Gamma-ray Burst 120324A

(All information courtesy of the instrument teams.)

Previous IAU Circulars

• none

• GCN/BACODINE POSITION NOTICE
  

  TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
  NOTICE_DATE:     Sat 24 Mar 12 05:59:33 UT
  NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-BAT GRB Position
  TRIGGER_NUM:     518507,   Seg_Num: 0
  GRB_RA:          291.084d {+19h 24m 20s} (J2000),
                   291.212d {+19h 24m 51s} (current),
                   290.560d {+19h 22m 14s} (1950)
  GRB_DEC:         +24.145d {+24d 08' 43"} (J2000),
                   +24.170d {+24d 10' 11"} (current),
                   +24.046d {+24d 02' 46"} (1950)
  GRB_ERROR:       3.00 [arcmin radius, statistical only]
  GRB_INTEN:       8094 [cnts]    Image_Peak=820 [image_cnts]
  TRIGGER_DUR:     1.024 [sec] 
  TRIGGER_INDEX:   155     E_range: 50-350 keV
  BKG_INTEN:       22802 [cnts]
  BKG_TIME:        21535.97 SOD {05:58:55.97} UT
  BKG_DUR:         8 [sec]
  GRB_DATE:        16010 TJD;    84 DOY;   12/03/24
  GRB_TIME:        21551.33 SOD {05:59:11.33} UT
  GRB_PHI:         -160.94 [deg]
  GRB_THETA:        30.92 [deg]
  SOLN_STATUS:     0x3
  RATE_SIGNIF:     89.93 [sigma]
  IMAGE_SIGNIF:    19.05 [sigma]
  MERIT_PARAMS:     +1  +0  +0  +0  +3  +6  +0  +1 -28  +0 
  SUN_POSTN:         3.67d {+00h 14m 42s}   +1.59d {+01d 35' 26"}
  SUN_DIST:         73.37 [deg]   Sun_angle= 4.8 [hr] (West of Sun)
  MOON_POSTN:       19.09d {+01h 16m 22s}  +11.85d {+11d 50' 47"}
  MOON_DIST:        83.28 [deg]
  MOON_ILLUM:      2 [%]
  GAL_COORDS:       58.06,  4.03 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst (or transient)
  ECL_COORDS:      297.96, 45.56 [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 = 359.12,-0.83 [deg].  
  

• red DSS finding chart ps-file
  
  
• GCN/INTEGRAL NOTICE
  

  TITLE:          GCN/INTEGRAL NOTICE
  NOTICE_DATE:    Sat 24 Mar 12 06:00:34 UT 
  NOTICE_TYPE:    INTEGRAL SPI ACS Trigger
  TRIGGER_NUM:    6495,   Sub_Num: 0
  GRB_INTEN:      9.02 [sigma]   
  GRB_TIME:       21547.95 SOD {05:59:07.95} UT
  GRB_DATE:       16010 TJD;    84 DOY;   12/03/24
  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 SWIFT_BAT event (trignum=518507).
  COMMENTS:
  COMMENTS:       The SPIACS lightcurve can be found at:
  COMMENTS:       ftp://isdcarc.unige.ch/arc/FTP/ibas/spiacs/2012-03/2012-03-24T05-59-07.7264-29639-39824-0.lc 
  

• GCN Circular #13090
  B.-B. Zhang (PSU), A. P. Beardmore (U Leicester), D. Grupe (PSU), C. Guidorzi (U Ferrara), E. A. Hoversten (PSU), F. E. Marshall (NASA/GSFC), D. M. Palmer (LANL) and M. H. Siegel (PSU) report on behalf of the Swift Team:
  At 05:59:11 UT, the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) triggered and located GRB 120324A (trigger=518507). Swift slewed immediately to the burst. The BAT on-board calculated location is RA, Dec 291.084, +24.145 which is

     RA(J2000) = 19h 24m 20s
     Dec(J2000) = +24d 08' 43"
  

  with an uncertainty of 3 arcmin (radius, 90% containment, including systematic uncertainty). The BAT light curve showed a complex structure with a duration of about 90 sec. The peak count rate was ~10500 counts/sec (15-350 keV), at ~34 sec after the trigger.
  The XRT began observing the field at 06:00:26.4 UT, 75.1 seconds after the BAT trigger. XRT found a bright, uncatalogued X-ray source located at RA, Dec 291.0771, 24.1290 which is equivalent to:

