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IGR J00291+5934 : IR counterpart detection and evidence of fading

ATel #363; D. Steeghs, C. Blake, J. S. Bloom, M. A. P. Torres, P. G. Jonker (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), D. Starr (Gemini, Hawaii)
on 9 Dec 2004; 19:33 UT
Credential Certification: Danny Steeghs (dsteeghs@cfa.harvard.edu)

Subjects: Infra-Red, Optical, Binary, Neutron Star, Transient, Pulsar

Referred to by ATel #: 1660

We report on the detection of IGR J00291+5934 (ATEL #352) at infrared wavelengths using the 1.3m robotic PAIRITEL telescope (http://pairitel.org) on Mt. Hopkins, AZ.

The IR counterpart for the accreting pulsar was detected on 2004 Dec 8 05:15 UT under cloudy conditions with PAIRITEL. Using nearby 2MASS comparison stars, we find preliminary magnitudes of J=16.8 +/- 0.1, H=16.8 +/- 0.3, K=16.1 +/- 0.2. Additional observations on Dec 9 01:35 and 03:20 UT suggest the source may have dropped in brightness in the IR between Dec 8 and Dec 9.

The source was also observed on 2004 Dec 9 02:46-03:02 UT with the FLWO 1.2m telescope on Mt. Hopkins as part of the CfA ToO program on X-ray Novae/transients. Using nearby GSC stars as reference, we find R=18.3 +/- 0.4 mag. The source appears to have faded significantly since the optical counterpart was announced on Dec 4 (ATEL #354), supporting the apparent decrease in brightness observed at IR wavelengths.

Weather permitting, we will continue to monitor the source at optical and IR wavelengths. Images are available at http://pairitel.org/IGRJ00291_5934

http://pairitel.org/IGRJ00291_5934