Intense optical flare of the flat spectrum radio quasar OP 313
ATel #16891; Alessandro Marchini (Astronomical Observatory, University of Siena - Italy); Leonardo Stiaccini, Gaia Verna (Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment (DSFTA), University of Siena - Italy); Giacomo Bonnoli (INAF - Brera Astronomical Observatory)
on 1 Nov 2024; 11:06 UT
Credential Certification: Giacomo Bonnoli (giacomo.bonnoli@inaf.it)
Subjects: Optical, X-ray, Gamma Ray, VHE, AGN, Blazar, Transient
We observed last night the flat spectrum radio quasar OP 313 (R.A. = 197.619 deg, Decl. = +32.345 deg; J2000; Johnston et al. 1995, AJ, 110, 880) at redshift z=0.997 (Schneider et al. 2010, AJ, 139, 2360) from the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Siena. This observation was triggered by the publicly available Fermi-LAT Monitor GCN Notices #1730300179 and #1730386494, both reporting an intense gamma-ray flare from the source.
On 2024 Nov, 1.185 we detected a remarkable optical flare at R=13.88(0.01) in the Johnson-Cousins photometric system. Quoted uncertainty is statistical only.
Any enquiry on these observations can be addressed either to Alessandro Marchini (marchini@unisi.it) or to Giacomo Bonnoli (giacomo.bonnoli@inaf.it). We will continue monitoring the source in the following nights. Multi-wavelength follow-up is encouraged.
Our blazar program, comprising both monitoring observations and follow-up of target of opportunity campaigns, is carried out with the 0.30 m telescope at the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Siena (IAU MPC observatory code K54).
A brief description of the instrumental setup used for the reported observation is available at the official webpage of the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Siena.
Astronomical Observatory of the University of Siena - Official Webpage