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NGC 6440 active again

ATel #2180; Craig O. Heinke (U. of Alberta), Diego Altamirano (Univ. of Amsterdam), Craig Markwardt (NASA/GSFC)
on 30 Aug 2009; 02:10 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Request For Observations
Credential Certification: Craig Heinke (cheinke@virginia.edu)

Subjects: Radio, Optical, X-ray, Request for Observations, Binary, Globular Cluster, Neutron Star, Transient, Variables

Referred to by ATel #: 2182, 10821

The RXTE/PCA Galactic Bulge monitoring scans (http://lheawww.gsfc.nasa.gov/users/craigm/galscan/html/NGC_6440.html) show significant activity from the globular cluster NGC 6440 at 6:49 UT on Aug. 29, with a count rate ~12 sigma above background, suggesting Lx~3e36 ergs/s. The previous outburst, starting July 28, was observed to be from a new transient LMXB in NGC 6440 (Atel #2139). As the previous outburst lasted only 2-4 days, we encourage rapid observations with radio and optical telescopes to search for counterparts. RXTE and Swift observations are underway; we thank the RXTE and Swift teams for their rapid responses.