Four Optical Transients from the Catalina Sky Survey
ATel #1262; S. G. Djorgovski, A. J. Drake, R. Williams, A. Mahabal, M. J. Graham (Caltech); E. Christensen (Gemini Observatory); E. C. Beshore, S. M. Larson (LPL/UA)
on 7 Nov 2007; 07:52 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Request For Observations
Credential Certification: Andrew J. Drake (ajd@cacr.caltech.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Request for Observations, Transient, Variables
We have detected four optical transients in the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) obtained at the Mt. Bigelow
0.76m Catalina Schmidt Telescope on 02 Nov 2007 UT. The transients are unresolved, and at the
following J2000 coordinates:
CSS 071102:022517-071212 2007-11-02 UT 06:25:07 RA 02:25:17.31 Dec -07:12:12.4
CSS 071102:014557-114526 2007-11-02 UT 07:54:23 RA 01:45:57.83 Dec -11:45:26.5
CSS 071102:002805-092841 2007-11-02 UT 04:20:07 RA 00:28:05.36 Dec -09:28:41.1
CSS 071102:010234-034253 2007-11-02 UT 04:51:13 RA 01:02:34.04 Dec -03:42:53.1
For finding charts, etc., please see voeventnet CSS charts.
Each set of CSS observations consists of four images spanning approximately 30 minutes.
All the transients were detected in multiple images. Of the sources, only CSS071102:022517-022517 appears to have an associated source in archival CSS and Palomar-Quest images (reaching down to ~ 21 - 22 mag). This object
was undetected in the first observation, although it appears to have been at mag ~20. In the second image it
had risen ~2.5 mags (within 10 mins) and then faded 1.5 mags in the following two images spanning ~19 minutes.
With these characteristics the likely source of this is UV Ceti type variable star. For the other three sources
no corresponding sources are present in the archival PQ, CSS or DSS images, SIMBAD, NED, or correspond to FIRST
and NVSS radio surveys. As these sources are faint it is possible that these detections are actually asteroids
near stationary points or faint UV Ceti type stars. Further observations are strongly encouraged.
All stationary CSS optical transients are detected and published as VOEvents in near-realtime on
VOEventNet.
