GRB 080822 - new Soft-Gamma Repeater SGR 0501+4516

(This is the addition to GCN Circular 8114 published by D. Denisenko)

Holland et al. (GCN 8112) have reported the short GRB observed by Swift. Barthelmy et al. (GCN 8113) later reported the second burst from the same source just half an hour after the first one. Thus, it was suggested that this is a new Soft Gamma Repeater.

The star USNO-B1 1352-0128683 (RA = 05 01 06.42, Dec = +45 16 27.6) just 7" away from the reported Swift XRT position with the following magnitudes:

B1=19.11, R1=15.99, B2=17.74, R2=15.97, I=16.52

was found to be variable between archival POSS plates. In total 12 plates covering the position of GRB 080822 are available (two POSS-II B, R and IR plates each, two POSS-I O and R plates, and two Quick-V plates). Object is showing the variability by at least 0.6-1.0 magnitude in all bands.

Animation of images from Palomar plates

10'x10' color-combined DSS finder chart

(position of the variable is marked with dashes)

Color-combined 2MASS image

(K image was used as Red channel, H as Green and J as Blue. Note the "blue" color of the variable!)

Page created: Aug. 22nd, 2008 21:40+0400
Last updated: Aug. 25th, 2008 00:05+0400

Denis Denisenko (denis@hea.iki.rssi.ru)