IGR J06074+2205 ready to outburst again
ATel #16512; Roberto Nesci (INAF/IAPS), Mariateresa Fiocchi (INAF/IAPS), Antonio Vagnozzi (MPC589)
on 7 Mar 2024; 23:33 UT
Credential Certification: Roberto Nesci (roberto.nesci@inaf.it)
Subjects: Optical, X-ray, Binary, Neutron Star, Transient, Pulsar
Referred to by ATel #: 16525
The HMXB IGR J06074+2205 is a Be star with a pulsar neutron star companion and underwent some X-ray flares in the last 2 years ( ATel #15294, ATel #16267, ATel #16277, ATel #16278, ATel #16307, ATel #16351, ATel #16394, ATel #16401) suggesting a recurrence time scale of about 80 days (Atel #16351). The current scenario is that the flares are produced by the crossing of the circumstellar disk of the Be star by the neutron star, so that the next X-ray flare is expected around March 15 if the circumstellar disk is still present.
As suggested by Mihara et al. (ATel #16351) we are monitoring weekly the spectrum of IGR J06074+2205 at 6 Angstrom resolution with the 50 cm telescope of the S. Lucia di Stroncone Observatory (MPC589) since 2024-01-11 until tonight 2024-03-07. The H-alpha line was always present in emission, with equivalent width about 11 Angstrom, confirming the stable presence of the circumstellar disk, so that a new outburst should happen around March 15. Swift-XRT ToOs have been approved to monitor the evolution of the expected outburst in the week around the critical date. Monitoring of the source at all wavelengths is encouraged.
