TITLE: GCN GRB OBSERVATION REPORT NUMBER: 223 SUBJECT: GRB 990123 Keck Spectrum update DATE: 99/01/25 21:58:44 GMT FROM: Andrew S. Fruchter at STScI Andy Fruchter reports for Dan Kelson who is in transit: In addition to the z=1.6 metal absorption lines detected in the Keck spectrum of the OT associated with GRB 990123 and reported by Kelson et al. in IAUC 7096, H and K absorption corresponding to a redshift of z~0.2 were found in a nearby galaxy, thus confirming the redshift reported by Hjorth et al. in GCN 219. However, this galaxy is the one visible in the finding chart of Odewahn et al., GCN 201, which lies approximately 10" to the west of the OT. No evidence of lines corresponding to a z~0.2 were found in the Keck spectrum any closer on the sky. [GCN OP NOTE (99/01/26 00:07:21 UT): Please see Addendum revision in GCN 225.]