer (CESR) report on
behalf of the OCA/CESR GRB collaboration, the tentative identification
of a possible optical counterpart for GRB990704 announced in GCN#360 and
GCN#361 on CCD images obtained on the 90cm Schmidt telescope of the
Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur.
An object which is not detected on the POSS has been detected at
RA2000.0 12h19m29.29s -03=B047'25.8" at m19.4 (unfiltered images) on July
4th 21h01 UT.
Contact information : boer@cesr.fr or maury@obs-azur.fr
Web page with images at :
http://wwwrc.obs-azur.fr/schmidt/observations/GRB990704.html
This message is citable.
[GCN OPS NOTE: Due to a processing problem at the GCN end, this circular
was delayed in distribution (as were others, which see). It was received
at 00:34:58 UT 05 Jul 99. It was received before GCN#362.
Also, please note that the problem seems to be due to a problem
with the gcncirc@lheawww.gsfc.nasa.gov account. Until I can resolve
this problem with the System Administrators during tomorrow's normal business
hours (today is a National holiday), please send any future notices
to the gcncirc@lheawww account AND
to the gcncirc@gris1.gsfc.nasa.gov, i.e. the account name is the same
but a second host machine has been added. The second account@host is
also working.]
GCN Circular 364
Subject
GRB990704: possible X-ray afterglow
Date
1999-07-05T13:13:06Z (26 years ago)
From
Luigi Piro at IAS/CNR Frascati <piro@alpha1.ias.rm.cnr.it>
Giangiacomo Gandolfi on behalf of BeppoSAX Mission Scientist reports:
A BeppoSAX follow-up of GRB990704 started about 8 hr after the burst.
Preliminary analysis of the first three orbits of the MECS data at SOC
shows a previously unknown source inside the WFC error circle.
Preliminary coordinates are:
RA(2000)= 184.872
DEC(2000)= -3.840
The error radius is 1.7'.
BeppoSAX is continuing its observation.
[GCN OPS NOTE: This message was received 08:16 UT 05 Jul 99.]
GCN Circular 365
Subject
GRB990704, optical observations
Date
1999-07-05T13:25:04Z (26 years ago)
From
Fredrick J. Vrba at USNO <fjv@nofs.navy.mil>
The U.S. Naval Observatory GRB team (F.J. Vrba, A.A. Henden, C. B.
Luginbuhl, B. Canzian, S.E. Levine), D.H. Hartmann (Clemson Univ.) and,
M.C. Jennings (IGPP, UCR visitor) reports:
We have obtained calibrated photometric observations, under clear sky
conditions, of the 7-arcmin radius error circle for GRB 990704,
reported by Gandolfi et al. in GCN 361. R-band (Cousins) observations
were obtained at the U.S. Naval Observatory, Flagstaff Station
1.0-m reflector using a CCD with an 11x11 arcmin field. Four 12 minute
observations were mosaiced to cover a 15x15 arcmin field centered on
the GCN 361 coordinates. The observations were obtained between
UT 1999 July 05 04:02 and 04:57. The frames reached a 3-sigma limiting
detection of Rc = 21.2. No obvious new objects were detected in a
comparison with the Digital Sky Survey.
[GCN OPS NOTE: This message was received at 09:45 UT 05 Jul 99.]
GCN Circular 366
Subject
Refined BeppoSAX-WFC position of GRB990704: Errata Corrige
Date
1999-07-05T13:40:32Z (26 years ago)
From
Luigi Piro at IAS/CNR Frascati <piro@alpha1.ias.rm.cnr.it>
Giangiacomo Gandolfi on behalf of BeppoSAX Mission Scientist reports:
Due to a trivial typo in coordinates conversion the reported WFC refined
position in BeppoSAX Mail 99/13 (GCN #361) is wrong.
The real position should be read:
RA(2000)= 184.873
DEC(2000)= -3.803
The error box radius is still about 7'.
[GCN OPS NOTE: The message was received 09:55 UT 05 Jul 99.]
GCN Circular 367
Subject
GRB990704
Date
1999-07-05T21:06:17Z (26 years ago)
From
Fredrick J. Vrba at USNO <fjv@nofs.navy.mil>
The U.S. Naval Observatory GRB team (F.J. Vrba, A.A. Henden, C.B.
Luginbuhl, B. Canzian, S.E. Levine), D.H. Hartmann (Clemson Univ.) and,
M.C. Jennings (IGPP, UCR visitor) reports:
The object reported as a possible optical counterpart to GRB 990704
by Maury et al. (GCN 363) was covered by the R-band frames we reported
in GCN 365 and also in a single 10-min V-band frame we obtained
beginning at UT 1999 July 05:00; immediately after the R-band frame
covering the area. The R- and V-band frames go to similar depths. While
the object is easily detected in our R-band frame, it is barely seen in
the V-band image. Thus, the object is either fairly red or was fading
quickly. If red, it is one of a number of objects in this region with
similar red colors from visual inspection. Since the GCN 365 observations
were unfiltered this could explain why the object was not seen on the DSS.
