VERITAS and MAGIC Report Flaring in Very High Energy Gamma Rays from M87
ATel #2542; Rene A Ong (UCLA) for the VERITAS Collaboration; Mose Mariotti (U. Padova/INFN-Padova) for the MAGIC Collaboration
on 9 Apr 2010; 22:11 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Request For Observations
Credential Certification: Rene Ong (rene@astro.ucla.edu)
Subjects: Gamma Ray, >GeV, Request for Observations, AGN
We report a strong flare in very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV)
gamma rays from the radio galaxy M87. M87 is being observed in a
coordinated effort in 2010 by the ground-based VHE gamma-ray
observatories VERITAS and MAGIC; this effort is a continuation of
the joint monitoring program which was initiated by VERITAS, MAGIC,
and HESS in 2008. An increasing VHE gamma-ray flux level has been
measured over the past several nights (starting on MJD 55291), reaching
a historic high state of about 20% of the flux of the Crab Nebula
during last night's observations (MJD 55295). This flare follows a
state of low average VHE flux from M87 over the past few months after
a flare was reported by MAGIC at the beginning of 2010 (ATel #2431).
Observations by the VHE gamma-ray observatories will continue
over the coming week. ToO observations with Chandra and the
VLBA have been triggered. Observations at other wavelengths are
encouraged.
VERITAS is an array of four atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, located
on Mt. Hopkins, Arizona, USA. MAGIC is a system of two atmospheric
Cherenkov telescopes, located on the Canary Island of La Palma,
Spain. Questions regarding the VERITAS observations should be directed
to Rene Ong (rene@astro.ucla.edu). Questions regarding the MAGIC
observations should be directed to Mosè Mariotti (mariotti@pd.infn.it).
