AGILE detection of the extraordinary and prolonged gamma-ray activity from 3C 454.3
ATel #3043; E. Striani (Univ. Roma Tor Vergata and INFN Roma), S. Vercellone (INAF/IASF-Pa), F. Lucarelli, C. Pittori (ASDC), Tavani (INAF/IASF-Rm), A. Bulgarelli, F. Gianotti, M. Trifoglio (INAF/IASF-Bo), F. Verrecchia, P. Santolamazza (ASDC), I. Donnarumma, 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, 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. Vallazza (INFN Trieste), F. D'Ammando (INAF-IASF Palermo), E. Moretti (KTH Stockholm), 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. Giommi,(ASDC), L. Salotti, G. Valentini (ASI)
on 19 Nov 2010; 16:49 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Transients
Credential Certification: Marco Tavani (tavani@iasf-roma.inaf.it)
Subjects: Gamma Ray, >GeV, Request for Observations, AGN, Blazar, Quasar, Transient
Following the detection by AGILE (ATel #3034) and Fermi-LAT (ATel #3041) of the dramatic
gamma-ray flare from the Flat Spectrum Radio Quasar 3C 454.3 between November 16
and November 18, 2010, we report on its prolonged gamma-ray activity detected by AGILE.
For a 30-hour integration, from 2010-11-18 03:15 UT to 2010-11-19 09:15 UT, a preliminary
quicklook maximum likelihood analysis of the AGILE-GRID data yields an average flux
F = (58 +/- 6)e-6 ph/cm2/sec (E > 100 MeV), i.e., approximately the same peak flux
reported by Fermi-LAT on a 18-hour time scale (from 2011-11-16 12:00 UT to 2011-11-17
06:00 UT, ATel #3041).
Follow-up observations of 3C 454.3 are strongly encouraged.