Enhanced Gamma-Ray Activity from NGC 1275 Detected by MACE
ATel #17020; Nijil Mankuzhiyil on behalf of MACE Team (BARC Mumbai)
on 7 Feb 2025; 11:50 UT
Credential Certification: Nijil Mankuzhiyil (nijil@barc.gov.in)
Subjects: Gamma Ray, TeV, VHE, AGN
MACE has detected enhanced Very High Energy (VHE) gamma-ray activity from the radio galaxy NGC 1275 (RA=03:19:48.1, DEC=+41:30:42, J2000.0, z=0.0176) on 25 January 2025. This source is a part of the regular monitoring program of MACE, since December 2024.
A preliminary data analysis in the 100-500 GeV energy band revealed a VHE gamma-ray enhanced activity with a statistical significance of 5.2 standard deviations, corresponding to ~30% Crab Nebula flux.
Fermi-LAT on 20 January 2025 reported enhanced gamma-ray activity (ATel #16988) from this source. MACE observations from 20 December 2025 to 1 February 2025 did not yield any significant detection except on 25 January 2025. Previously, NGC 1275 exhibited a VHE gamma-ray enhanced activity, during December 2022 - January 2023, as reported by LST-1, MAGIC and MACE (ATel #15819, 15820, 15823,15856).
MACE, a 21-m diameter imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope located in Hanle, Ladakh, India, will continue monitoring NGC 1275. Multi-wavelength observations are strongly encouraged.
