Gamma-ray Burst 120909A

(All information courtesy of the instrument teams.)

Previous IAU Circulars

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Results of Observations

GCN/BACODINE POSITION NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 01:42:32 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-BAT GRB Position
TRIGGER_NUM:     533060,   Seg_Num: 0
GRB_RA:          275.685d {+18h 22m 44s} (J2000),
                 275.966d {+18h 23m 52s} (current),
                 274.575d {+18h 18m 18s} (1950)
GRB_DEC:         -59.426d {-59d 25' 34"} (J2000),
                 -59.419d {-59d 25' 08"} (current),
                 -59.451d {-59d 27' 03"} (1950)
GRB_ERROR:       3.00 [arcmin radius, statistical only]
GRB_INTEN:       9050 [cnts]    Image_Peak=271 [image_cnts]
TRIGGER_DUR:     1.408 [sec] 
TRIGGER_INDEX:   472     E_range: 25-100 keV
BKG_INTEN:       89942 [cnts]
BKG_TIME:        6102.37 SOD {01:41:42.37} UT
BKG_DUR:         16 [sec]
GRB_DATE:        16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
GRB_TIME:        6123.23 SOD {01:42:03.23} UT
GRB_PHI:           4.16 [deg]
GRB_THETA:        40.50 [deg]
SOLN_STATUS:     0x20000003
RATE_SIGNIF:     13.00 [sigma]
IMAGE_SIGNIF:    7.77 [sigma]
MERIT_PARAMS:     +1  +0  +0  +0  +2  -2  +0  +0 +23  +0 
SUN_POSTN:       167.84d {+11h 11m 22s}   +5.22d {+05d 12' 57"}
SUN_DIST:        103.64 [deg]   Sun_angle= -7.2 [hr] (East of Sun)
MOON_POSTN:       81.84d {+05h 27m 21s}  +21.19d {+21d 11' 07"}
MOON_DIST:       140.46 [deg]
MOON_ILLUM:      45 [%]
GAL_COORDS:      335.33,-19.64 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst (or transient)
ECL_COORDS:      273.57,-36.06 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the burst (or transient)
COMMENTS:        SWIFT-BAT GRB Coordinates.  
COMMENTS:        This is a rate trigger.  
COMMENTS:        A point_source was found.  
COMMENTS:        This does not match any source in the on-board catalog.  
COMMENTS:        This does not match any source in the ground catalog.  
COMMENTS:        This is a GRB.  
COMMENTS:        This trigger occurred at longitude,latitude = 337.03,-5.19 [deg].  
COMMENTS:           
COMMENTS:        NOTE: This BAT event is temporally(45.0<100sec) coincident with the INTEGRAL_SPIACS event (trignum=6639).

red DSS finding chart ps-file

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:          GCN/INTEGRAL NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:    Sun 09 Sep 12 01:42:10 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:    INTEGRAL SPI ACS Trigger
TRIGGER_NUM:    6639,   Sub_Num: 0
GRB_INTEN:      9.04 [sigma]
GRB_TIME:       6078.37 SOD {01:41:18.37} UT
GRB_DATE:       16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
COMMENTS:       INTEGRAL SPI_ACS GRB Trigger.
COMMENTS:       Time_Scale=2.0000 and Time_Error=1.0000.  
COMMENTS:
COMMENTS:       NOTE: This SPIACS event is temporally(4.0<100sec) coincident with the FERMI_GBM event (trignum=368847685).
COMMENTS:
COMMENTS:       The SPIACS lightcurve can be found at:  
COMMENTS:       ftp://isdcarc.unige.ch/arc/FTP/ibas/spiacs/2012-09/2012-09-09T01-41-18.3118-29555-64400-0.lc

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/FERMI NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 01:41:47 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Fermi-GBM Flight Position
RECORD_NUM:      48
TRIGGER_NUM:     368847685
GRB_RA:          281.083d {+18h 44m 20s} (J2000),
                 281.332d {+18h 45m 20s} (current),
                 280.101d {+18h 40m 24s} (1950)
GRB_DEC:         -51.250d {-51d 15' 00"} (J2000),
                 -51.236d {-51d 14' 10"} (current),
                 -51.301d {-51d 18' 03"} (1950)
GRB_ERROR:       15.43 [deg radius, statistical plus systematic]
GRB_INTEN:       112 [cnts/sec]
DATA_SIGNIF:     7.10 [sigma]
INTEG_TIME:      2.048 [sec]
GRB_DATE:        16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
GRB_TIME:        6082.40 SOD {01:41:22.40} UT
GRB_PHI:         245.00 [deg]
GRB_THETA:        75.00 [deg]
DATA_TIME_SCALE: 2.0480 [sec]
HARD_RATIO:      0.77
LOC_ALGORITHM:   3 (version number of)
MOST_LIKELY:      96%  GRB
2nd_MOST_LIKELY:   2%  Generic Transient
DETECTORS:       0,0,0, 0,0,0, 0,1,1, 0,0,0, 0,0,
SUN_POSTN:       167.84d {+11h 11m 22s}   +5.22d {+05d 12' 58"}
SUN_DIST:        108.63 [deg]   Sun_angle= -7.6 [hr] (East of Sun)
MOON_POSTN:       81.83d {+05h 27m 19s}  +21.19d {+21d 11' 08"}
MOON_DIST:       146.31 [deg]
MOON_ILLUM:      45 [%]
GAL_COORDS:      344.60,-19.78 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst (or transient)
ECL_COORDS:      277.84,-28.11 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the burst (or transient)
COMMENTS:        Fermi-GBM Flight-calculated Coordinates.  
COMMENTS:        This trigger occurred at longitude,latitude = 131.98,-9.48 [deg].