     RA(J2000)  = +19h 24m 18.50s
     Dec(J2000) = +24d 07' 44.4"
  

  with an uncertainty of 4.7 arcseconds (radius, 90% containment). This location is 61 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 1.92e-08 erg cm^-2 s^-1 (0.2-10 keV).
  No UVOT data are available at this time.
  Burst Advocate for this burst is B.-B. Zhang (bbzhang AT psu.edu). 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 NOTICE
  

  TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
  NOTICE_DATE:     Sat 24 Mar 12 06:03:24 UT
  NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-BAT GRB Lightcurve
  TRIGGER_NUM:     518507,   Seg_Num: 0
  GRB_RA:          291.084d {+19h 24m 20s} (J2000),
                   291.212d {+19h 24m 51s} (current),
                   290.560d {+19h 22m 14s} (1950)
  GRB_DEC:         +24.145d {+24d 08' 43"} (J2000),
                   +24.170d {+24d 10' 11"} (current),
                   +24.046d {+24d 02' 46"} (1950)
  GRB_DATE:        16010 TJD;    84 DOY;   12/03/24
  GRB_TIME:        21551.33 SOD {05:59:11.33} UT
  TRIGGER_INDEX:   155
  GRB_PHI:         -160.94 [deg]
  GRB_THETA:        30.92 [deg]
  DELTA_TIME:      64.00 [sec]
  TRIGGER_DUR:     1.024 [sec] 
  SOLN_STATUS:     0x3
  RATE_SIGNIF:     89.93 [sigma]
  IMAGE_SIGNIF:    19.05 [sigma]
  LC_URL:          sw00518507000msb.lc
  SUN_POSTN:         3.68d {+00h 14m 42s}   +1.59d {+01d 35' 30"}
  SUN_DIST:         73.37 [deg]   Sun_angle= 4.8 [hr] (West of Sun)
  MOON_POSTN:       19.12d {+01h 16m 29s}  +11.86d {+11d 51' 24"}
  MOON_DIST:        83.30 [deg]
  MOON_ILLUM:      2 [%]
  GAL_COORDS:       58.06,  4.03 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst (or transient)
  ECL_COORDS:      297.96, 45.56 [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 = 359.12,-0.83 [deg].  
  

  
• GCN NOTICE
  

  TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
  NOTICE_DATE:     Sat 24 Mar 12 06:01:12 UT
  NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-XRT Image
  TRIGGER_NUM:     518507,   Seg_Num: 0
  GRB_RA:          291.0771d {+19h 24m 18.5s} (J2000),
                   291.2053d {+19h 24m 49.2s} (current),
                   290.5529d {+19h 22m 12.6s} (1950)
  GRB_DEC:         +24.1290d {+24d 07' 44.4"} (J2000),
                   +24.1536d {+24d 09' 12.7"} (current),
                   +24.0301d {+24d 01' 48.2"} (1950)
  GRB_ERROR:       4.3 [arcsec, radius, statistical plus systematic]
  GRB_INTEN:       289 [cnts]
  IMG_START_DATE:  16010 TJD;    84 DOY;   12/03/24
  IMG_START_TIME:  21626.43 SOD {06:00:26.43} UT,   75.1 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
  CENTROID_X:      294.04,  raw= 294  [pixels]
  CENTROID_Y:      268.50,  raw= 269  [pixels]
  ROLL:            95.79 [deg]
  GAIN:            4
  MODE:            3, Long Image mode
  WAVEFORM:        134
  EXPO_TIME:       2.50 [sec]
  GRB_POS_XRT_Y:   -69.51
  GRB_POS_XRT_Z:   -22.76
  IMAGE_URL:       sw00518507000msxps_rw.img
  SUN_POSTN:         3.67d {+00h 14m 42s}   +1.59d {+01d 35' 28"}
  SUN_DIST:         73.37 [deg]   Sun_angle= 4.8 [hr] (West of Sun)
  MOON_POSTN:       19.10d {+01h 16m 25s}  +11.85d {+11d 51' 03"}
  MOON_DIST:        83.29 [deg]
  MOON_ILLUM:      2 [%]
  GAL_COORDS:       58.04,  4.03 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst
  ECL_COORDS:      297.94, 45.54 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the burst
  COMMENTS:        SWIFT-XRT Image.  
  

