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The blazar PKS 0420-014: attempt of a new flare?

ATel #16985; V. V. Vlasyuk, O. I. Spiridonova (Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Rus. Ac. Sci.)
on 20 Jan 2025; 21:14 UT
Credential Certification: Alexander Moskvitin (mosk@sao.ru)

Subjects: Optical, Blazar

Our data for the blazar PKS 0420-014, taken with 1-meter Zeiss-1000 reflector across last winter in November-January, showed that it's brightness demonstrated some indications on future flare. The blazar started its exponential brightening from R = 16.46 mag (MJD 60629.42) to 15.99 mag (MJD 60671.8, Dec 27/28) with a slope -0.01 mags per day. After interval of dimming up to R = 16.38 mag (MJD 60685.83) the PKS 0420-014 started new re-brightening behavior with steeper slope about -0.05 mags per day. According to our data, it exceeds the level of last December and reached value R = 15.94 mag (MJD 60695.78). The photometric accuracy of our estimates was between 0.005-0.02 magnitudes for the each epoch. The worse values are because of the bright Moon skies for some date.

All data were collected with a standard Rc filter and the specifications of the GASP list of the WEBT collaboration. More accurate data reduction is necessary. We strongly encourage further multi-wavelength observations.