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/FERMI NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 01:41:59 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Fermi-GBM Ground Position
RECORD_NUM:      58
TRIGGER_NUM:     368847685
GRB_RA:          285.300d {+19h 01m 12s} (J2000),
                 285.555d {+19h 02m 13s} (current),
                 284.295d {+18h 57m 11s} (1950)
GRB_DEC:         -53.550d {-53d 32' 59"} (J2000),
                 -53.531d {-53d 31' 51"} (current),
                 -53.621d {-53d 37' 15"} (1950)
GRB_ERROR:       6.49 [deg radius, statistical only]
DATA_SIGNIF:     13.30 [sigma]
DATA_INTERVAL:   4.096 [sec]
GRB_DATE:        16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
GRB_TIME:        6082.40 SOD {01:41:22.40} UT
GRB_PHI:         242.00 [deg]
GRB_THETA:        73.00 [deg]
E_RANGE:         44.032 - 279.965 [keV]
LOC_ALGORITHM:   4143 (Gnd S/W Version number)
SUN_POSTN:       167.84d {+11h 11m 22s}   +5.22d {+05d 12' 58"}
SUN_DIST:        110.39 [deg]   Sun_angle= -7.8 [hr] (East of Sun)
MOON_POSTN:       81.83d {+05h 27m 20s}  +21.19d {+21d 11' 08"}
MOON_DIST:       142.94 [deg]
MOON_ILLUM:      45 [%]
GAL_COORDS:      343.05,-22.91 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst (or transient)
ECL_COORDS:      280.50,-30.67 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the burst (or transient)
COMMENTS:        Fermi-GBM Ground-calculated Coordinates.  
COMMENTS:        This Notice was ground-generated -- not flight-generated.

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/FERMI NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 01:42:04 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Fermi-GBM Ground Position
RECORD_NUM:      61
TRIGGER_NUM:     368847685
GRB_RA:          275.840d {+18h 23m 22s} (J2000),
                 276.152d {+18h 24m 36s} (current),
                 274.610d {+18h 18m 26s} (1950)
GRB_DEC:         -64.790d {-64d 47' 23"} (J2000),
                 -64.783d {-64d 46' 56"} (current),
                 -64.815d {-64d 48' 54"} (1950)
GRB_ERROR:       4.97 [deg radius, statistical only]
DATA_SIGNIF:     13.40 [sigma]
DATA_INTERVAL:   4.096 [sec]
GRB_DATE:        16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
GRB_TIME:        6082.40 SOD {01:41:22.40} UT
GRB_PHI:         245.00 [deg]
GRB_THETA:        61.00 [deg]
E_RANGE:         44.032 - 279.965 [keV]
LOC_ALGORITHM:   4143 (Gnd S/W Version number)
SUN_POSTN:       167.84d {+11h 11m 22s}   +5.22d {+05d 12' 58"}
SUN_DIST:        102.45 [deg]   Sun_angle= -7.2 [hr] (East of Sun)
MOON_POSTN:       81.83d {+05h 27m 20s}  +21.19d {+21d 11' 08"}
MOON_DIST:       135.39 [deg]
MOON_ILLUM:      45 [%]
GAL_COORDS:      329.95,-21.48 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst (or transient)
ECL_COORDS:      273.31,-41.42 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the burst (or transient)
COMMENTS:        Fermi-GBM Ground-calculated Coordinates.  
COMMENTS:        This Notice was ground-generated -- not flight-generated.

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/FERMI NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 01:41:57 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Fermi-GBM Flight Position
RECORD_NUM:      59
TRIGGER_NUM:     368847685
GRB_RA:          284.700d {+18h 58m 48s} (J2000),
                 284.966d {+18h 59m 52s} (current),
                 283.651d {+18h 54m 36s} (1950)
GRB_DEC:         -56.533d {-56d 31' 59"} (J2000),
                 -56.515d {-56d 30' 54"} (current),
                 -56.601d {-56d 36' 04"} (1950)
GRB_ERROR:       11.73 [deg radius, statistical plus systematic]
GRB_INTEN:       113 [cnts/sec]
DATA_SIGNIF:     10.60 [sigma]
INTEG_TIME:      4.096 [sec]
GRB_DATE:        16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
GRB_TIME:        6082.40 SOD {01:41:22.40} UT
GRB_PHI:         242.00 [deg]
GRB_THETA:        70.00 [deg]
DATA_TIME_SCALE: 4.0960 [sec]
HARD_RATIO:      0.70
LOC_ALGORITHM:   3 (version number of)
MOST_LIKELY:      95%  GRB
2nd_MOST_LIKELY:   3%  Generic Transient
DETECTORS:       0,0,0, 0,0,0, 0,1,1, 0,0,0, 0,0,
SUN_POSTN:       167.84d {+11h 11m 22s}   +5.22d {+05d 12' 58"}
SUN_DIST:        109.05 [deg]   Sun_angle= -7.8 [hr] (East of Sun)
MOON_POSTN:       81.83d {+05h 27m 20s}  +21.19d {+21d 11' 08"}
MOON_DIST:       140.76 [deg]
MOON_ILLUM:      45 [%]
GAL_COORDS:      339.82,-23.34 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst (or transient)
ECL_COORDS:      279.67,-33.59 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the burst (or transient)
COMMENTS:        Fermi-GBM Flight-calculated Coordinates.  
COMMENTS:        This trigger occurred at longitude,latitude = 131.98,-9.48 [deg].