  
• GCN NOTICE
  

  TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
  NOTICE_DATE:     Sat 24 Mar 12 06:01:21 UT
  NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-XRT Processed Image
  TRIGGER_NUM:     518507,   Seg_Num: 0
  GRB_RA:          291.0771d {+19h 24m 18.5s} (J2000),
                   291.2053d {+19h 24m 49.2s} (current),
                   290.5529d {+19h 22m 12.6s} (1950)
  GRB_DEC:         +24.1290d {+24d 07' 44.4"} (J2000),
                   +24.1536d {+24d 09' 12.7"} (current),
                   +24.0301d {+24d 01' 48.2"} (1950)
  GRB_ERROR:       4.3 [arcsec, radius, statistical plus systematic]
  GRB_INTEN:       289 [cnts]
  IMG_START_DATE:  16010 TJD;    84 DOY;   12/03/24
  IMG_START_TIME:  21626.43 SOD {06:00:26.43} UT,   75.1 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
  CENTROID_X:      294.04,  raw= 294  [pixels]
  CENTROID_Y:      268.50,  raw= 269  [pixels]
  ROLL:            95.79 [deg]
  GAIN:            4
  MODE:            3, Long Image mode
  WAVEFORM:        134
  EXPO_TIME:       2.50 [sec]
  GRB_POS_XRT_Y:   -69.51
  GRB_POS_XRT_Z:   -22.76
  IMAGE_URL:       sw00518507000msxps_rw.img
  SUN_POSTN:         3.67d {+00h 14m 42s}   +1.59d {+01d 35' 28"}
  SUN_DIST:         73.38 [deg]   Sun_angle= 4.8 [hr] (West of Sun)
  MOON_POSTN:       19.11d {+01h 16m 25s}  +11.85d {+11d 51' 04"}
  MOON_DIST:        83.30 [deg]
  MOON_ILLUM:      2 [%]
  GAL_COORDS:       58.04,  4.03 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst
  ECL_COORDS:      297.94, 45.54 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the burst
  COMMENTS:        SWIFT-XRT Processed Image.  
  

  
• GCN NOTICE
  

  TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
  NOTICE_DATE:     Sat 24 Mar 12 06:01:01 UT
  NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-XRT Position
  TRIGGER_NUM:     518507,   Seg_Num: 0
  GRB_RA:          291.0771d {+19h 24m 18.50s} (J2000),
                   291.2053d {+19h 24m 49.27s} (current),
                   290.5529d {+19h 22m 12.69s} (1950)
  GRB_DEC:         +24.1290d {+24d 07' 44.4"} (J2000),
                   +24.1536d {+24d 09' 12.7"} (current),
                   +24.0301d {+24d 01' 48.2"} (1950)
  GRB_ERROR:       4.7 [arcsec radius, statistical plus systematic, 90% containment]
  GRB_INTEN:       1.92e-08 [erg/cm2/sec]
  GRB_SIGNIF:      17.00 [sigma]
  IMG_START_DATE:  16010 TJD;    84 DOY;   12/03/24
  IMG_START_TIME:  21626.43 SOD {06:00:26.43} UT,   75.1 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
  TAM[0-3]:        327.68 237.22 261.41 243.84
  AMPLIFIER:       2
  WAVEFORM:        134
  SUN_POSTN:         3.67d {+00h 14m 42s}   +1.59d {+01d 35' 28"}
  SUN_DIST:         73.37 [deg]   Sun_angle= 4.8 [hr] (West of Sun)
  MOON_POSTN:       19.10d {+01h 16m 25s}  +11.85d {+11d 51' 01"}
  MOON_DIST:        83.29 [deg]
  MOON_ILLUM:      2 [%]
  GAL_COORDS:       58.04,  4.03 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the burst
  ECL_COORDS:      297.94, 45.54 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the burst
  COMMENTS:        SWIFT-XRT Coordinates.  
  COMMENTS:        The XRT position is 1.04 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:     Sat 24 Mar 12 06:18:52 UT
  NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-UVOT Source List
  TRIGGER_NUM:     518507,   Seg_Num: 0
  POINT_RA:        291.073d {+19h 24m 17s} (J2000)
  POINT_DEC:       +24.149d {+24d 08' 56"} (J2000)
  POINT_ROLL:      95.787d
  IMG_START_DATE:  16010 TJD;    84 DOY;   12/03/24
  IMG_START_TIME:  21635.63 SOD {06:00:35.63} UT,   84.3 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
  FILTER:          10, White
  BKG_MEAN:        3.633
  N_STARS:         190
  X_OFFSET:        560 [pixels]
  Y_OFFSET:        520 [pixels]
  X_MAX:           1519 [pixels]
  Y_MAX:           1479 [pixels]
  DET_THRESH:      16
  PHOTO_THRESH:    9
  SL_URL:          sw00518507000msufc0084.fits
  SUN_POSTN:         3.69d {+00h 14m 44s}   +1.60d {+01d 35' 45"}
  SUN_DIST:         73.39 [deg]   Sun_angle= 4.8 [hr] (West of Sun)
  MOON_POSTN:       19.25d {+01h 16m 59s}  +11.90d {+11d 53' 51"}
  MOON_DIST:        83.40 [deg]
  MOON_ILLUM:      2 [%]
  GAL_COORDS:       58.06,  4.04 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the pointing direction
  ECL_COORDS:      297.95, 45.56 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the pointing direction
  COMMENTS:        SWIFT-UVOT Source List.  
  