We also note that the object is outside the error circle of the new
X-ray source reported by Gandolfi et al. (GCN 364). While these facts
do not rule out the GCN 363 source as a possible counterpart, it should
probably be given lower priority than observations concentrating on the
GCN 364 X-ray position.
GCN Circular 369
Subject
GRB990704
Date
1999-07-05T22:29:46Z (26 years ago)
From
Alain Maury at OCA <Alain.Maury@obs-azur.fr>
Alain Maury (OCA), Boris Gaillard (OCA) and Michel Boer (CESR) report on
behalf of the OCA/CESR GRB collaboration : We have observed the field of
GRB990704 again tonight, and the 19th magnitude object announced
yesterday in GCN 363 as a possible optical counterpart is still visible
at the same position and roughly the same magnitude. This object is very
likely NOT the optical counterpart of GRB990704.
Contact information : boer@cesr.fr or maury@obs-azur.fr
This message is citable
GCN Circular 370
Subject
GRB 990704, optical observations
Date
1999-07-05T22:57:23Z (26 years ago)
From
Alan Diercks at U.Washington <diercks@astro.washington.edu>
Alan Diercks, Kevin Krisciunas, and Eric Deutsch (Univ. Washington)
report on behalf of the UW and LONEOS GRB collaborations:
The position of the possible optical counterpart to GRB 990704
reported by Maury et al. (GCN 363) (12:19:29.29 -03:47:25.8) was
imaged in the course of the LONEOS project approximately one month
ago, June 6, 1999. Three 60s, un-filtered CCD exposures were taken
with the 60cm Schmidt telescope. Combining these images, we detect
the object noted by Maury et al with an un-filtered magnitude of m =
19.6 +/- 0.3 relative to the "red" magnitude of USNO-A1.0 star
U0825_07735496. We measure the following unfiltered magnitudes for
three stars from the USNO-A1.0 Catalog:
USNO number RA(2000) DEC(2000) USNO UW/LONEOS
r_mag mag
U0825_07735496 12:19:33.74 -03:47:25.3 15.6 15.6 +/- 0.1 *calibrator*
U0825_07735738 12:19:36.43 -03:47:12.6 16.5 16.8 +/- 0.1
U0825_07735688 12:19:35.95 -03:46:32.9 16.5 16.7 +/- 0.1
This message may be cited.
GCN Circular 371
Subject
GRB 990704 Optical Observations
Date
1999-07-05T23:18:50Z (26 years ago)
From
Jens Hjorth at U.Copenhagen <jens@astro.ku.dk>
GRB 990704 Optical Observations
B. L. Jensen, J. Hjorth, H. Pedersen (Copenhagen),
T. Abbott, L. Freyhammer, M. I. Andersen, J. W. Clasen (NOT),
P. Muhli (Helsinki), and A. O. Jaunsen (Oslo), report:
"On 4.92 July and 5.92 July 1999 UT we obtained R band images (FWHM = 0.9")
with the 2.5-m Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT), covering the BeppoSAX 1.7' NFI
error circle of GRB 990704 (GCN #364). We find no variable objects down to a
limiting magnitude of R ~ 22.5 inside or near the error circle. The object
noted in GCN #363 (located outside the NFI error circle) has not varied
between the two epochs of observation (cf. GCN #369, 370)."
GCN Circular 372
Subject
GRB 990704 X-ray Observations
Date
1999-07-06T02:42:03Z (26 years ago)
From
Toshio Murikami at ISAS <murakami@astro.isas.ac.jp>
T. Murakami, A. Yoshida, N. Kawai, T. Tamura, S. Terada and T. Tsuru
on behalf of the ASCA team report :
ASCA is observing the SAX NFI position (GCN #366) of GRB 990704 from
July 5.40(UT). Preliminary analysis of the first four orbits of the
SIS data at the tracking station shows an X-ray source at a position of
RA(2000)= 184.867
DEC(2000)= -3.833
with the error radius of 1.5 arcmin. The source is fading and the
average intensity of the four orbits is 2x10E-13 erg/cm2/sec in 2-10
keV band.
ASCA is continuing its observation at least until July 6.13 (UT).
GCN Circular 374
Subject
GRB990704 radio and optical observations
Date
1999-07-06T19:26:40Z (26 years ago)
From
Paul Vreeswijk at U of Amsterdam <pmv@astro.uva.nl>
E. Rol, P. Vreeswijk, T. Galama (U. of Amsterdam), N. Masetti,
E. Palazzi, E. Pian, F. Frontera (ITESRE, CNR, Bologna), J. van
Paradijs (U. of Amsterdam and U. of Alabama in Huntsville),
C. Kouveliotou (USRA/MSFC), R. Strom (NFRA and U. of Amsterdam), G. de
Bruyn (NFRA and U. of Groningen) and T. Augusteijn (ESO) report:
We have observed the BeppoSAX NFI error circle of GRB 990704 (Gandolfi
1999, GCN 364) with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT).