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 01:44:08 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-XRT Position
TRIGGER_NUM:     533060,   Seg_Num: 0
GRB_RA:          275.7388d {+18h 22m 57.31s} (J2000),
                 276.0204d {+18h 24m 04.89s} (current),
                 274.6283d {+18h 18m 30.79s} (1950)
GRB_DEC:         -59.4485d {-59d 26' 54.6"} (J2000),
                 -59.4413d {-59d 26' 28.5"} (current),
                 -59.4737d {-59d 28' 25.1"} (1950)
GRB_ERROR:       4.8 [arcsec radius, statistical plus systematic, 90% containment]
GRB_INTEN:       7.55e-09 [erg/cm2/sec]
GRB_SIGNIF:      13.34 [sigma]
IMG_START_DATE:  16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
IMG_START_TIME:  6216.65 SOD {01:43:36.65} UT,   93.4 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
TAM[0-3]:        327.64 237.22 261.47 243.78
AMPLIFIER:       2
WAVEFORM:        134
SUN_POSTN:       167.84d {+11h 11m 22s}   +5.22d {+05d 12' 56"}
SUN_DIST:        103.66 [deg]   Sun_angle= -7.2 [hr] (East of Sun)
MOON_POSTN:       81.85d {+05h 27m 24s}  +21.19d {+21d 11' 06"}
MOON_DIST:       140.43 [deg]
MOON_ILLUM:      45 [%]
GAL_COORDS:      335.32,-19.67 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst
ECL_COORDS:      273.61,-36.08 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the burst
COMMENTS:        SWIFT-XRT Coordinates.  
COMMENTS:        The XRT position is 2.11 arcmin from the BAT position.  
COMMENTS:        The object found at this position is either a very bright burst or a cosmic ray hit.  
COMMENTS:        Examine the XRT Image to differentiate (CRs are much more compact); see examples at:  
COMMENTS:        http://www.swift.psu.edu/xrt/XRT_Postage_Stamp_Image_Photo_Gallery.htm .

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 01:44:22 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-XRT Image
TRIGGER_NUM:     533060,   Seg_Num: 0
GRB_RA:          275.7388d {+18h 22m 57.3s} (J2000),
                 276.0204d {+18h 24m 04.8s} (current),
                 274.6283d {+18h 18m 30.7s} (1950)
GRB_DEC:         -59.4485d {-59d 26' 54.6"} (J2000),
                 -59.4413d {-59d 26' 28.5"} (current),
                 -59.4737d {-59d 28' 25.1"} (1950)
GRB_ERROR:       4.7 [arcsec, radius, statistical plus systematic]
GRB_INTEN:       178 [cnts]
IMG_START_DATE:  16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
IMG_START_TIME:  6216.65 SOD {01:43:36.65} UT,   93.4 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
CENTROID_X:      330.37,  raw= 330  [pixels]
CENTROID_Y:      335.87,  raw= 336  [pixels]
ROLL:            257.15 [deg]
GAIN:            2
MODE:            3, Long Image mode
WAVEFORM:        134
EXPO_TIME:       2.50 [sec]
GRB_POS_XRT_Y:   89.28
GRB_POS_XRT_Z:   62.87
IMAGE_URL:       sw00533060000msxps_rw.img
SUN_POSTN:       167.84d {+11h 11m 22s}   +5.22d {+05d 12' 56"}
SUN_DIST:        103.66 [deg]   Sun_angle= -7.2 [hr] (East of Sun)
MOON_POSTN:       81.85d {+05h 27m 25s}  +21.19d {+21d 11' 06"}
MOON_DIST:       140.43 [deg]
MOON_ILLUM:      45 [%]
GAL_COORDS:      335.32,-19.67 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst
ECL_COORDS:      273.61,-36.08 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the burst
COMMENTS:        SWIFT-XRT Image.  
COMMENTS:        The object found at this position is either a very bright burst or a cosmic ray hit.  
COMMENTS:        Examine the XRT Image to differentiate (CRs are much more compact); see examples at:  
COMMENTS:        http://www.swift.psu.edu/xrt/XRT_Postage_Stamp_Image_Photo_Gallery.htm .

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 01:44:33 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-XRT Processed Image
TRIGGER_NUM:     533060,   Seg_Num: 0
GRB_RA:          275.7388d {+18h 22m 57.3s} (J2000),
                 276.0204d {+18h 24m 04.8s} (current),
                 274.6283d {+18h 18m 30.7s} (1950)
GRB_DEC:         -59.4485d {-59d 26' 54.6"} (J2000),
                 -59.4413d {-59d 26' 28.5"} (current),
                 -59.4737d {-59d 28' 25.1"} (1950)
GRB_ERROR:       4.7 [arcsec, radius, statistical plus systematic]
GRB_INTEN:       178 [cnts]
IMG_START_DATE:  16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
IMG_START_TIME:  6216.65 SOD {01:43:36.65} UT,   93.4 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
CENTROID_X:      330.37,  raw= 330  [pixels]
CENTROID_Y:      335.87,  raw= 336  [pixels]
ROLL:            257.15 [deg]
GAIN:            2
MODE:            3, Long Image mode
WAVEFORM:        134
EXPO_TIME:       2.50 [sec]
GRB_POS_XRT_Y:   89.28
GRB_POS_XRT_Z:   62.87
IMAGE_URL:       sw00533060000msxps_rw.img
SUN_POSTN:       167.84d {+11h 11m 22s}   +5.22d {+05d 12' 56"}
SUN_DIST:        103.66 [deg]   Sun_angle= -7.2 [hr] (East of Sun)
MOON_POSTN:       81.86d {+05h 27m 25s}  +21.19d {+21d 11' 06"}
MOON_DIST:       140.43 [deg]
MOON_ILLUM:      45 [%]
GAL_COORDS:      335.32,-19.67 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst
ECL_COORDS:      273.61,-36.08 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the burst
COMMENTS:        SWIFT-XRT Processed Image.  
COMMENTS:        The object found at this position is either a very bright burst or a cosmic ray hit.  
COMMENTS:        Examine the XRT Image to differentiate (CRs are much more compact); see examples at:  
COMMENTS:        http://www.swift.psu.edu/xrt/XRT_Postage_Stamp_Image_Photo_Gallery.htm .

