A Recent NIR flare of the Blazar PKS0716+714
ATel #17635; L. Carrasco, L. Felix , G. Escobedo, A. Porras, E. Recillas; (INAOE, Mexico)
on 28 Jan 2026; 00:35 UT
Credential Certification: LUIS CARRASCO (carrasco@inaoep.mx)
Subjects: Radio, Infra-Red, Optical, Gamma Ray, AGN, Blazar, Quasar, Transient
We report on a recent and significant NIR brightening of the intermediate redshift (z=0.30) Blazar PKS0716+714, cross identified with the radio source 8C0716+714 and the gamma-ray source 4FLGJ0721.9+7120. On January 21st, 2026 (JD 2461061.8996) we found this source with enhanced NIR fluxes; J = 11.65 +/- 0.03, H = 11.01 +/- 0.03 and Ks = 10.27 +/- 0.04, while on JD 2461019.0247, the flux in the H Band corresponded to H = 12.17 +/- 0.03. Hence, the source has tripled its NIR flux in this lapse. The source has shown NIR flares in the past (Atel#6902, Atel#13359). 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 encourage further multi wavelength coverage.
