Optical rebrightening of the blazar AO 0235+16 observed by the GASP
ATel #1785; M. Villata and C. M. Raiteri (INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino, Italy), V. M. Larionov, T. S. Konstantinova, E. N. Kopatskaya, and L. Larionova (Astronomical Institute, St.-Petersburg State University, Russia, and Pulkovo Observatory, Russia), W. P. Chen and E. Koptelova (Institute of Astronomy, National Central University, Taiwan), K. Nilsson and M. Pasanen (Tuorla Observatory, University of Turku, Finland), R. Ligustri (Circolo Astrofili Talmassons, Italy), M. Böttcher, P. Roustazadeh, and C. Diltz (Astrophysical Institute, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, OH, USA), for the GASP Collaboration
on 17 Oct 2008; 10:47 UT
Credential Certification: Claudia M. Raiteri (raiteri@oato.inaf.it)
Referred to by ATel #: 1849
With reference to ATels #1724, #1735, #1744, #1784 on the high radio-to-optical and gamma-ray activity of the blazar AO 0235+16, the GLAST-AGILE Support Program (GASP) of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) reports on the recent observation of a strong optical rebrightening of the source. After the optical peak of R ~ 14.2 reached on September 24.1, 2008, the brightness rapidly decreased by 2 mags in the following 10 days. Since then, the source has been quickly rebrightening toward the R ~ 14.5 level achieved on October 13.1 and maintained, with slight variations, on October 14 and 15. Further observations in the last two nights have been prevented by the close full Moon. The preliminary GASP light curve can be seen at http://www.oato.inaf.it/blazars/webt/gasp/lc/g0235r.png.
