Comparison of the blazar PG1553+113 brightness in 2018 and 2019
ATel #12649; S. Zola (Jagiellonian University), D. E. Reichart, V. Kouprianov, J. Haislip (University of NC at Chapel Hill), D. B. Caton (Appalachian State University), G. Stachowski (Mt. Suhora Observatory)
on 10 Apr 2019; 18:18 UT
Credential Certification: Staszek Zola (szola@oa.uj.edu.pl)
Subjects: Optical, AGN, Blazar
We report here the results of observing PG1553+113 as part of
our program of monitoring a sample of blazars and quasars,
following recent alerts of an elevated brightness of this source
in the optical (ATels #12645, #12635, #12631) and detection of high
energy radiation by H.E.S.S. (Atel #12641).
Previously in 2018 we obtained a dense light curve of this source in the wide
band R filter spanning over the entire observing season. Compared
to the mean brightness in 2018, the current year's observations already show a
rise of about 0.3 mag in January and February. Starting from
the beginning of March we secured denser light curve coverage
by taking data with the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network.
These show that the brightness of PG1553-113 has risen further by about 0.3 mag in
the R filter. The most recent images taken on 9/10 April
(JD 2458583.72 - 2458583.90) confirm the rising trend.
The 2018/19 light curve of PG1553+113 can be seen at the following address:
http://stach.oa.uj.edu.pl/Blazars_plots/
Light curve of PG1553+113
