Optical counterpart of GRB 000131

A gamma-ray burst was detected on January 31, 2000, by an international network of satellites (Ulysses, NEAR and Konus) via the InterPlanetary Network (IPN). It was designated GRB 000131 according to the date of the event. This image shows the rapid fading of the optical counterpart of GRB 000131 (slightly left of the centre), by means of exposures with the VLT on February 4 (upper left), 6 (upper right), 8 (lower left) and March 5 (lower right). It is no longer visible on the last photo.

Technical information : The four R-exposures were obtained with VLT ANTU + FORS1 on February 4 (magnitude R = 23.3), 6 (24.4), 8 (25.1) and March 5 (no longer visible). The field measures 48 x 48 arcsec 2. North is up and East is left.