REM observations confirm a rapid outburst of the blazar 3C 273

ATel #2382; F. D'Ammando (Univ. Tor Vergata, INAF-IASF Roma), D. Fugazza (INAF-OA Brera), S. Covino (INAF-OA Brera), E. Molinari (INAF-OA Brera), I. Donnarumma (INAF-IASF Roma), P. Giommi (ASI/ASDC), A. Giuliani (INAF-IASF Milano), F. Longo (INFN Trieste), E. Pian (SNS Pisa, INAF-OA Trieste), C. M. Raiteri (INAF/OA Torino), P. Romano (INAF-IASF Palermo), M. Tavani (INAF-IASF Roma), A. Treves (Univ. dell'Insubria), S. Vercellone (INAF-IASF Palermo), M. Villata (INAF/OA Torino)
on 12 Jan 2010; 11:08 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Request For Observations
Credential Certification: Filippo D'Ammando (filippo.dammando@iasf-roma.inaf.it)

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The AGILE satellite detected a significant gamma-ray flare from 3C 273 between 2010-01-06 16:50 UT and 2010-01-08 07:50 UT (ATel #2376). The robotic 60-cm REM telescope located at La Silla (Chile), following a periodical monitoring program, observed automatically the field of the blazar 3C 273 in the first part of January 2010. Optical images were obtained using ROSS on 2010 January 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10 in the V, R, and I bands. Infrared observations were performed in the J and H bands using REMIR on 2010 January 1, 6, 7, 9 and 10. Preliminary results are reported in the following table.

Date-Obs	V_mag	R_mag	I_mag	J_mag	H_mag
01/01/10	12.79 +/- 0.04	12.56 +/- 0.03	12.14 +/- 0.03	11.58 +/- 0.02	10.80 +/- 0.02
06/01/10	12.87 +/- 0.08	12.73 +/- 0.05	12.11 +/- 0.02	11.53 +/- 0.03	10.66 +/- 0.02
07/01/10	12.46 +/- 0.04	12.26 +/- 0.03	11.63 +/- 0.03	10.92 +/- 0.02	10.13 +/- 0.02
08/01/10	12.83 +/- 0.04	12.60 +/- 0.02	12.13 +/- 0.02	-	-
09/01/10	12.77 +/- 0.04	12.55 +/- 0.03	12.10 +/- 0.03	11.51 +/- 0.02	10.76 +/- 0.02
10/01/10	12.78 +/- 0.03	12.55 +/- 0.03	12.08 +/- 0.03	11.52 +/- 0.02	10.75 +/- 0.02

REM observations confirm a rapid increase in the source flux of about 0.4 magnitudes in V and R bands, and 0.5 magnitudes in I, J and H bands in 2010 January 7 with respect to the observations of January 6, with a decrease in January 8-9 at the same level observed in January 1.

We plan to keep monitoring the source with REM until the end of January 2010.