MeerKAT radio detection of MAXI J1803-298

ATel #14607; Mathilde Espinasse, Francesco Carotenuto (Univ. Paris & CEA Saclay), Evangelia Tremou (Obs. Paris), Stephane Corbel (Univ. Paris & CEA Saclay), Rob Fender (Oxford, UCT), Patrick Woudt (UCT), James Miller-Jones (ICRAR/Curtin), on behalf of the ThunderKAT collaboration
on 6 May 2021; 14:03 UT
Credential Certification: Evangelia Tremou (evangelia.tremou@obspm.fr)

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Following the discovery and follow-up of the new X-ray transient MAXI J1803-298 (ATels #14587, #14588, #14591, #14594, #14597, #14598, #14601, #14602), we report on observations conducted by the MeerKAT radio telescope as part of the ThunderKAT Large Survey Project (Fender et al. 2017).

MAXI J1803-298 was observed for 15 minutes on-target on May 4th (MJD 59338.9) at a central frequency of 1.284 GHz (L band) with a total bandwidth of 860MHz. We detect the radio counterpart to the source, with preliminary flux density of 4.11 ± 0.07 mJy, and the preliminary position is in accordance with the UVOT position from ATel #14591:
RA(J2000) = 18:03:02.81 ± 0.07 s
DEC(J2000) = -29:49:48.46 ± 0.96''
The uncertainties provided are the statistical error from the fit for the flux density and 10% of the synthesized beam for the position. As MAXI J1803-298 is in the hard state (ATel #14602), this level of emission is likely originating from self-absorbed compact jets.

ThunderKAT will run for 5 years and targets X-ray binaries, cataclysmic variables, supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. As part of this programme we perform weekly monitoring observation of all bright, active, southern hemisphere X-ray binaries in the radio band. For further information on this programme please contact Rob Fender and/or Patrick Woudt.

We thank the staff at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) for scheduling and carrying out these observations. The MeerKAT telescope is operated by the SARAO, which is a facility of the National Research Foundation, an agency of the Department of Science and Innovation.