Further optical brightening of the flaring blazar AO 0235+16 down to R=15.4

ATel #16199; Alessandro Marchini (Osservatorio Astronomico dell'Università degli Studi di Siena), C. M. Raiteri, M. Villata (INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino), G. Bonnoli (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera)
on 22 Aug 2023; 15:31 UT
Credential Certification: Giacomo Bonnoli (giacomo.bonnoli@inaf.it)

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The Flat Spectrum Radio Quasar AO 0235+16 (RA: 02 38 38.9 Dec: +16 36 59.3; J2000.0) at redshift z=0.94 was recently reported in flare (ATel #16190) therefore we intensified our observations at the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Siena, in coordination with the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) collaboration.

Our recent R-band measurements depict a raising trend of the optical flux, down to R=15.4 last night, and are reported in the table below. Quoted uncertainties are statistical only.


Civil Date(UT) Rmag (dMag)
2023 Aug 16.12 17.20 (0.05)
2023 Aug 16.13 17.21 (0.07)
2023 Aug 17.12 17.22 (0.05)
2023 Aug 17.13 17.25 (0.07)
2023 Aug 19.12 16.80 (0.03)
2023 Aug 19.13 16.78 (0.03)
2023 Aug 21.12 15.85 (0.02)
2023 Aug 21.13 15.89 (0.02)
2023 Aug 21.97 15.47 (0.02)
2023 Aug 21.98 15.44 (0.02)
2023 Aug 21.99 15.41 (0.02)
2023 Aug 22.00 15.46 (0.02)
2023 Aug 22.01 15.43 (0.01)
2023 Aug 22.03 15.45 (0.01)
2023 Aug 22.04 15.45 (0.02)
2023 Aug 22.05 15.42 (0.01)
2023 Aug 22.06 15.44 (0.01)
2023 Aug 22.07 15.42 (0.01)
2023 Aug 22.08 15.40 (0.01)
2023 Aug 22.09 15.45 (0.01)
2023 Aug 22.10 15.47 (0.01)
2023 Aug 22.12 15.46 (0.01)
2023 Aug 22.13 15.48 (0.01)
2023 Aug 22.14 15.43 (0.02)


We will continue observing AO 0235+16 in the next nights. Multi-wavelength observations are strongly encouraged.

A brief description of the instrumental setup used for the reported observations is available at the official webpage of the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Siena (see link below).

Astronomical Observatory of the University of Siena - Official Webpage