Optical flaring of a radio source seen in the Catalina Sky Survey

ATel #1884; A. A. Mahabal, A. J. Drake, S. G. Djorgovski, M. Graham, R. Williams (Caltech), G. Herczeg (MPE), E. Beshore, S. M. Larson, A. Boattini (UA/LPL), E. Christiansen (Gemin Obs.)
on 31 Dec 2008; 19:08 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Request For Observations
Credential Certification: Ashish Mahabal (aam@astro.caltech.edu)

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We have detected the optical brightening by ~3 mags (V ~ 16.8) of a previously known radio source (~ flat-spectrum, unknown redshift) in the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) on 29 Dec 2008 UT.

CSS081229:104032+061721

2008-12-29 UT 10:22:05

10:40:31.61

06:17:21.8

812291070574110368

The discovery data and finding chart are posted at the CRTS VOEventNet webpage: http://voeventnet.caltech.edu/feeds/ATEL/CRTS/812291070574110368.atel.html (SDSS object ID 587732701792108700).

P60 colors from 30 Dec 2008 UT are consistent with a QSO at z < 2. Preliminary analysis of a P200 spectrum shows a featureless continuum, consistent with a blazar. Further analysis of the spectrum is in progress.