S. Klose, B. Stecklum, H. Linz, and U. Laux (Thüringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg)

report:

The error box of GRB 010214 (Gandolfi et al., GCN #932) was imaged in the I-band using the Tautenburg Schmidt telescope equipped with the Schmidt focus CCD camera (2k x 2k). The observing log is as follows:

Run 1: Feb 15, 0:55 UT - 1:35 UT and 2:24 UT - 3:05 UT
Run 2: Feb 16, 2:01 UT - 2:48 UT and 3:38 UT - 3:48 UT
Run 3: Feb 27, 3:44 UT - 4:24 UT.

The R-band afterglow candidate reported by Rol et al. (GCN #955) is clearly detected on the combined frames taken during the second observing run. Based on the DSS2 red coordinate system we obtain for this source RA, DEC (2000) = 17:41:03.0, 48:34:29 (+/- 0.4"). Using the photometric standards provided by Henden (GCN #988) we measure a mean I-band magnitude of 21.9 +/- 0.4 during run 2.

The combined frames of run 1 are somewhat less deep and the same holds for the combined frames of run 3. The source is also detectable on these images but very close to the detection limit which excludes an aperture photometry. However, a visual comparison of the optical appearance of the afterglow candidate on these images with the optical appearance of a near-by, faint stellar object at RA, DEC (2000) = 17:41:07.7, 48:35:02 (+/- 0.8") allows us to state that we see no evidence for a fading of the afterglow candidate between run 1 and run 3. Any fading must be less than about 0.5 mag.

In conclusion, if this source is the combined OT + underlying host galaxy then even during our first observing run (about 0.7 days after the burst) the I-band flux of the afterglow did not exceed the I-band flux of the underlying host by more than about 50 percent.

I-band image of the error box of GRB 010214. The radius of the revised BeppoSAX error circle is 1 arcmin (Frontera et al., GCN #950). The two sources mentioned in the text are indicated, (A) is the potential afterglow candidate, (B) is the source used for comparison.

Any use of these data should be accompanied by a reference.

S. Klose, Thüringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg.

Last modified: February 28, 2001