Gamma-ray activity of the blazar PKS 0402-362 detected by AGILE

ATel #3658; M. Cardillo (INAF/IASF-Rm and Univ. Tor Vergata), E. Striani (Univ. Roma Tor Vergata), F. Verrecchia (ASDC), M. Tavani (INAF/IASF-Rm, and Univ. Tor Vergata), G. Piano (INAF/IASF-Rm), F. Lucarelli (ASDC), S. Vercellone (INAF/IASF-Pa), I. Donnarumma (INAF/IASF-Rm), A. Bulgarelli, F. Gianotti, M. Trifoglio (INAF/IASF-Bo), A. Chen, A. Giuliani, S. Mereghetti, P. Caraveo, F. Perotti (INAF/IASF-Mi), F. D'Ammando (INAF/IASF-Pa), E. Del Monte, Y. Evangelista, M. Feroci, F. Lazzarotto, L. Pacciani, P. Soffitta, E. Costa, I. Lapshov, M. Rapisarda, A. Argan, G. Pucella, S. Sabatini, A. Trois, V. Vittorini (INAF/IASF-Rm), F. Fuschino, M. Galli, C. Labanti, M. Marisaldi, G. Di Cocco (INAF/IASF-Bo), A. Pellizzoni, M. Pilia (INAF/OA-Cagliari), G. Barbiellini, F. Longo, E. Moretti, E. Vallazza (INFN Trieste), A. Morselli, P. Picozza, (INFN and Univ. Roma Tor Vergata), M. Prest(Universita` dell'Insubria), P. Lipari, D. Zanello (INFN and Univ. Roma Sapienza), P. W. Cattaneo, A. Rappoldi (INFN Pavia), C. Pittori (ASDC), P. Santolamazza, P. Giommi (ASDC), L. Salotti, and G. Valentini (ASI)
on 24 Sep 2011; 14:45 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Transients
Credential Certification: Marco Tavani (tavani@iasf-roma.inaf.it)

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AGILE is currently detecting intense gamma-ray emission above 100 MeV from a source at Galactic coordinates (l,b) = (237.9, -48.6) (R.A.,Dec.=60.8,-36.2 deg, J2000) whose position is coincident with the blazar PKS 0402-362.

Following the gamma-ray activity reported by Fermi LAT (peak flux of (3.8 +/- 0.5) x10^-6 ph cm^-2 s^-1 on September 22, 2011; ATel #3655) (which is confirmed by our analysis), AGILE is currently detecting increased gamma-ray emission from PKS 0402-362. Integrating from 2011-09-23 00:00 UT until 2011-09-24 00:00 UT, a maximum likelihood analysis yields a detection with a flux F = (770+/-240) E-08 ph/cm2/s (E > 100 MeV). Integrating from 2011-09-22 04:30 until 2011-09-24 04:00, we obtain a detection at a significance above 7 sigma and flux F = (610+/-150) 10E-8 ph/cm2/s (E > 100 MeV).

We notice that both Fermi-LAT (ATel #2413) and AGILE (Atel #2484) reported in early 2010 gamma-ray flaring of the blazar PKS 0402-362 at flux levels lower (by a factor near 3) than the current value.

This measurement was obtained by AGILE observing a large portion of the sky in spinning mode.

Multifrequency observations of the blazar PKS 0402-362 region are strongly encouraged.