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 01:46:01 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-BAT GRB Lightcurve
TRIGGER_NUM:     533060,   Seg_Num: 0
GRB_RA:          275.685d {+18h 22m 44s} (J2000),
                 275.966d {+18h 23m 52s} (current),
                 274.575d {+18h 18m 18s} (1950)
GRB_DEC:         -59.426d {-59d 25' 34"} (J2000),
                 -59.419d {-59d 25' 08"} (current),
                 -59.451d {-59d 27' 03"} (1950)
GRB_DATE:        16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
GRB_TIME:        6123.23 SOD {01:42:03.23} UT
TRIGGER_INDEX:   472
GRB_PHI:           4.16 [deg]
GRB_THETA:        40.50 [deg]
DELTA_TIME:      -5.00 [sec]
TRIGGER_DUR:     1.408 [sec] 
SOLN_STATUS:     0x3
RATE_SIGNIF:     13.00 [sigma]
IMAGE_SIGNIF:    7.77 [sigma]
LC_URL:          sw00533060000msb.lc
SUN_POSTN:       167.84d {+11h 11m 23s}   +5.22d {+05d 12' 54"}
SUN_DIST:        103.64 [deg]   Sun_angle= -7.2 [hr] (East of Sun)
MOON_POSTN:       81.87d {+05h 27m 28s}  +21.18d {+21d 11' 05"}
MOON_DIST:       140.46 [deg]
MOON_ILLUM:      45 [%]
GAL_COORDS:      335.33,-19.64 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst (or transient)
ECL_COORDS:      273.57,-36.06 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the burst (or transient)
COMMENTS:        SWIFT-BAT GRB Lightcurve.  
COMMENTS:           
COMMENTS:        The next comments were copied from the BAT_POS Notice:  
COMMENTS:        This is a rate trigger.  
COMMENTS:        A point_source was found.  
COMMENTS:        This does not match any source in the on-board catalog.  
COMMENTS:        This does not match any source in the ground catalog.  
COMMENTS:        This is a GRB.  
COMMENTS:        This trigger occurred at longitude,latitude = 337.03,-5.19 [deg].

GCN Circular #13727
S. Immler (CRESST/GSFC/UMD), S. D. Barthelmy (GSFC), W. H. Baumgartner (GSFC/UMBC), D. N. Burrows (PSU), S. T. Holland (STScI), J. A. Kennea (PSU), F. E. Marshall (NASA/GSFC), K. L. Page (U Leicester), D. M. Palmer (LANL) and M. H. Siegel (PSU) report on behalf of the Swift Team:
At 01:42:03 UT, the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) triggered and located GRB 120909A (trigger=533060). Swift slewed immediately to the burst. The BAT on-board calculated location is RA, Dec 275.685, -59.426 which is
```
   RA(J2000)  =  18h 22m 44s
   Dec(J2000) = -59d 25' 34"
```
with an uncertainty of 3 arcmin (radius, 90% containment, including systematic uncertainty). The BAT light curve shows one, possibly two, peaks with a duration of about 5 sec. The peak count rate was ~2000 counts/sec (15-350 keV), at ~1 sec after the trigger.
The XRT began observing the field at 01:43:36.6 UT, 93.4 seconds after the BAT trigger. XRT found a bright, uncatalogued X-ray source located at RA, Dec 275.7388, -59.4485 which is equivalent to:
```
   RA(J2000)  = +18h 22m 57.31s
   Dec(J2000) = -59d 26' 54.6"
```
with an uncertainty of 4.8 arcseconds (radius, 90% containment). This location is 127 arcseconds from the BAT onboard position, within the BAT error circle. No event data are yet available to determine the column density using X-ray spectroscopy.
The initial flux in the 2.5 s image was 7.55e-09 erg cm^-2 s^-1 (0.2-10 keV).
Because of an earth limb constraint, Swift slewed away before UVOT could take its initial exposures. Subsequent orbits will include UVOT observations.
Burst Advocate for this burst is S. Immler (stefan.immler AT nasa.gov). 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 #13728
J. Haislip, A. LaCluyze, K. Ivarsen, D. Reichart, J. Moore, H. T. Cromartie, R. Egger, A. Foster, N. Frank, M. Nysewander, A. Oza, E. Speckhard, A.Trotter, and J. A. Crain report:
Skynet observed the field of GRB120909A (GCN 13727, Swift trigger #533060) with the PROMPT telescopes located at CTIO in Chile beginning ~4 minutes after the burst. We detect a fading, uncataloged source at RA 18:22:56.72 DEC -59:26:54.0, roughly coinciding with the location of the Swift trigger with an initial magnitude of ~16.3 in R, calibrated to the NOMAD catalog.
Further observations are ongoing.

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 02:37:17 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-XRT Nack-Position
TRIGGER_NUM:     533060,   Seg_Num: 0
POINT_RA:        275.651d {+18h 22m 36s} (J2000)
POINT_DEC:       -59.435d {-59d 26' 04"} (J2000)
IMG_START_DATE:  16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
IMG_START_TIME:  9427.30 SOD {02:37:07.30} UT,   3304.1 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
COUNTS:          1    Min_needed= 20
STD_DEV:         0.00   Max_StdDev_for_Good=28.44 [arcsec]
PH2_ITER:        0    Max_iter_allowed= 4
ERROR_CODE:      1
COMMENTS:        SWIFT-XRT Nack Position.  
COMMENTS:        No source found in the image.

