Optical flaring of a probable blazar seen in the Catalina Sky Survey

ATel #1890; A. A. Mahabal, A. J. Drake, S. G. Djorgovski, M. Graham, R. Williams (Caltech), E. Beshore, S. M. Larson, A. Boattini (UA/LPL), E. Christiansen (Gemin Obs.)
on 5 Jan 2009; 01:31 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 over 2 mags (V ~ 17.5) of a previously known radio source (CRATES J112402+233643; 709 mJy at 6 cm; Spectral Index 1 of 0.227) in the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) on 3 Jan 2009 UT. The source is also detected in FIRST, NVSS etc. The SDSS object ID is 587742189362741377 and the mags are u=20.69, g=20.40, r=20.13, i=19.77, z=19.57.

CSS090102:112403+233646

2009-01-02 UT 11:08:48

11:24:02.69

23:36:46.2

901021230574116817

The discovery data, CSS lightcurve and finding chart are posted at the VOEventNet webpage: http://voeventnet.caltech.edu/feeds/ATEL/CRTS/901021230574116817.atel.html We encourage multicolor/multiepoch imaging and spectroscopy.