Optical-IR Re-Brightening of the Blazar PKS 0208-512
ATel #3591; Ritaban Chatterjee, C. D. Bailyn, E. W. Bonning, M. Buxton, P. Coppi, J. Isler, C. M. Urry (Yale), G. Fossati (Rice), L. Maraschi (INAF/Brera)
on 25 Aug 2011; 21:38 UT
Credential Certification: Ritaban Chatterjee (rito.chat@gmail.com)
Subjects: Infra-Red, Optical, AGN, Black Hole, Blazar, Quasar
We are conducting a long-term monitoring campaign of the optical and near-IR emission of gamma-ray bright blazars using the SMARTS 1.3m telescope and ANDICAM instrument. We report a continued increase in optical and IR brightness of the blazar PKS 0208-512 during the last 3 weeks at BVRJK bands. Observations carried out on UTC 2011 August 3 (JD 2455777.83480) show R=17.59 and J=15.95 and those on UTC 2011 August 23 (JD 2455797.84450) show R=15.62 and J=13.76. Typical errors are 0.02 mag in R and 0.05 mag in J.
This source underwent an optical-IR flare during 2011 June-July, reaching a maximum of R=14.66 around 2011 June 22. Near the maximum it was detected in gamma-rays by Fermi-LAT on several days. After that flare the flux decreased to a minimum on August 3 following which it started to brighten again. It has not been detected by Fermi-LAT in its daily monitoring during the re-brightening.
