Discovery of Very High Energy Gamma-Ray Emission from NGC1275 by MAGIC
ATel #2916; Mose Mariotti (INFN and Univ. of Padova) on behalf of the MAGIC Collaboration
on 10 Oct 2010; 15:00 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Request For Observations
Credential Certification: Mosè Mariotti (mariotti@pd.infn.it)
Subjects: Gamma Ray, >GeV, TeV, VHE, AGN, Blazar, Cosmic Rays
Referred to by ATel #: 4753
The MAGIC Collaboration reports the detection of Very High Energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission from a position consistent with NGC 1275, the central radio galaxy of the Perseus cluster of galaxies.
The MAGIC observations were carried out in stereoscopic mode starting from August 2010, accumulating 14 h of good quality data.
Preliminary analysis using the standard analysis chain with a energy threshold of 100 GeV, shows an excess of 280 gamma-rays, corresponding to a statistical significance of 5.2 standard deviations. The observed flux is estimated to be ~3% of the Crab nebula flux above 100 GeV, and it decreases rapidly with energy. No signal is detected above 400 GeV.
The MAGIC VHE detection happened during a period of increased high gamma-ray activity of NGC 1275, as reported in July 2010 by the Fermi/LAT collaboration, ATel#2737, and continuing until October, according to an analysis of public Fermi/LAT data.
MAGIC will continue observations of NGC1275. Observations at other wavelengths are encouraged.
MAGIC consists of two 17m diameter imaging air Cherenkov telescopes located on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain.
Questions regarding the MAGIC observations should be directed to Mose Mariotti (mose.mariotti@pd.infn.it)