We observed for 9.2 hours at 4.88 GHz centered on July 5.75 UT, 1999.
Within the error circle we detect two sources at 4.88 GHz. Their
fluxes and positions are given below:
flux (mJy) RA(J2000) Decl.(J2000)
0.68 12:19:27.2 -03:51:38.5
0.35 12:19:31.0 -03:52:05.3
The error in the flux is 0.065 mJy. The error in the RA and Decl. are
0.5" and 5", respectively.
We have also observed the error circle in the R band with the ESO 2.2m
(La Silla) and VLT-UT1 Antu (Paranal) telescopes, 6.5 and 30.5 hours
after the burst, respectively. We calibrated these images with the
Landolt SA104 field (stars 350 and 456; Landolt 1992, AJ, 104, 340).
We detect an object at RA 12:19:27.20, Decl. -3:51:39.7 (J2000;
positional accuracy of about 2"), coincident with the first radio
source.
We measure the following magnitudes for this object:
UT Date R err. telescope
July 4.96 22.05 0.16 2.2m
July 6.01 22.00 0.05 VLT-UT1
July 6.07 21.87 0.07 VLT-UT1
The error in the absolute calibration (estimated to be 0.2 mag.) is
not included in the error listed above. The object is constant within
the measurement errors and it is therefore not likely the counterpart
of GRB990704.
At the position of the second radio source, no object is detected. The
5 sigma limiting magnitudes of the 2.2m and the co-added VLT-UT1
images are R=22.2 and R=23.5, respectively.
This message is citeable.
GCN Circular 375
Subject
GRB990704: SAX-NFI results summary
Date
1999-07-06T22:27:51Z (26 years ago)
From
Marco Feroci at IAS/CNR Frascati <feroci@ias.rm.cnr.it>
M. Feroci, G. Gandolfi, Istituto Astrofisica Spaziale, CNR, Roma,
L.A. Antonelli, Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma,
M.R. Daniele, BeppoSAX Science Data Center, Telespazio, Roma
C. De Libero, BeppoSAX Operation Control Center, Telespazio, Roma,
L. Di Ciolo and V. Torroni, BeppoSAX Science Operation Center,
Telespazio, Roma,
F. Frontera, Istituto Tecnologie e Studio Radiazioni Extraterrestri,
CNR, Bologna,
and J. Heise, Space Research Organization in the Netherlands, Utrecht,
on behalf of the BeppoSAX Team report:
The BeppoSAX Narrow Field Instruments observed the region of GRB990704
(GCN #366) from July 5.064 to July 5.989 UT. The observation was then
stopped to allow the follow-up observation of GRB990705.
One previously unknown X-ray source (1SAX J1219.5-0350) was found
inside the 7' BeppoSAX WFC error-circle (GCN #366) at a position (J2000)
R.A. = 12h19m27s.3 Decl.= -03o50'22", error radius 1' (90% confidence
level). The average source flux in 2-10 keV was (8.0+-0.6)x10E-3 counts/s,
corresponding to about 4.4x10E-13 erg cmE-2 sE-1, assuming a power
law spectrum.
The source shows a fading behaviour, strongly suggesting it is the
X-ray afterglow of GRB990704.
GCN Circular 379
Subject
IPN localization of GRB990704
Date
1999-07-07T18:51:56Z (26 years ago)
From
Kevin Hurley at UCBerkeley/SSL <khurley@sunspot.ssl.berkeley.edu>
K. Hurley, on behalf of the Ulysses GRB team, and M. Feroci, on behalf
of the BeppoSAX GRB team, report:
We have obtained a preliminary IPN annulus for GRB990704. This
annulus is centered at RA=147.4103 deg., Decl.=-7.9861 deg. (J2000),
and has a radius of 37.4724 +/- 0.047 deg. (3 sigma). It intersects the
BeppoSAX WFC error circle (GCN 366) to form a 75 arcmin.^2 error
box whose corners are:
RA(2000) Decl.(2000)
12h 19m 41.9s -3o 54' 27"
12h 19m 34.4s -3o 41' 17"
12h 19m 19.3s -3o 54' 42"
12h 19m 12.3s -3o 42' 39"
This error box includes, but does not reduce the size of, that of the BeppoSAX
NFI source (GCN 375) and the ASCA source (GCN 372), suggesting that
this fading source is indeed the X-ray counterpart to the GRB. An
image may be found at ssl.berkeley.edu/ipn3/990704/. The optical source
in this image is the one referred to in GCN 363 and GCN 369.
This IPN annulus can be updated when the final Ulysses data become
available, but due to the weakness of the GRB, the annulus width
will probably not be reduced substantially.