GRB 210218A: Swift detection of a burst

At 13:35:19 UT, the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) triggered and located GRB 210218A (trigger=1033328). Swift did not slew immediately due to an observing constraint. The BAT on-board calculated location is RA, Dec 47.291, +35.287 which is RA(J2000) = 03h 09m 10s Dec(J2000) = +35d 17' 14" 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 30 sec. The peak count rate was ~800 counts/sec (15-350 keV), at ~0 sec after the trigger. Due to a Moon observing constraint, Swift cannot slew to the BAT position until 11:37 UT on 2021 February 20. There will thus be no XRT or UVOT data for this trigger before this time. Burst Advocate for this burst is B. Sbarufatti (bxs60 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/)