GCN Circular #13729
V. Sudilovsky (MPE Garching), S. Schmidl (TLS Tautenburg), D.A. Kann (MPE Garching) and J. Greiner (MPE Garching) report on behalf of the GROND team:
We observed the field of GRB 120909A (Swift trigger 533060; Immler et al., GCN #13727) simultaneously in g'r'i'z'JHK with GROND (Greiner et al. 2008, PASP 120, 405) mounted at the 2.2 m MPG/ESO telescope at La Silla Observatory (Chile).
Observations started at 01:44 UT, September 09, 140s after the burst, and are continuing. They were performed at an average seeing of 1".6 and at an average airmass of 1.2 .
We found a single point source within the 4".8 Swift-XRT error circle reported by Immler et al. (GCN #13727) at
```
RA (J2000.0) = 18h 22m 56.72s
DEC (J2000.0) = -59d 26' 54".1
```
with an uncertainty of 0".5 in each coordinate, which is consistent with the position reported by Haislip et al. (GCN #13728) .
Based on the first 141s of total exposures in g'r'i'z' and 240s in JHK, we estimate preliminary magnitudes (all in AB) of
```
g' = 18.4 +- 0.1,
r' = 16.6 +- 0.1,
i' = 15.8 +- 0.1,
z' = 15.5 +- 0.1,
J  = 14.8 +- 0.1,
H  = 14.5 +- 0.1, and
K  = 14.3 +- 0.1.
```
Based on the the significantly lower flux in g', this suggests a redshift z>3.
Given magnitudes are calibrated against GROND zeropoints as well as 2MASS field stars and are not corrected for the expected Galactic foreground extinction corresponding to a reddening of E_(B-V)=0.08 mag in the direction of the burst (Schlegel et al. 1998).

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 02:42:28 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-UVOT Source List
TRIGGER_NUM:     533060,   Seg_Num: 0
POINT_RA:        275.651d {+18h 22m 36s} (J2000)
POINT_DEC:       -59.435d {-59d 26' 04"} (J2000)
POINT_ROLL:      257.204d
IMG_START_DATE:  16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
IMG_START_TIME:  9431.30 SOD {02:37:11.30} UT,   3308.1 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
FILTER:          10, White
BKG_MEAN:        7.543
N_STARS:         169
X_OFFSET:        358 [pixels]
Y_OFFSET:        652 [pixels]
X_MAX:           1317 [pixels]
Y_MAX:           1611 [pixels]
DET_THRESH:      24
PHOTO_THRESH:    15
SL_URL:          sw00533060000msufc3308.fits
SUN_POSTN:       167.88d {+11h 11m 31s}   +5.20d {+05d 12' 01"}
SUN_DIST:        103.59 [deg]   Sun_angle= -7.2 [hr] (East of Sun)
MOON_POSTN:       82.37d {+05h 29m 29s}  +21.17d {+21d 10' 22"}
MOON_DIST:       140.54 [deg]
MOON_ILLUM:      45 [%]
GAL_COORDS:      335.32,-19.62 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the pointing direction
ECL_COORDS:      273.55,-36.07 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the pointing direction
COMMENTS:        SWIFT-UVOT Source List.

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 02:42:58 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-UVOT Processed Source List
TRIGGER_NUM:     533060,   Seg_Num: 0
POINT_RA:        275.651d {+18h 22m 36s} (J2000)
POINT_DEC:       -59.435d {-59d 26' 04"} (J2000)
POINT_ROLL:      257.204d
IMG_START_DATE:  16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
IMG_START_TIME:  9431.30 SOD {02:37:11.30} UT,   3308.1 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
FILTER:          10, White
BKG_MEAN:        7.543
N_STARS:         169
X_OFFSET:        358 [pixels]
Y_OFFSET:        652 [pixels]
X_MAX:           1317 [pixels]
Y_MAX:           1611 [pixels]
DET_THRESH:      24
PHOTO_THRESH:    15
SL_URL:          sw00533060000msufc3308.fits
SUN_POSTN:       167.88d {+11h 11m 31s}   +5.20d {+05d 12' 00"}
SUN_DIST:        103.59 [deg]   Sun_angle= -7.2 [hr] (East of Sun)
MOON_POSTN:       82.37d {+05h 29m 30s}  +21.17d {+21d 10' 22"}
MOON_DIST:       140.54 [deg]
MOON_ILLUM:      45 [%]
GAL_COORDS:      335.32,-19.62 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the pointing direction
ECL_COORDS:      273.55,-36.07 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the pointing direction
COMMENTS:        SWIFT-UVOT Processed Source List.  
COMMENTS:        All 4 attachments are included.

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 02:44:56 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-UVOT Image
TRIGGER_NUM:     533060,   Seg_Num: 0
POINT_RA:        275.651d {+18h 22m 36s} (J2000)
POINT_DEC:       -59.435d {-59d 26' 04"} (J2000)
ROLL:            257.204d
IMG_START_DATE:  16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
IMG_START_TIME:  9431.30 SOD {02:37:11.30} UT,   3308.1 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
FILTER:          10, White
EXPOSURE_ID:     368851040
X_OFFSET:        677 [pixels]
Y_OFFSET:        971 [pixels]
WIDTH:           160 [pixels]
HEIGHT:          160 [pixels]
X_GRB_POS:       837
Y_GRB_POS:       1131
BINNING_INDEX:   1
IM_URL:          sw00533060000msuni3318.fits
SUN_POSTN:       167.88d {+11h 11m 31s}   +5.20d {+05d 11' 59"}
SUN_DIST:        103.59 [deg]   Sun_angle= -7.2 [hr] (East of Sun)
MOON_POSTN:       82.39d {+05h 29m 34s}  +21.17d {+21d 10' 20"}
MOON_DIST:       140.54 [deg]
MOON_ILLUM:      45 [%]
GAL_COORDS:      335.32,-19.62 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the pointing direction
ECL_COORDS:      273.55,-36.07 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the pointing direction
COMMENTS:        SWIFT-UVOT Image.  
COMMENTS:        The GRB Position came from the Window Position in the Mode Command.  
COMMENTS:        The image has 2x2 binning (compression).

