TITLE: GCN CIRCULAR NUMBER: 13656 SUBJECT: GRB 120816A: TAROT Calern observatory optical observations DATE: 12/08/16 21:16:46 GMT FROM: Alain Klotz at CESR-CNRS Klotz A. (IRAP-CNRS-OMP), Gendre B. (ASDC/INAF-OAR), Boer M. (UNS-CNRS-OCA), Atteia J.L. (IRAP-CNRS-OMP) report: We imaged the field of GRB 120816A detected by SWIFT (trigger 531223) with the TAROT robotic telescope (D=25cm) located at the Calern observatory, France. The observations started 526s after the GRB trigger (delay due to the beginning of the night). The elevation of the field increased from 36 degrees above horizon and weather conditions were good. We co-added a series of exposures but we do not detect any OT at the XRT position (Page et al. GCNC 13654): From t0+526s to t0+942s, R > 16.5 Galactic coordinates are lon= 26.384d lat= -2.527d and the galactic extinction in R band is about 3 magnitudes (estimated from D. Schlegel et al. 1998ApJ...500..525S). Although the field is very dense, there are no star brighter than 18th mag in the XRT error box. Magnitudes were estimated with the nearby USNO-B1 stars and are not corrected for galactic dust extinction. This message may be cited.