AGILE detection of a gamma-ray flare from the blazar 3C 273

ATel #2376; L. Pacciani (INAF/IASF-Rm), F. Verrecchia (ASDC), I. Donnarumma (INAF/IASF-Rm), C. Pittori (ASDC), M. Tavani (INAF/IASF-Rm), A. Bulgarelli, F. Gianotti, M. Trifoglio (INAF/IASF-Bo),E. Striani (Univ. Roma Tor Vergata and INFN Roma), S. Vercellone (INAF/IASF-Pa), F. D'Ammando (Univ. Roma Tor Vergata and INAF/IASF-Rm), E. Del Monte, Y. Evangelista, M. Feroci, F. Lazzarotto, P. Soffitta, E. Costa, I. Lapshov, M. Rapisarda, A. Argan, G. Piano, G. Pucella, S. Sabatini, A. Trois, V. Vittorini (INAF/IASF-Rm), 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. RomaTor Vergata), M. Prest (Universita` dell'Insubria), P. Lipari, D. Zanello (INFN and Univ. Roma Sapienza), P. W. Cattaneo, A. Rappoldi (INFN Pavia), F. Lucarelli, P. Santolamazza, S. Colafrancesco, P. Giommi (ASDC), L. Salotti (ASI)
on 8 Jan 2010; 19:02 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Request For Observations
Credential Certification: Donnarumma Immacolata (immacolata.donnarumma@iasf-roma.inaf.it)

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AGILE is detecting significant gamma-ray emission above 100 MeV from a source positionally consistent with the the blazar 3C 273.

Integrating from 2010-01-06 16:50 UT to 2010-01-08 07:50 UT, a quicklook maximum likelihood analysis yields a detection of 3C 273 at a significance level of about 5.0 sigma, and flux F = (450 +/- 140)e-8 ph/cm2/sec (E > 100 MeV),

The most recent gamma-ray detection of significant emission from 3C 273 was reported by Fermi/LAT (ATel#2200) in September 2009, at a level comparable with our detection.

The AGILE detection was obtained with the satellite observing in a spinning mode, surveying a large fraction of the sky every day.

Multifrequency observations of 3C 273 are encouraged.