1994A&A...291L..17P

Identification of a fading optical counterpart appears to be one of the most promising ways to increase our knowledge on cosmic gamma-ray bursts. The CCD equipped Brorfelde Schmidt is now being used to conduct rapid response observations following GRB detections by the Compton Observatory. At the position of GRB940301 three variable stars and a number of proper motion stars were found. A fourth, star-like object, three magnitudes above the 1953 Palomar Sky Survey E plate limit, is absent on the Brorfelde exposures and also from other Palomar exposures. This object may be due to a long-period variable, or a plate flaw. In the latter case, it has implications for the ongoing discussion of the reality of optical transients on old photographic exposures.