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Author(s): Peter Mészáros (corresponding author) The fog surrounding the identity of the progenitors of γ-ray bursts (GRBs) is beginning to lift, at least for the class of GRBs known as [...]

The gamma-ray event of 23 January 1999 has been analyzed by Akerlof and colleagues, Kulkarni and colleagues and Galama and colleagues. The GRB990123 burst was the first to be detected optically whilst still emitting gamma-rays, and where a radio afterglow appear after just one day. A robotic optical camera, ROTSE, was used to detection GRB990123, and the optical brightness was measured by Akerlof and colleagues to be in excess of ninth apparent magnitude. The radio emission disappeared the day after appearing, which is unusual as previous afterglows typically remain visible for months.