Yet, a new NIR Flare of the Blazar PKS0454-234
ATel #17592; L. Carrasco, A. Porras, G. Escobedo, L. Felix, E. Recillas (INAOE, Mexico)
on 12 Jan 2026; 17:16 UT
Credential Certification: LUIS CARRASCO (carrasco@inaoep.mx)
Subjects: Radio, Infra-Red, Gamma Ray, AGN, Blazar, Quasar, Transient
We report on the recent Giant NIR flare of the high redshift blazar PKS0454-234 (z=1.003), cross identified with the source BZQJ 0454-2324 and the Gamma-ray source 2FGLJ0457.0-2325. On December 12th, 2025 (JD 2461021.8140), we found the source with the following fluxes in NIR bands: J = 12.297 +/- 0.04, H = 11.549 +/- 0.04 and Ks = 10.682 +/- 0.02. These values are to be compared with our previous observation on JD 2460657.841 , when the source showed J = 15,233, H = 14.056 and K = 13.942. Hence, the source has had a flux increment of a factor of 20 in the K band, a factor of 10 in the H band and a factor of 15 in the J band, during this lapse. This differential increase may be indicative that the source
was undergoing a very fast flare while being observed, as the order of our non simultaneous observations (spread over 20 minutes) was HJK for the various bands respectively. Worth mentioning is the fact the source is at maximum light since JD 2454748, 17 years ago when we started monitoring it in the NIR. The source has shown flare activity in the past (see ATEL #3722,#4647, #5583, #8045) Our observations are carried out with the 2.1m telescope of the Guillermo Haro Observatory operated by the National Institute for Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (Mexico), equipped with the instrument CANICA a NIR camera. We strongly encourage further multiwavelength coverage.
