Strong Optical Flaring after Super Gamma-Ray Flare detected in the Blazar 3C 454.3
ATel #2352; Alok C. Gupta, Haritma Gaur, Bindu Rani (ARIES, Nainital, India)
on 17 Dec 2009; 09:15 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Request For Observations
Credential Certification: Dr. Alok C. Gupta (acgupta30@gmail.com)
Subjects: Optical, Request for Observations, AGN, Quasar
Referred to by ATel #: 3047
Here we report our recent multi-band optical observations of the blazar
3C 454.3 with ARIES CCD camera mounted on the 1.04 meter telescope,
located in Nainital, India. In the source strong optical flaring is
noticed which show that the source may reach to its optical outburst
state in next several days.
The blazar 3C 454.3 has shown super Gamma-ray and strong X-ray flaring
activity on December 2 - 3, 2009. (ATel#2322, ATel#2326, ATel#2329,
ATel#2330 and ATel#2344) by AGILE/GRID, Swift/BAT, Swift/XRT, FERMI/LAT
and INTEGRAL/IBIS.
Recent optical observations show that the blazar varies from R = 14.1 mag
to R = 13.83 mag during December 1 - 3, 2009 (ATel#2325, ATel#2332).
Optical polarization in the source on UT 1.9 December 2009 was reported
6.0+-0.1% (ATel#2333) which has reached to 21.2+-2.1% on December 12, 2009
(ATel#2345).
Our observational result show that the blazar is in its pre-outburst state
and has tendency to increase its brightness (R = 14.1 mag on December 1 - 2,
2009 ATel#2325 and R = 13.76 on December 13, 2009 present work). Its historical
R band light curve (1966 to 2008) (Fig. 6, top panel of Raiteri et al. 2008,
A&A, 491, 755) shows that, in the most of the high-state, the source was in
general fainter than ~ 14.0 mag but it has reached to R ~ 12 - 13 mag in its
outburst state detected in 2005 and 2008.
Our preliminary analyis show the following values of B, V, R and I magnitudes
December 11, 2009 B = 14.90+-0.007, V = 14.32+-0.005, R = 13.78+-0.007, I = 13.07+-0.006
December 13, 2009 B = 14.90+-0.015, V = 14.30+-0.016, R = 13.76+-0.011, I = 13.08+-0.017
We have also observed the source on these days to search for R band optical
IDV. We have not yet analyzed the IDV data of the blazar.
