Probable Flaring Blazars from CRTS
ATel #2041; S. G. Djorgovski, A. J. Drake, A. A. Mahabal, M. Graham, R. Williams (Caltech), A. Myers (UIUC), E. Beshore, S. M. Larson, A. Boattini (UA/LPL), E. Christiansen (Gemini Obs.)
on 30 Apr 2009; 23:45 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Request For Observations
Credential Certification: S. George Djorgovski (george@astro.caltech.edu)
Subjects: Radio, Optical, Gamma Ray, Request for Observations
We have obtained spectra of several known or possible flaring blazars, selected from the CRTS survey as flaring in the visible light, using the DBSP spectrograph at the Palomar 200-inch Hale telescope, on UT 2009 April 28. These include two objects reported by Mahabal et al. (ATel #2034):
CSS090426:074240+544425 = 2EG J0744+5438: Featureless blue continuum
CSS090403:112403+233646 = CRATES radio source: Broad LyA, C IV emission, z ~ 2.2
We also obtained spectra of two additional possible flaring AGN, both shoeing featureless blue continua, and thus may be blazars undergoing flaring activity:
CSS090403:120715-023330: Listed in SDSS as a possible QSO
CSS090428:164146+121025: Not listed in NED; possibly a CV
Finally, we note two additional transients detected by CRTS:
CSS090428:150425+102939 was previously detected as CSS090228:150425+102939. It is a known radio QSO at z = 1.839; it has brightened by ~ 2.5 mag over the past year.
CSS090428:163942+122414 was first detected as CSS080131:163943+122414. It is not in NED, but is listed in SDSS as a possible QSO; it has brightened by > 3 mag over the past 12 days, and we suspect that it is a probable CV.
For additional information and links:
Further observations are requested.
Catalina VOEvent main page
