AGILE detection of new flaring activity from blazar 3C 454.3
ATel #1592; D. Gasparrini, C. Pittori, F. Verrecchia, B. Preger, P. Santolamazza, S. Colafrancesco, P. Giommi (ASDC), S. Vercellone, A. Chen, A. Giuliani (INAF/IASF Milan), I. Donnarumma, F. D'Ammando, L. Pacciani, G. Pucella, V. Vittorini (INAF/IASF Rome), F. Longo (INFN, Trieste), A. Bulgarelli (INAF/IASF Bologna), S. Mereghetti, A. Pellizzoni, F. Perotti, F. Fornari, M. Fiorini, P. Caraveo, A. Zambra (INAF/IASF Milan), F. Gianotti, M. Trifoglio, G. Di Cocco, C. Labanti, F. Fuschino, M. Marisaldi, M. Galli, (INAF/IASF Bologna), M. Tavani, E. Costa, M. Feroci, E. Del Monte, F. Lazzarotto, G. Piano, P. Soffitta, Y. Evangelista, I. Lapshov, M. Rapisarda, A. Argan, A. Trois, G. De Paris (INAF/IASF Rome), G. Barbiellini, E. Vallazza (INFN Trieste), P. Picozza, A. Morselli (INFN Roma-2), M. Prest, (Universita` dell'Insubria), P. Lipari, D. Zanello (INFN Roma-1), F. Boffelli, P. Cattaneo (INFN Pavia) and L. Salotti (ASI)
on 26 Jun 2008; 17:06 UT
Credential Certification: Carlotta Pittori (carlotta.pittori@asdc.asi.it)
Subjects: Gamma Ray, >GeV, AGN, Quasar
During the current Observing Block started on 2008-06-15 12:00 UT,
the AGILE Gamma Ray Imaging Detector (GRID) detected 3C 454.3 in
high state in the period between 2008-06-25 03:00 UT and
2008-06-26 03:00 UT.
A preliminary maximum likelihood analysis shows a detection
at a significance level above 5 sigma, with a source flux in excess of
about 200e-8 ph/cm2/s for E>100 MeV.
3C 454.3 was previously detected in high state several times by the
AGILE-GRID during 2007 and 2008 (see also ATels #1160, #1167, #1278,
#1300 and #1545). A very recent gamma-ray flare episode is reported in
ATel #1581.
The AGILE monitoring of the source will continue till 2008-06-30 12:00 UT.
We strongly encourage multi-frequency observations of 3C 454.3 during this
gamma-ray high-state.
