NIR flare of the blazar FSRQ PKS 0202-17
ATel #17670; L. Carrasco, A. Porras, G. Escobedo, L. Felix , E. Recillas;(INAOE, Mexico)
on 11 Feb 2026; 18:03 UT
Credential Certification: LUIS CARRASCO (carrasco@inaoep.mx)
Subjects: Radio, Infra-Red, Optical, Gamma Ray, AGN, Blazar, Quasar
We report on the recent NIR brightening of the flat spectrum radio quasar PKS 0202-17, cross correlated with the gamma ray source 4FGL J0205.0-1700. On February 9th, 2026 (JD 2461080.6087), we found the object undergoing a historically bright NIR flare in a lapse over 15 years covered by of our monitoring program. At such time, the flux in the H band was: H = 14.27 +/- 0.03. While on JD 2461021.7300 the corresponding was H = 16.36 +/- 0.050. Hence, the object has increased its luminosity in the H band by a factor of 7 in the last 2 months. Six years ago, on JD2458866.6927 its flux in the H band was H>17.5, then the source has increased its luminosity in the H band by a factor of about 20. Recently, the object has shown renewed gamma-ray activity (see ATel#17640). Our observations are carried out with CANICA a NIR camera on the 2.1m telescope at the Observatorio Astrofisico Guillermo Haro, which is operated by the National Institute for Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (INAOE, Mexico). We encourage further multiwavelength observations.
