An update on B2 1308+326
ATel #15447; R. Bachev (IA-NAO, BAS, Bulgaria)
on 21 Jun 2022; 00:55 UT
Credential Certification: Rumen Bachev (bachevr@astro.bas.bg)
Subjects: Optical, Blazar, Quasar
The blazar (flat spectrum radio quasar, FSRQ) B2 1308+326 (z=0.996) has been reported to be at unusually high state in optical, NIR and gamma-rays during the last few years (ATel# 15441, ATel# 15428, ATel# 14404). In the optical it reached about R=14.6 (ATel# 15441) and 14.4 (T. Balonek, priv. comm.) on 2022-06-19, which was probably the highest reported optical level for the last 40 years. As not unusual for a FSRQ, this object has shown significant optical variations, going down to about R=20 mag (https://vo.astro.spbu.ru/sites/default/files/optic/b21308R.png).
Here we report a new record in the optical brightness of this object, as B2 1308+326 reached R=14.06 (2022-06-20.98) and is still rising. The R-band optical and polarimetric data from the last few nights are shown below.
18.06.2022, UT=22.9 R=14.49±0.05 p=14±2% EVPA=33±5 deg
19.06.2022, UT=23.4 R=14.35±0.05 p=18±2% EVPA=23±3 deg
20.06.2022, UT=23.7 R=14.06±0.05 p=24±2% EVPA=17±2 deg
Further observations are encouraged. These observations have been performed with the 0.6m telescope of Belogradchik, Bulgaria. All results are preliminary. This research was partially supported by the Bulgarian National Science Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science under grants KP-06-H28/3 (2018), KP-06-H38/4 (2019) and KP-06-KITAJ/2 (2020).
