Transient Pulsar V0332+53 in Outburst
ATel #349; J Swank(NASA/GSFC), R. Remillard(MIT), E. Smith (NASA/GSFC)
on 29 Nov 2004; 14:13 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Transients
Credential Certification: Jean Swank (swank@milkyway.gsfc.nasa.gov)
Subjects: Optical, X-ray, Request for Observations, Binary, Transient, Pulsar
The 4.4 s pulsar V0332+53 in the 34.2 d binary with BQ Cam averaged 142
+/- 6 mCrab as seen with the RXTE ASM on MJD 53337 (Nov. 28). In 1-day ASM bins (production data), the first ASM detection
of the current outburst occured on MJD 53332, when the average flux (2-12 keV)
was 22 +/- 4 mCrab. A similar flux was seen the following day, but then
the source jumped to 68 +/- 5 mCrab on MJD 53334 (Nov. 25).
The ASM sees a hard spectrum (HR2 = 2.6), which is typical
for accretion-powered X-ray pulsars. A brief (6 minute) observation with the PCA on Nov. 27 found an
average 2-10 kev flux of 216 mCrab and strong variability. The ASM quicklook
rates suggest a possible leveling off, by comparison.
This outburst was predicted, based on optical brightening in January, 2004, by V. Goranskij and E.
Barsukova(ATEL # 245).
Additional, long PCA/HEXTE observations are planned.
