Analysis of the Systematic Errors in the Positions of BATSE Catalog Bursts

Abstract

We analyze the systematic errors in the positions of bursts in the BATSE 1B, 2B and 3B catalogs, using a likelihood approach. We use the BATSE data in conjunction with 196 single IPN arcs. We assume circular Gaussian errors, and that the total error is the sum in quadrature of the systematic error $\sigma_{\rm sys}$ and statistical error $\sigma_{\rm stat}$, as prescribed by the BATSE catalog. We find that the 3B burst positions are inconsistent with the value $\sigma_{\rm sys} = 1.6^\circ$ stated in the BATSE 3B catalog.