The host of GRB/XRF 030528 -: an actively star forming galaxy at z=0.782

An important parameter for the distinction of X-ray flashes, X-ray rich bursts and Gamma-ray bursts in the rest frame is the distance to the explosion site. Here we report on the spectroscopic redshift determination of the host galaxy of XRF/GRB 030528 using the ESO VLT FORS2 instrument. From the strong oxygen and hydrogen emission lines the redshift was measured to be z = 0.782 +/- 0.001. Obtaining the line luminosities and ratios we find that the host is consistent with being an actively star forming galaxy with sub-solar metallicity. With a stellar mass of similar to 10(10) M-circle dot the host is placed among the most massive GRB host galaxies at a similar redshift. Estimating the redshifted properties of the prompt emission, we find that XRF/GRB 030528 would be classified as an X-ray rich burst in the rest frame rather than an X-ray flash in the typically-used observer frame.