AGILE detects enhanced gamma-ray emission from the blazar PKS 0402-362
ATel #2484; E. Striani (Univ. Roma Tor Vergata), F. Verrecchia, C. Pittori, F. Lucarelli (ASDC), S. Vercellone (INAF/IASF-Pa), M. Tavani (INAF/IASF-Rm), A. Bulgarelli (INAF/IASF-Bo), F. D'Ammando (INAF/IASF-Pa), I. Donnarumma (INAF/IASF-Rm), 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), F. Fuschino, M. Galli, F. Gianotti, C. Labanti, M. Marisaldi, M. Trifoglio, 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), P. Santolamazza, S. Colafrancesco, P. Giommi (ASDC), L. Salotti (ASI)
on 16 Mar 2010; 20:17 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 has been detecting during the last 3 days an increasing gamma-ray flux above 100 MeV from a source positionally consistent with the blazar PKS 0402-362 (RA: 04h02m02.5994s, Dec: -36d13m11.947s). Integrating from 2010-03-13 12:00 UT to 2010-03-16 15:00 UT, a quick-look maximum likelihood analysis yields a detection at a significance level of about 5 sigma and a source flux of about F=(2.2 +/- 0.8) x 10-6 ph/cm2/sec (E > 100 MeV).
The detection of a previous GeV flare from PKS 0402-362 was reported by Fermi/LAT in ATel #2413 on February 2, 2010.
The AGILE-GRID detection was obtained while AGILE is observing in spinning mode, surveying a large fraction of the sky each day. Multifrequency observations of the source are strongly encouraged.
