Optical and near-IR brightening of the blazar PKS 1510-08 observed by the GASP
ATel #1988; M. Villata and C. M. Raiteri (INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino, Italy), V. M. Larionov, D. Gorshanov, T. S. Konstantinova, E. N. Kopatskaya, and L. V. 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), for the GASP Collaboration
on 25 Mar 2009; 14:19 UT
Credential Certification: Claudia M. Raiteri (raiteri@oato.inaf.it)
Subjects: Infra-Red, Optical, AGN, Quasar
Referred to by ATel #: 1990
With reference to ATels #1957, #1968, #1976 on the high gamma-ray activity of the blazar PKS 1510−08 detected by AGILE (see also ATels #1199, #1204, #1436, #1743, #1897, #1963), the GLAST-AGILE Support Program (GASP) of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) reports on the strong and continuous optical and near-IR brightening of the source observed in March 2009. After a steady level around R ~ 16.5 registered in the second half of February, the optical brightness started to increase on March 6, and continued almost monotonically until March 23, reaching R ~ 15.2. A very similar behaviour has been observed in the near-IR at Campo Imperatore: from J ~ 15.0 to 13.4 in the same period. Data from March 24 show the same level as the day before.
