In an exciting breakthrough in astrophysics, astronomers have successfully detected the optical afterglow of GRB 250419A, just 37 hours after the explosive gamma-ray burst.

On April 19, 2025, at precisely 02:29:32 UTC, the SVOM/ECLAIRs satellite pinpointed the location of GRB 250419A, marking a significant moment in astronomical observation. This remarkable detection was officially announced through NASA's GCN 40168 Circular.

Fast forward to 21:07 UTC, roughly 18.6 hours post-burst, when scientists swiftly maneuvered the Celestron C14 telescope alongside the Paramount ME mount and SBIG ST-10XME camera to the identified transient position. Three extensive 300-second unfiltered exposures were captured and subsequently averaged to unveil the magnificent glow.

The results were astounding: the optical counterpart of GRB 250419A was clearly observable! Located at coordinates RA: 13 29 37.26 and Decl.: +07 02 28.0 (J2000.0), researchers noted an impressive magnitude estimation of 19.3, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 12, utilizing reference stars from GaiaDR2.

This stellar find has been documented in a follow-up GCN circular (GCN 40206), adding a significant chapter to the ongoing research surrounding gamma-ray bursts and their afterglows.

Stay tuned as we uncover more wonders of the universe!