SMARTS optical and IR observations of PKS 1424-41
ATel #3337; E. Bonning, C. Bailyn, M. Buxton, R. Chatterjee, P. Coppi, J. Isler, C. M. Urry (Yale), L. Maraschi (INAF/Brera), G. Fossati (Rice)
on 10 May 2011; 21:59 UT
Credential Certification: Erin Bonning (erin.bonning@yale.edu)
Subjects: Infra-Red, Optical, Black Hole, Blazar
Recently, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope reported a GeV flare from a source positionally consistent with PKS 1424-41 (ATel #3329). As part of our blazar monitoring campaign, we observe blazars reported to be in a high flux state by Fermi. PKS 1424-41 was observed with the SMARTS 1.3m and ANDICAM instrument on UTC 10 May 2011 (JD 2455691.72824) in photometric conditions. We report an R-band magnitude of 15.02 and J-band magnitude of 13.30. Typical errors are 0.02 mag in R and 0.05 mag in J. PKS 1424-41 was also observed on UTC 9 May 2011 (JD 2455690.69388) in non-photometric conditions. Differential photometry indicates that the source has brightened by about 0.2 mag in R and J bands between 9 May and 10 May 2011.