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 02:45:19 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-UVOT Processed Image
TRIGGER_NUM:     533060,   Seg_Num: 0
POINT_RA:        275.651d {+18h 22m 36s} (J2000)
POINT_DEC:       -59.435d {-59d 26' 04"} (J2000)
ROLL:            257.204d
IMG_START_DATE:  16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
IMG_START_TIME:  9431.30 SOD {02:37:11.30} UT,   3308.1 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
FILTER:          10, White
EXPOSURE_ID:     368851040
X_OFFSET:        677 [pixels]
Y_OFFSET:        971 [pixels]
WIDTH:           160 [pixels]
HEIGHT:          160 [pixels]
X_GRB_POS:       837
Y_GRB_POS:       1131
BINNING_INDEX:   1
IM_URL:          sw00533060000msuni3318.fits
SUN_POSTN:       167.88d {+11h 11m 32s}   +5.20d {+05d 11' 58"}
SUN_DIST:        103.59 [deg]   Sun_angle= -7.2 [hr] (East of Sun)
MOON_POSTN:       82.39d {+05h 29m 35s}  +21.17d {+21d 10' 20"}
MOON_DIST:       140.54 [deg]
MOON_ILLUM:      45 [%]
GAL_COORDS:      335.32,-19.62 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the pointing direction
ECL_COORDS:      273.55,-36.07 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the pointing direction
COMMENTS:        SWIFT-UVOT Processed Image.  
COMMENTS:        The GRB Position came from the Window Position in the Mode Command.  
COMMENTS:        The image has 2x2 binning (compression).  
COMMENTS:        All 4 attachments are included.

GCN NOTICE

TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
NOTICE_DATE:     Sun 09 Sep 12 03:19:31 UT
NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-XRT Position UPDATE
TRIGGER_NUM:     533060,   Seg_Num: 0
GRB_RA:          275.7402d {+18h 22m 57.64s} (J2000),
                 276.0218d {+18h 24m 05.23s} (current),
                 274.6297d {+18h 18m 31.13s} (1950)
GRB_DEC:         -59.4479d {-59d 26' 52.4"} (J2000),
                 -59.4407d {-59d 26' 26.3"} (current),
                 -59.4731d {-59d 28' 23.0"} (1950)
GRB_ERROR:       3.5 [arcsec radius, statistical plus systematic, 90% containment]
GRB_INTEN:       1.00e-10 [erg/cm2/sec]
GRB_SIGNIF:      10.00 [sigma]
IMG_START_DATE:  16179 TJD;   253 DOY;   12/09/09
IMG_START_TIME:  9487.00 SOD {02:38:07.00} UT,   3363.8 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
TAM[0-3]:        100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
AMPLIFIER:       1
WAVEFORM:        31
SUN_POSTN:       167.90d {+11h 11m 37s}   +5.19d {+05d 11' 26"}
SUN_DIST:        103.61 [deg]   Sun_angle= -7.2 [hr] (East of Sun)
MOON_POSTN:       82.70d {+05h 30m 48s}  +21.16d {+21d 09' 51"}
MOON_DIST:       140.56 [deg]
MOON_ILLUM:      45 [%]
GAL_COORDS:      335.32,-19.67 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst
ECL_COORDS:      273.61,-36.08 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the burst
COMMENTS:        SWIFT-XRT Coordinates.  
COMMENTS:        This Notice was ground-generated -- not flight-generated.  
COMMENTS:        This is an Update Notice -- the RA,Dec values herein supersede the previous XRT_POS Notice.  
COMMENTS:        TAM values, flux and significance fields are not valid.  
COMMENTS:        This position was automatically generated on the ground using  
COMMENTS:        Photon Counting data telemetered via TDRSS (SPER data).  
COMMENTS:        See http://www.swift.ac.uk/sper/docs.php for details.  
COMMENTS:        The probability that this is a serendipitous source in the  
COMMENTS:        SPER window is 0.58% < P(seren) < 1.1%.