• GCN NOTICE
  

  TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
  NOTICE_DATE:     Sat 24 Mar 12 06:19:41 UT
  NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-UVOT Processed Source List
  TRIGGER_NUM:     518507,   Seg_Num: 0
  POINT_RA:        291.073d {+19h 24m 17s} (J2000)
  POINT_DEC:       +24.149d {+24d 08' 56"} (J2000)
  POINT_ROLL:      95.787d
  IMG_START_DATE:  16010 TJD;    84 DOY;   12/03/24
  IMG_START_TIME:  21635.63 SOD {06:00:35.63} UT,   84.3 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
  FILTER:          10, White
  BKG_MEAN:        3.633
  N_STARS:         190
  X_OFFSET:        560 [pixels]
  Y_OFFSET:        520 [pixels]
  X_MAX:           1519 [pixels]
  Y_MAX:           1479 [pixels]
  DET_THRESH:      16
  PHOTO_THRESH:    9
  SL_URL:          sw00518507000msufc0084.fits
  SUN_POSTN:         3.69d {+00h 14m 45s}   +1.60d {+01d 35' 46"}
  SUN_DIST:         73.39 [deg]   Sun_angle= 4.8 [hr] (West of Sun)
  MOON_POSTN:       19.25d {+01h 17m 01s}  +11.90d {+11d 53' 59"}
  MOON_DIST:        83.41 [deg]
  MOON_ILLUM:      2 [%]
  GAL_COORDS:       58.06,  4.04 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the pointing direction
  ECL_COORDS:      297.95, 45.56 [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:     Sat 24 Mar 12 06:21:49 UT
  NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-UVOT Image
  TRIGGER_NUM:     518507,   Seg_Num: 0
  POINT_RA:        291.073d {+19h 24m 17s} (J2000)
  POINT_DEC:       +24.149d {+24d 08' 56"} (J2000)
  ROLL:            95.787d
  IMG_START_DATE:  16010 TJD;    84 DOY;   12/03/24
  IMG_START_TIME:  21635.63 SOD {06:00:35.63} UT,   84.3 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
  FILTER:          10, White
  EXPOSURE_ID:     354261643
  X_OFFSET:        902 [pixels]
  Y_OFFSET:        958 [pixels]
  WIDTH:           160 [pixels]
  HEIGHT:          160 [pixels]
  X_GRB_POS:       1062
  Y_GRB_POS:       1118
  BINNING_INDEX:   1
  IM_URL:          sw00518507000msuni0093.fits
  SUN_POSTN:         3.69d {+00h 14m 45s}   +1.60d {+01d 35' 48"}
  SUN_DIST:         73.39 [deg]   Sun_angle= 4.8 [hr] (West of Sun)
  MOON_POSTN:       19.27d {+01h 17m 05s}  +11.91d {+11d 54' 19"}
  MOON_DIST:        83.42 [deg]
  MOON_ILLUM:      2 [%]
  GAL_COORDS:       58.06,  4.04 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the pointing direction
  ECL_COORDS:      297.95, 45.56 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the pointing direction
  COMMENTS:        SWIFT-UVOT Image.  
  COMMENTS:        The GRB Position came from the XRT Position Command.  
  COMMENTS:        The image has 2x2 binning (compression).  
  

