Sergei S. Guziy

Four Years of Real-Time GRB Followup by BOOTES-1B (2005–2008)

Four years of BOOTES-1B GRB follow-up history are summarised for the first time in the form of a table. The successfully followed events are described case by case. Further, the data are used to show the GRB trigger rate in Spain on a per-year basis, resulting in an estimate of 18 triggers and about 51 hours of telescope time per year for real-time triggers. These numbers grow to about 22 triggers and 77 hours per year if we include also the GRBs observable within 2 hours after the trigger.

Optical follow‐up of gamma‐ray bursts observed by WATCH

44 Gamma‐Ray Bursts have been localized by the WATCH experiments on GRANAT and EURECA. For some of them, Schmidt plates were taken within days after the burst. In other cases, time‐correlated plates were found in some of the main astronomical archives. No obvious optical counterpart has been found in any of the investigated plates.

Operating a global network of autonomous observatories

We discuss our experiences operating a heterogeneous global network of autonomous observatories. The observatories are presently situated on four continents, with a fifth expected during the summer of 2010. The network nodes are small to intermediate diameter telescopes (<= 150 cm) owned by different institutions but running the same observatory control software. We report on the experience gained during construction, commissioning and operation of the observatories, as well as future plans. Problems encountered in the construction and operation of the nodes are summarised. Operational statistics as well as scientific results from the observatories are also presented.

Flares from the Magnetar Candidate SWIFT J1955+2604: a Missing Link to Dim Isolated Neutron Stars?

We present multiwavelength observations of the optically flaring source SWFIT J195509+261406 (initially mimicking a GRB), and discuss its nature considering several possibilities, amongst them an ultracompact low‐mass X‐ray binary. Finally we suggest a likely magnetar nature implying a missing link to the dim isolated neutron stars.

Optical observations of the X-ray transients XTE J1859 +226 and XTE J1118+480

We present some results of observations on the X-raytransients XTE J1859+226 and XTE J1118+480 by means of the 0.7-metretelescope at the Kalinenkov Astronomical Observatory of Nikolaev StateUniversity. The observations of XTE J1859+226 were obtained inNovember 1999 and April 2000. The observations of theXTE J1118+480 started in April 2000. The light curves are presented here.

CCD observations of the QSO 4C49.29 in the error box of GRB960720

We present preliminary results of optical investigations of the radio-loud QSO 4C49.29 in R band, performed during 1999 year. The data were taken with the 0.7-m telescope at the Kalinenkov Astronomical Observatory of the Nikolaev State University with CCD SBIG ST-7. More details regarding the optical observations and light curves are presented.