Swift/BAT reports the detection of a new galactic transient source Swift J1843.5-0343

ATel #3109; H. A. Krimm (CRESST/GSFC/USRA), S. D. Barthelmy (GSFC), W. Baumgartner (CRESST/GSFC/UMBC), J. Cummings (CRESST/GSFC/UMBC), E. Fenimore (LANL), N. Gehrels (GSFC), C. B. Markwardt (GSFC), D. Palmer (LANL), T. Sakamoto (CRESTT/GSFC/UMBC), G. Skinner (CRESST/GSFC/UMD), M. Stamatikos (OSU/GSFC), J. Tueller (GSFC), T. Ukwatta (GSFC/GWU)
on 14 Jan 2011; 22:31 UT
Credential Certification: Hans A. Krimm (Hans.Krimm@nasa.gov)

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The hard X-ray transient monitor of the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) has detected a previously unknown transient source. This source, Swift J1843.5-0343, was first detected at a daily average rate of 0.0087 +/- 0.0025 counts/sec/cm^2 (39 mCrab) in the 15-50 keV band on 2011 Jan 9 (MJD 55570). Since that time it remained at roughly the same brightness for five days before rising to 0.018 +/- 0.0038 counts/sec/cm^2 (80 mCrab) on 2011 Jan 14.

Observing constraints prevent an observation with the Swift X-Ray Telescope (XRT) until 2010 Feb 13. The BAT position was determined to be:

RA (J2000): 18 43 35.75 (280.899 deg)
DEC (J2000): -03 43 46.4 (-3.730 deg)
The estimated error is 3.0 arc minutes (radius, 90% confidence).
This corresponds to galactic coordinates, Glon = 28.719, Glat = +0.0414.

We note that the BAT position is consistent with an HII region and galactic star-forming region IRAS 18408-0348. A number of Chandra deep X-ray sources are found in this region.