  
• GCN NOTICE
  

  TITLE:           GCN/SWIFT NOTICE
  NOTICE_DATE:     Sat 24 Mar 12 06:22:07 UT
  NOTICE_TYPE:     Swift-UVOT Processed Image
  TRIGGER_NUM:     518507,   Seg_Num: 0
  POINT_RA:        291.073d {+19h 24m 17s} (J2000)
  POINT_DEC:       +24.149d {+24d 08' 56"} (J2000)
  ROLL:            95.787d
  IMG_START_DATE:  16010 TJD;    84 DOY;   12/03/24
  IMG_START_TIME:  21635.63 SOD {06:00:35.63} UT,   84.3 [sec] since BAT Trigger Time
  FILTER:          10, White
  EXPOSURE_ID:     354261643
  X_OFFSET:        902 [pixels]
  Y_OFFSET:        958 [pixels]
  WIDTH:           160 [pixels]
  HEIGHT:          160 [pixels]
  X_GRB_POS:       1062
  Y_GRB_POS:       1118
  BINNING_INDEX:   1
  IM_URL:          sw00518507000msuni0093.fits
  SUN_POSTN:         3.69d {+00h 14m 45s}   +1.60d {+01d 35' 48"}
  SUN_DIST:         73.39 [deg]   Sun_angle= 4.8 [hr] (West of Sun)
  MOON_POSTN:       19.27d {+01h 17m 06s}  +11.91d {+11d 54' 22"}
  MOON_DIST:        83.42 [deg]
  MOON_ILLUM:      2 [%]
  GAL_COORDS:       58.06,  4.04 [deg] galactic lon,lat of the pointing direction
  ECL_COORDS:      297.95, 45.56 [deg] ecliptic lon,lat of the pointing direction
  COMMENTS:        SWIFT-UVOT Processed Image.  
  COMMENTS:        The GRB Position came from the XRT Position Command.  
  COMMENTS:        The image has 2x2 binning (compression).  
  COMMENTS:        All 4 attachments are included.  
  

  
• GCN Circular #13091
  E. A. Hoversten (PSU) and B.-B. Zhang (PSU) report on behalf of the Swift/UVOT team:
  In response to GRB120324A (Swift/BAT trigger 518507, Zhang et al. GCN Circ. 13090) at 05:59:11 UT, UVOT took a finding chart exposure of 150 seconds with the White filter starting 84 seconds after the BAT trigger. No credible afterglow candidate has been found in the initial data products. The 2.7'x2.7' sub-image covers 100% of the XRT error circle. Because of the density of catalogued stars, further analysis is required to report an upper limit for any afterglow in the sub-image. The 8'x8' region for the list of sources generated on-board covers 100% of the XRT error circle. Because of the density of catalogued stars, further analysis is required to report an upper limit for any afterglow in the region. No correction has been made for the large, but uncertain extinction expected.
• GCN Circular #13092
  C. Guidorzi (U. Ferrara), A. Melandri (INAF-OAB), report on behalf of the LJMU GRB group:
  The 2-m Liverpool Telescope automatically observed Swift GRB 120324A (Zhang et al. GCN Circ. 13090) on March 24, from 06:13:42 UT, corresponding to 14.5 minutes after the BAT trigger time. Within the XRT error circle we detect an uncatalogued object with 20.3 +- 0.3 mag in the r' band at the following position
  19:24:18.76 +24:07:50.1 (J2000).
  At the moment we cannot make any statement about its possible variability. Magnitudes are calibrated against nearby USNOB-1 stars.
• GCN Circular #13093
  P.A. Evans, M.R. Goad, J.P. Osborne and A.P. Beardmore (U. Leicester) report on behalf of the Swift-XRT team.
  Using 1195 s of XRT Photon Counting mode data and 1 UVOT images for GRB 120324A, 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 = 291.07873, +24.12958 which is equivalent to:

  RA (J2000): 19h 24m 18.90s
  Dec (J2000): +24d 07' 46.5"
  

  with an uncertainty of 1.7 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 #13094
  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 120324A detected by SWIFT (trigger 518507) with the TAROT robotic telescope (D=25cm) located at the European Southern Observatory, La Silla observatory, Chile.
  The observations started 1.98h after the GRB trigger (it was not risen when the GRB occured). The elevation of the field increased from 11 degrees above horizon and weather conditions were good.
  We co-added a long series of exposures. We do not detect any OT in the XRT enhanced position (Evans et al. GCNC 13093):

