AGILE detection of a gamma-ray flare from the blazar PKS 1222+216
ATel #2348; F. Verrecchia (ASDC), E. Striani (Univ. Roma Tor Vergata and INFN Roma), M. Tavani (INAF/IASF-Rm), C. Pittori, P. Santolamazza, F. Lucarelli (ASDC), S. Vercellone (INAF/IASF-Pa), F. D'Ammando (Univ. Roma Tor Vergata and INAF/IASF-Rm), I. Donnarumma, V. Vittorini, E. Del Monte, Y. Evangelista, M. Feroci, F. Lazzarotto, L. Pacciani, P. Soffitta, E. Costa, I. Lapshov, M. Rapisarda, A. Argan, G. Piano, G. Pucella, S. Sabatini, A. Trois (INAF/IASF-Rm), A. Bulgarelli, F. Gianotti, M. Trifoglio, F. Fuschino, M. Galli, C. Labanti, M. Marisaldi, G. Di Cocco (INAF/IASF-Bo), A. Chen, A. Giuliani, S. Mereghetti, P. Caraveo, F. Perotti (INAF/IASF-Mi), A. Pellizzoni, M. Pilia (INAF/OA-Cagliari), G. Barbiellini, F. Longo, E. Moretti, E. Vallazza (INFN Trieste), A. Morselli, P. Picozza (INFN and Univ. Roma Tor Vergata), M. Prest (Universita` dell'Insubria), P. Lipari, D. Zanello (INFN and Univ. Roma Sapienza), P. W. Cattaneo, A. Rappoldi (INFN Pavia), S. Colafrancesco, P. Giommi (ASDC), L. Salotti (ASI)
on 15 Dec 2009; 14:33 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Request For Observations
Credential Certification: Carlotta Pittori (carlotta.pittori@asdc.asi.it)
Subjects: Gamma Ray, >GeV, Request for Observations, AGN, Quasar
AGILE is detecting a significant gamma-ray emission above 100 MeV from
a source consistent with the position of the blazar PKS 1222+216.
Integrating from 2009-12-13 06:00 UT to 2009-12-15 06:00 UT, a
quicklook maximum likelihood analysis of the AGILE-GRID data yields a
detection at a significance level larger than 5 sigma and a source flux
above 250e-8 ph/cm2/sec (E > 100 MeV).
An increased gamma-ray activity from a source consistent with the
blazar PKS 1222+216 was previously reported by Fermi/LAT (ATel #2021)
on April 16 2009, with a gamma-ray flux of (46+/-13)e-8 ph/cm2/sec (E > 100MeV),
ten times higher than the average 6 months value. This blazar was also
detected by EGRET (3EG J1224+2118), with an average flux of (14+/-2)e-8 ph/cm2/sec.
The AGILE/GRID detection was obtained while AGILE is observing the sky
in a spinning mode, surveying a large fraction of the sky every day.
Multifrequency observations of the blazar PKS 1222+216 are strongly encouraged.