SALT spectroscopic classification of Gaia18blo as AGN at z=2.09
ATel #11716; Wyrzykowski L., Gromadzki M. Kozlowski Sz. (Warsaw University Astronomical Observatory), D. A. H. Buckley (SAAO), N. Ihanec(Univ. Nova Gorica)
on 14 Jun 2018; 12:52 UT
Credential Certification: Lukasz Wyrzykowski (wyrzykow@astrouw.edu.pl)
Subjects: Optical, AGN, Microlensing Event, Transient
Gaia18blo (AT2018chv, 13:11:50.55 -37:30:49.43), was discovered by the Gaia Science Alerts programme on 2018-06-05 as a smooth 0.4 mag increase on a 18.9 mag blueish source at Galactic Plane latitude of about 25 deg (http://gsaweb.ast.cam.ac.uk/alerts/alert/Gaia18blo/)
We observed the target with the Southern African Large
Telescope (SALT) using the Robert Stobie Spectrograph (RSS) on 2018-06-08 with PG300 grating, slit size 1.5 arcsec.
The spectrum covering range 3700-8700A exhibited a blue continuum with few broad emission lines.
The lines were identified as MgII, CIII, CIV and [NV] at redshift z=2.09.
Therefore we conclude this transient is a brightening of a previously unknown active galactic nucleus (AGN).
We acknowledge ESA Gaia, DPAC and the Photometric Science Alerts Team (http://gsaweb.ast.cam.ac.uk/alerts).