        start      end    magnitude
  tgrb+1.98h tgrb+3.23h  R > 19.7
  

  Magnitudes were estimated with the nearby USNO-B1 stars and are not corrected for galactic dust extinction.
  N.B. Galactic coordinates are lon= 58.0588 lat= +4.0337 and the galactic extinction in R band is about 3 magnitudes estimated from D. Schlegel et al. 1998ApJ...500..525S.
  This message may be cited.
• GCN Circular #13095
  S. R. Oates (MSSL-UCL) and B.-B. Zhang (PSU) report on behalf of the Swift/UVOT team:
  The Swift/UVOT began settled observations of the field of GRB 120324A 84 s after the BAT trigger (Zhang et al., GCN Circ. 13090). No optical afterglow, consistent with the XRT position (Evans et al., GCN Circ. 13093) or the uncatalogued object reported by the Liverpool Telescope (Guidorzi et al., GCN Circ. 13092), is detected in the initial UVOT exposures. Preliminary 3-sigma upper limits using the UVOT photometric system (Breeveld et al. 2011, AIP Conf. Proc. 1358, 373) for the first finding chart (FC) exposure and subsequent exposures are:

  Filter         T_start(s)   T_stop(s)      Exp(s)         Mag
  
  white_FC            84          234          147         >21.2
  u_FC               297          547          246         >20.2
  white               84         4917          569         >22.1
  v                  627         5329          294         >19.9
  b                  553         1510           89         >19.6
  u                  297         1493          324         >20.2
  w1                 676         5615          171         >19.9
  m2                 652         5534          216         >20.0
  w2                 603         5124          274         >20.8
  

  The magnitudes in the table are not corrected for the significant Galactic extinction due to the reddening of E(B-V) = 1.12 in the direction of the burst (Schlegel et al. 1998).
• GCN Circular #13096
  J. R. Cummings (GSFC/UMBC), S. D. Barthelmy (GSFC), W. H. Baumgartner (GSFC/UMBC), E. E. Fenimore (LANL), N. Gehrels (GSFC), 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), T. N. Ukwatta (MSU), B.-B. Zhang (PSU) (i.e. the Swift-BAT team):
  Using the data set from T-239 to T+963 sec from recent telemetry downlinks, we report further analysis of BAT GRB 120324A (trigger #518507) (Zhang, et al., GCN Circ. 13090). The BAT ground-calculated position is RA, Dec = 291.081, 24.140 deg, which is

     RA(J2000)  =  19h 24m 19.5s 
     Dec(J2000) = +24d 08' 23.6" 
  

  with an uncertainty of 1.1 arcmin, (radius, sys+stat, 90% containment). The partial coding was 82%.
  The mask-weighted light curve shows many overlapping peaks starting at ~T-190 sec with a weak precursor peak, the main peak at ~T+33 sec, and ending at ~T+180 sec (and possible as long as ~T+330 sec at the 2-sigma level). T90 (15-350 keV) is 118 +- 10 sec (estimated error including systematics).
  The time-averaged spectrum from T-150.5 to T+142.5 sec is best fit by a simple power-law model. The power law index of the time-averaged spectrum is 1.34 +- 0.04. The fluence in the 15-150 keV band is 1.01 +- 0.03 x 10^-5 erg/cm2. The 1-sec peak photon flux measured from T+33.68 sec in the 15-150 keV band is 5.9 +- 0.2 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/518507/BA/
• GCN Circular #13097
  Myungshin Im, Jae-Woo Kim, and Duho Kim (CEOU/Seoul National Univ.)
  We observed GRB 120324A (Zhang et al., GCN 13090) in r,i,z,Y filters using CQUEAN camera on the 2.1m Otto-Struve telescope at McDonald Observatory, Texas, US.
  The observation started at 2012-03-24 10:31:44 UT, or about 4.5 hours after the BAT alert. We find a faint object in i,z,Y images at the edge of the error circle of the enhanced XRT position (Evans et al. GCN 13093).
  The coordinate of the object is
  RA=19:24:18.78, Dec=24:07:47.3 (J2000)
  with an error of 0.7".
  Due to high stellar density in this field, it is not clear if this object is the optical counterpart of the GRB Further observations are planned to check the variability of this source. The finding chart of the object is available at http://astro.snu.ac.kr/~mim/grb120324a/grb120324a_cquean_i.gif
  We note that an optical candidate reported by Guidorzi et al. (GCN 13092) is clearly seen in both a POSS2 image retrieved from the Digitized Sky Survey and our CQUEAN images, making it less likely that the object is a GRB afterglow.
  We thank Karl Gebhardt and his observing team for their help with the observation.
  
