Unusual CRTS Transient
ATel #1768; A. J. Drake, A. Mahabal, S. G. Djorgovski, R. Williams, M. J. Graham (Caltech); E. C. Beshore, S. M. Larson (LPL; M. Catelan (PUC); E. Christensen (Gemini Observatory); E. Christensen (Gemini Observatory); E. C. Beshore, S. M. Larson (LPL/UA)
on 7 Oct 2008; 23:51 UT
Credential Certification: Andrew J. Drake (ajd@cacr.caltech.edu)
Subjects: Optical, Request for Observations, Transient, Variables
Referred to by ATel #: 2010
We have detected an optical transient of unknown nature in Catalina 0.7m Schmidt telescope images
from 28 Sep 2008 UT. The object has the following parameters:
A possible uncataloged match to the transient is present in SDSS images with magnitude r~22.5. The transient is visible in Catalina images dating back to Sep 13th 2007 and is gradually brightening suggesting the transient may be distant, high amplitude (~5 mags), long period variable. However, the object is not seen in archival DSS1 and DSS2, 2MASS, or PQ images covering this location. Furthermore, follow-up photometry taken with the Palomar 60" telescope on Sep. 29.12 UT gives g=18.3, g-r=1.0, r-i=-0.5 and g=18.1, g-r=0.7, r-i=-0.32 on Oct 10.12. The r-i colours fall far from the stellar
locus and the colours expected for long period variables. Further follow-up is requested.
For finding charts and discovery images please see: http://voeventnet.cacr.caltech.edu/feeds/ATEL/CRTS.
CRTS optical transients are detected and published as VOEvents in real-time at http://voeventnet.org/feeds/Catalina.shtml and in RSS here http://voeventnet.caltech.edu/feeds/Catfeed.xml
