The dark nature of GRB 051022 and its host galaxy

Understand

We present multiwavelength (X-ray/optical/near-infrared/millimetre) observations of GRB 051022 between 2.5 hours and ~1.15 yr after the event.

• It is the most intense gamma-ray burst (~ 10^-4 erg cm^-2) detected by HETE-2, with the exception of the nearby GRB 030329.
• Optical and near infrared observations did not detect the afterglow despite a strong afterglow at X-ray wavelengths.
• Millimetre observations at Plateau de Bure (PdB) detected a source and a flare, confirming the association of this event with a moderately bright (R = 21.5) galaxy.