GCN Circular #13730
O. E. Hartoog (Uva, NL), D. Malesani (DARK/NBI), K. Wiersema (U. Leicester, UK), T. Kruehler (DARK/NBI), S. Schulze (PUC and MCSS), A. de Ugarte Postigo (IAA/CSIC and DARK/NBI), V. D'Elia (INAF/Roma and ASI/ASDC), J. P. U. Fynbo (DARK/NBI), report on behalf of the X-shooter GRB GTO collaboration:
We observed the optical counterpart of GRB 120909A (Immler et al., GCN 13727; Haislip et al., GCN 13728; Sudilovsky et al., GCN 13729) with the ESO VLT equipped with the X-shooter spectrograph. Observations were carried out starting on 2012 Sep 9.14 UT (1.7 hr after the GRB), for a total exposure time of 20 min, covering the wavelength range 3000-25000 AA.
We detect several absorption features, including Ly-a, FeII, NiII, SiII, SII, AlII, AlIII, CII, OI, CIV, ZnII all at a common redshift z = 3.93. In particular, the presence of fine-structure lines (Fe II*, SiII*, OI*, OI**, CII*) makes the redshift securely associated to the GRB.
We acknowledge support from the VLT staff, in particular Giovanni Carraro and Giacomo Beccari.
GCN Circular #13732
J.P. Osborne, A.P. Beardmore, P.A. Evans and M.R. Goad (U. Leicester) report on behalf of the Swift-XRT team.
Using 1720 s of XRT Photon Counting mode data and 5 UVOT images for GRB 120909A, 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 = 275.73656, -59.44863 which is equivalent to:
```
RA (J2000): 18h 22m 56.78s
Dec (J2000): -59d 26' 55.1"
```
with an uncertainty of 1.4 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 #13733
T. N. Ukwatta (MSU), S. D. Barthelmy (GSFC), W. H. Baumgartner (GSFC/UMBC), J. R. Cummings (GSFC/UMBC), E. E. Fenimore (LANL), N. Gehrels (GSFC), S. Immler (CRESST/GSFC/UMD), H. A. Krimm (GSFC/USRA), C. B. Markwardt (GSFC), D. M. Palmer (LANL), T. Sakamoto (GSFC/UMBC), G. Sato (ISAS), M. Stamatikos (OSU), J. Tueller (GSFC) (i.e. the Swift-BAT team):
Using the data set from T-41 to T+556 sec from recent telemetry downlinks, we report further analysis of BAT GRB 120909A (trigger #533060) (Immler, et al., GCN Circ. 13727). The BAT ground-calculated position is RA, Dec = 275.735, -59.432 deg which is
```
   RA(J2000)  =  18h 22m 56.5s 
   Dec(J2000) = -59d 25' 55.2" 
```
with an uncertainty of 1.2 arcmin, (radius, sys+stat, 90% containment). The partial coding was 48%.
The mask-weighted light curve shows multiple overlapping peaks. The burst was already occurring when Swift-BAT came out of the SAA at ~T-40 sec. The observed peaks occurred at ~T-38, ~T+1, ~T+28, and ~T+48 sec. The burst returned to baseline at ~T+200 sec. There is a possible peak at ~T+490 to ~T+580 sec, at which point Swift had to slew due to an observing constraint and the location went out of the BAT FoV.
The time-averaged spectrum from T-38.98 to T+95.17 sec is best fit by a simple power-law model. The power law index of the time-averaged spectrum is 1.39 +- 0.06. The fluence in the 15-150 keV band is 6.8 +- 0.2 x 10^-6 erg/cm2. The 1-sec peak photon flux measured from T+0.88 sec in the 15-150 keV band is 1.8 +- 0.3 ph/cm2/sec. 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/533060/BA/
GCN Circular #13734
V. Mangano (INAF-IASFPA), A. Melandri (INAF-OAB), M.C. Stroh (PSU), D.N. Burrows (PSU), J.A. Kennea (PSU), K.L. Page (U. Leicester), C. Pagani (U. Leicester), A.P. Beardmore (U. Leicester), B. Sbarufatti (INAF-OAB/PSU) and S. Immler report on behalf of the Swift-XRT team:
We have analysed 9.3 ks of XRT data for GRB 120909A (Immler et al. GCN Circ. 13727), from 3.3 ks to 33.3 ks after the BAT trigger. The data comprise 173 s in Windowed Timing (WT) mode with the remainder in Photon Counting (PC) mode. The enhanced XRT position for this burst was given by Osborne et al. (GCN. Circ 13732).
The light curve can be modelled with a power-law decay with a decay index of alpha=1.19 (+/-0.06).
A spectrum formed from the PC mode data can be fitted with an absorbed power-law with a photon spectral index of 2.04 (+/-0.09). The best-fitting absorption column is 1.9 (+0.8, -0.7) x 10^22 cm^-2, at a redshift of 3.93, in addition to the Galactic value of 6.5 x 10^20 cm^-2 (Kalberla et al. 2005). The counts to observed (unabsorbed) 0.3-10 keV flux conversion factor deduced from this spectrum is 3.5 x 10^-11 (4.7 x 10^-11) erg cm^-2 count^-1.
A summary of the PC-mode spectrum is thus:
```
Galactic foreground: 6.5 x 10^20 cm^-2
Intrinsic column:    1.9 (+0.8, -0.7) x 10^22 cm^-2 at z=3.93
Photon index:	     2.04 (+/-0.09)
```
The results of the XRT-team automatic analysis are available at http://www.swift.ac.uk/xrt_products/00533060.
This circular is an official product of the Swift-XRT team.
GCN Circular #13735
A. A. Breeveld (MSSL-UCL) and S. Immler (CRESST/GSFC/UMD) report on behalf of the Swift/UVOT team:
The Swift/UVOT began settled observations of the field of GRB 120909A 3308 s after the BAT trigger (Immler et al., GCN Circ. 13727). A source consistent with the optical position (Sudilovsky et al. GCN Circ. 13729), is detected in the initial UVOT exposures.
Preliminary detections and 3-sigma upper limits using the UVOT=20 photometric system (Breeveld et al. 2011, AIP Conf. Proc. 1358, 373) for the early exposures are:
```
Filter         T_start(s)   T_stop(s)      Exp(s)           Mag

white             3308         4690          344         20.75 =B1 0.20
v                 3465        16690         1261        >20.2
b                 4285        23216          937        >21.5
