Fermi-LAT detection of renewed gamma-ray activity from the CSS 3C 138
ATel #17681; S. Rani (Michigan Technological University), T. Lewis (Michigan Technological University), G. La Mura (INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Cagliari), on behalf of the Fermi Large Area Telescope Collaboration
on 14 Feb 2026; 21:27 UT
Credential Certification: Giovanni La Mura (giovanni.lamura@inaf.it)
Subjects: Gamma Ray, >GeV, AGN, Quasar
The Large Area Telescope (LAT), one of the two instruments on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, has observed renewed gamma-ray activity from a source positionally consistent with the compact steep spectrum quasar 3C 138, also known as 4FGL J0521.2+1637 (Abdollahi et al. 2022, ApJS, 260, 53), with coordinates R.A. = 80.29119 deg, Dec. = +16.63946 deg (J2000, J2000; Truebenbach & Darling, 2017, ApJS, 233, 3) and redshift z = 0.759 (Lynds et al. 1966, ApJ, 144, 1244).
Preliminary analysis indicates that this source was in an elevated gamma-ray emission state on February 11, 2026, with a daily averaged gamma-ray flux (E>100MeV) of (0.5 +/- 0.2) e-6 photons cm^-2 s^-1 (statistical uncertainty only). This corresponds to a flux increase of a factor of more than 100 relative to the average flux reported in the fourth data release of the fourth Fermi-LAT catalog (4FGL-DR4, Ballet et al. 2023, arXiv:2307.12546). The corresponding photon index is 2.0 +/- 0.2, consistent within uncertainties with the 4FGL-DR4 value of 2.2+/- 0.1. The Fermi-LAT Collaboration has previously reported flaring activity from this source in ATels #17461, #17180, #17107, and #16845.
Because Fermi normally operates in an all-sky scanning mode, regular gamma-ray monitoring of this source will continue. A preliminary light curve for 3C 138 can be accessed via the Fermi-LAT Light-Curve Repository at 4FGL J0521.2+1637. We encourage multifrequency observations of this source. For this source, the Fermi-LAT contact persons are Ettore Bronzini (ettore.bronzini@inaf.it) and C.C. Cheung (chi.c.cheung2.civ@us.navy.mil).
The Fermi-LAT is a pair conversion telescope designed to cover the energy band from 20 MeV to greater than 300 GeV. It is the product of an international collaboration between NASA and DOE in the U.S. and many scientific institutions across France, Italy, Japan and Sweden.
