Discovery of VHE Gamma-Ray Emission from the Fermi-LAT Source 1ES 0502+675
ATel #2301; Rene A. Ong (UCLA) for the VERITAS Collaboration
on 17 Nov 2009; 20:19 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Request For Observations
Credential Certification: Rene Ong (rene@astro.ucla.edu)
Subjects: Gamma Ray, >GeV, Request for Observations, AGN
The VERITAS Collaboration reports the discovery of very
high energy (VHE; E>100 GeV) gamma-ray emission from the
high-frequency-peaked BL Lac object 1ES 0502+675. The redshift
is z = 0.341 (E. Perlman, private communication, 2009),
which makes this the most distant BL Lac with a secure
redshift detected at VHE. This new VHE source was observed
with the VERITAS atmospheric-Cherenkov telescope array at
relatively low elevation angles for ~13 hours of good-quality
live time between 23 September 2009 and 16 November 2009 (UT).
The observations were motivated by the flux and spectrum
reported in the Fermi-LAT Bright Source List for 0FGL J0507.9+6739
(Abdo et al. 2009, ApJS 183, 46; Abdo et al. 2009, ApJ 700, 597).
Analysis of the VERITAS data yields a detection of
~250 gamma rays from 1ES 0502+675, corresponding to a
statistical significance of more than 6 standard deviations.
The VHE flux is ~4% percent of the Crab above 350 GeV.
VERITAS will continue to observe 1ES 0502+675 and
contemporaneous multi-wavelength observations of this
blazar are encouraged.