• GCN Circular #13098
  V. Sudilovsky (MPE Garching), A. Nicuesa Guelbenzu (TLS Tautenburg), and J. Greiner (MPE Garching) report on behalf of the GROND team:
  We observed the field of GRB 120324A (Swift trigger 518507; Zhang et al., GCN #13090) simultaneously in g'r'i'z'JHK with GROND (Greiner et al. 2008, PASP 120, 405) mounted at the 2.2 m MPI/ESO telescope at La Silla Observatory (Chile).
  Observations started at 09:04 UT, approx. 3 hrs after the GRB trigger and lasted for approx. 35 min. They were performed at an average seeing of 1.0" and at high airmass.
  The source reported by Guidorzi et al. (GCN #13092) is clearly detected at a constant brightness of r' = 20.3 +/- 0.2. The lack of fading and location outside the enhanced XRT error circle argue against an association with the GRB.
  In addition, we detect a single source at the border of the XRT error circle at coordinates
  RA (J2000): 19h 24m 18.80s Dec (J2000): +24d 07' 47.4" (+/- 0.5")
  at a brightness of r' ~ 22.6 mag. This source has an extended morphology and could be the host galaxy (see also Im et al., GCN 13097).
  Magnitudes have been calibrated against GROND zeropoints. We note that there is a significant Galactic foreground reddening of E(B-V) ~ 1.2 mag (Schlegel et al. 1998).
• GCN Circular #13100
  S. Golenetskii, R.Aptekar, D. Frederiks, E. Mazets, V. Pal'shin, P. Oleynik, M. Ulanov, D. Svinkin, and T. Cline on behalf of the Konus-Wind team, report:
  The long GRB 120324A (Swift-BAT trigger #518507: Zhang et al., GCN 13090; Cummings et al., GCN 13096) triggered Konus-Wind at T0=3D21550.757s UT (05:59:10.757)
  The light curve shows multiple peaks with a total burst duration of ~65 s. The emission is seen up to ~9 MeV. The Konus-Wind light curve of this GRB is available at http://www.ioffe.ru/LEA/GRBs/GRB120324_T21550/
  As observed by Konus-Wind the burst had a fluence of (4.5 =B1 1.2)x10-5 erg/cm2, and a 256-ms peak flux, measured from T0+0.768 s, of (3.7 =B1 0.9)x10-6 erg/cm2/s (both in the 20 keV - 10 MeV energy range).
  The time-integrated spectrum of the burst (measured from T0 to T0+41.216 s) is best fitted in the 20 keV - 10 MeV range with the GRB (Band) model, for which: the low-energy photon index alpha =3D -1.02 (-0.10, +0.11), the high energy photon index beta =3D -2.3 (-1.0, +0.3), the peak energy Ep =3D 445(-80, +117) keV, chi2 =3D 82.3/86 dof.
  The spectrum at the maximum count rate (measured from T0 to T0+8.448 s) is best fitted is best fitted in the 20 keV - 10 MeV range with the GRB (Band) model, for which: the low-energy photon index alpha =3D -0.87 (-0.12, +0.15), the high energy photon index beta =3D -2.6 (<-2.1), the peak energy Ep =3D 504(-103, +135) keV, chi2 =3D 90.9/86 dof.
  All the quoted results are preliminary. All the quoted errors are at the 90% confidence level.
• GCN Circular #13101
  B. Sbarufatti (INAF-OAB/PSU), D.N. Burrows (PSU), J.A. Kennea (PSU), M.C. Stroh (PSU), O.M. Littlejohns (U. Leicester), J.P. Osborne (U. Leicester), K.L. Page (U. Leicester), G. Stratta (ASDC), P. D'Avanzo (INAF-OAB) and B.-B. Zhang report on behalf of the Swift-XRT team:
  We have analysed 8.3 ks of XRT data for GRB 120324A (-B. Zhang et al. GCN Circ. 13090), from 81 s to 29.5 ks after the BAT trigger. The data comprise 160 s in Windowed Timing (WT) mode with the remainder in Photon Counting (PC) mode. The enhanced XRT position for this burst was given by Evans et al. (GCN. Circ 13093).
  The late-time light curve (from T0+4.7 ks) can be modelled with a power-law decay with a decay index of alpha=1.04 (+/-0.07).
  A spectrum formed from the WT mode data can be fitted with an absorbed power-law with a photon spectral index of 2.12 (+/-0.10). The best-fitting absorption column is 1.10 (+0.09, -0.08) x 10^22 cm^-2, in excess of the Galactic value of 4.5 x 10^21 cm^-2 (Kalberla et al. 2005). The PC mode spectrum has a photon index of 2.07 (+/-0.14) and a best-fitting absorption column of 1.18 (+0.13, -0.12) x 10^22 cm^-2. The counts to observed (unabsorbed) 0.3-10 keV flux conversion factor deduced from this spectrum is 5.7 x 10^-11 (1.3 x 10^-10) erg cm^-2 count^-1.
  A summary of the PC-mode spectrum is thus:

  Total column:	     1.18 (+0.13, -0.12) x 10^22 cm^-2
  Galactic foreground: 4.5 x 10^21 cm^-2
  Excess significance: 9.9 sigma
  Photon index:	     2.07 (+/-0.14)
  

  The results of the XRT-team automatic analysis are available at http://www.swift.ac.uk/xrt_products/00518507.
  This circular is an official product of the Swift-XRT team.
• GCN Circular #13174
  V.V.Golovnya (Main Astro Obs, Kyiv) report:
  We have undertaken the review of the sky area in vicinity of=20 GRB 120324A (P.A. Evans et al. GCN Circ.13093) on=20 astronegatives, collected in Ukrainian NAS Main astronomical=20 observatory plate archive (1976-1996). All the plates with=20 the possible object appearance are digitized using Microtek=20 ScanMaker 9800XL TMA and Epson Expression 10000XL flatbed=20 scanners and have been placed into Golosiiv Plate Archive=20 database DBGPA with open access to them.

   	The list of plates is given in the table:
  YYYYMMDD/TimeUT	--Plates--	Exp.	LimMag	Star USNOA2=20
  19880831/190518	GUA040C001326A	16.0	14.55	1125-12506783
  19890803/201455	GUA040C001494A	16.0	15.65	1125-12498949
  19890803/204023	GUA040C001495	16.0	15.65	1125-12498949
  19910807/205429	GUA040C001847	16.0	16.40	1125-12498743
  Plates: =96 the plates archive identifier of DWA (D/F=3D400/2000,=20
  GUA040C  M=3D103"/mm) of the Ukrainian NAS Main Astro obs.
           (Marsden's number - 83) the plate number [1].
  Exp.   - Duration of the maximum exposure (minutes).=20
  LimM   - Limited V mag, derived in the 24 minutes area around=20
         the location given in P.A. Evans et al. GCN Circ.13093:=20
         RA(J2000)=3D 19h 24m 18.90s, Dec(J2000)=3D +24d 07' 46.5"
  Star USNOA2 - Comparison star.
  

  The preview images of 4 areas together with =20 the 24x24 min.of arc area from SkyMap can be found in =20 http://gua.db.ukr-vo.org/img/grb/120324A/index.html The images with full resolution are available via e-mail on=20 demand. References:
  1.L.Pakuliak DATABASE of GOLOSIIV PLATE ARCHIVE (DBGPA V2.0), http://gua.db.ukr-vo.org
• GCN Circular #13179
  V. Rumyantsev, K. Antonyuk (CrAO), A. Pozanenko (IKI) report on behalf of larger GRB follow-up collaboration:
  We observed the field of GRB 120324A (Zhang et al., GCN 13090) with AZT-11 telescope of CrAO observatory starting on March 25 (UT) 01:46:17 under moderate weather conditions and seeing of about 2.7 arsces. Within enhanced Swift-XRT position (Evans et al., GCN 13093) we do not detected any optical source up to R=20.7. The source reported in (Guidorzi et al., GCN 13092; Im et al., GCN 13097; Sudilovsky et al., GCN 13098) is clearly detected and have a brightness R=20.16 +/-0.25. A photometry is based on the USNO-B1.0 star 1141-0365943 (19 24 20.29 +24 07 58.2) assuming R=17.07:

  T0+        Filter,  Exposure, OT,  uplim (3 sigma)
  (mid, d)             (s)
  
  0.8411       R     16x180      n/d     20.7
  

• GCN Report 412.1
  GCN_Report 412.1 has been posted: http://gcn.gsfc.nasa.gov/reports/report_412_1.pdf by B.-B. Zhang at PSU titled: "Swift Observations of GRB 120324A"