u                 4080        22450         1848        >21.4
w1                3875        21536         1968        >21.6
m2                3670        17445         1820        >21.4
w2                4696        15776         1082        >21.6
```
The magnitudes in the table are not corrected for the Galactic extinction due to the reddening of E(B-V) =3D 0.09 in the direction of the burst (Schlegel et al. 1998).
GCN Circular #13736
S. Golenetskii, R.Aptekar, E. Mazets, V. Pal'shin, D. Frederiks, P. Oleynik, M. Ulanov, D. Svinkin, and T. Cline on behalf of the Konus-Wind team report:
The long GRB 120909A (Swift-BAT trigger #533060: Immler et al., GCN 13727; Ukwatta et al., GCN 13733) was detected by Konus-Wind in the waiting mode starting at 6069 s UT (01:41:09), ~54s before the T0(BAT).
The burst light curve shows a multi-peaked structure with a total duration of ~115s.
The K-W light curve of this burst is available at http://www.ioffe.rssi.ru/LEA/GRBs/GRB120909A/
As observed by Konus-Wind, the burst had a fluence of (2.3 =B1 0.2)x10-5 erg/cm2 and a peak energy flux, measured on the 2.944-s scale, of (6.1 =B1 0.8)x10-7 erg/cm2 (both in the 20 - 1500 keV energy range).
Modelling the K-W 3-channel time-integrated spectrum (from T0(BAT)-54s to T0(BAT)+61 s) by a power law with exponential cutoff model: dN/dE ~ (E^alpha)*exp(-E*(2+alpha)/Ep) yields alpha =3D -1.23 =B1 0.04, and Ep =3D 335 =B1 25 keV
Assuming X-Shooter redshift of z=3D3.93 (Hartoog et al., GCN 13730) and a standard cosmology model with H_0 =3D 71 km/s/Mpc, Omega_M =3D 0.27= ,=20 Omega_Lambda =3D 0.73: the isotropic energy release E_iso is (6.9 =B1 0.5)x10^53 erg, the isotropic peak luminosity L_iso_max is (9.0 =B1 1.2)x10^52 erg/s, and Ep_rest is (1650 =B1 120) keV.
All the quoted errors are estimated at the 1 sigma confidence level.
GCN Circular #13737
V.Chaplin (UAH) reports on behalf of the Fermi GBM Team:
At 01:41:22.40 UT on 09 September 2012, the Fermi Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor triggered and located GRB 120909A (trigger 368847685 / 120909070), which was also detected by the Swift/BAT (Immler et al. 2012, GCN 13727) The GBM on-ground location is consistent with the Swift position. The angle to the Fermi LAT boresight is 66 degrees.
The GBM light curve consists of several peaks between T0 and T0+100 seconds, with a total duration (T90) of about 112 s (50-300 keV).
The time-averaged spectrum from T0-2.8 s to T0+104.7 s is best fit by a power law with exponential cutoff having an index of -1.3 +/- 0.1 and cutoff energy 370 +/- 140 keV. The event fluence (10-1000 keV) in this time interval is (2.1 +/- 0.2)E-05 erg/cm^2. The 1-sec peak photon flux measured starting from T0+3.26 s in the 10-1000 keV band is 3.0 +/- 0.2 ph/s/cm^2.
The spectral analysis results presented above are preliminary; final results will be published in the GBM GRB Catalog.
GCN Circular #13738
T.Batsch,A.Cwiek,A.Majcher,A.Majczyna,K.Nawrocki,M.Sokolowski,G.Wrochna (NCBJ, Swierk), M.Cwiok,L.W.Piotrowski,M.Zaremba,A.F.Zarnecki (University of Warsaw), K.Malek,L.Mankiewicz,R.Opiela,M.Siudek,V.Repei (CFT PAN), G.Kasprowicz (Warsaw University of Technology), from the "Pi of the Sky" collaboration ( http://grb.fuw.edu.pl ).
The wide field "Pi of the Sky South" telescope, installed in the private observatory of Alain Maury in San Pedro de Atacama (http://grb.fuw.edu.pl/pi/index.html#spda_site.htm) observed coordinates of the GRB 120909A, starting 10 s exposure 94 s after the reported SWIFT BAT detection. No new source was identified. The limiting magnitude is 11.6, based on the reference star magnitudo in V filter.
We acknowledge support received from Alain Maury at SPdA Observatory.
This message can be cited.
GCN Circular #13739
Klotz A. (IRAP-CNRS-OMP), Gendre B. (ASDC/INAF-OAR), Boer M. (UNS-CNRS-OCA), Atteia J.L. (IRAP-CNRS-OMP) report:
We imaged the field of GRB 120909A detected by SWIFT (trigger 533060) with the TAROT robotic telescope (D=25cm) located at the European Southern Observatory, La Silla observatory, Chile.
The observations started 40s after the GRB trigger (14s after the notice). The elevation of the field decreased from 54 degrees above horizon and weather conditions were good.
The first image is trailed with a duration of 60.0s (see the description in Klotz et al., 2006, A&A 451, L39). We detect the optical transient discovered by Haislip et al. (GCNC 13728).
Relative photometric analysis is done using R=14.37 for the star NOMAD1 0305-0869420 (R.A.=275.7585731 Decl=-59.4476147 J2000).
The careful analysis of the trail is compatible with a constant magnitude of R=17.1 from T+40s to T+100s. There is not optical peak during the gamma peak at T+48s reported by Ukwatta et al. (GCNC 13733).
After the trailed image, a technical problem caused the lost of images until T+439s. Following images have been acquired using the classical diurnal drift.
Summary of the first observations is:
```
Start  Stop  Rmag  Error
   40s  100s  17.1    0.1 (continuous photometry)
  439s  529s  16.5    0.1
  539s  629s  18.9    0.1
  640s  729s  19.1    0.2
  744s  834s  19.3    0.2
  845s  935s  19.7    0.2
```
Magnitudes are not corrected for galactic dust extinction (which should be about 0.4 magnitude in the R band according to D. Schlegel et al. 1998ApJ...500..525S).
This message may be cited.

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Jochen Greiner, last update: 10-Sep-2012 [Disclaimer]