Fermi LAT detection of a GeV flare from a possible new extragalactic gamma-ray source FERMI J1350-1140
ATel #3788; E. Torresi (INAF-IASF Bologna) and F. D'Ammando (INAF-IRA Bologna) on behalf of the Fermi Large Area Telescope Collaboration
on 29 Nov 2011; 17:50 UT
Credential Certification: Filippo D'Ammando (filippo.dammando@iasf-roma.inaf.it)
Subjects: Gamma Ray, >GeV, AGN, Blazar, Quasar
The Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard the Fermi Gamma-ray satellite has observed a gamma-ray flare from a new gamma-ray source.
The preliminary best-fit location of the gamma-ray source (R.A.= 207.51 deg, Dec.= -11.68 deg, J2000) has a 95% containment radius of 0.15 deg (statistical errors only) for observations from 20 to 26 November 2011.
The source is not present in any Fermi LAT catalogs released up to now and there is no previously reported EGRET gamma-ray detection at this location. The nearest flat spectrum radio source is PKS 1346-112 (R.A.= 207.3810 deg, Dec.= -11.5483 deg, Beasley et al. 2002, ApJS, 141, 38; z=0.3407, Eracleous & Halpern 2004, ApJS, 150, 181) that lies at 0.18 deg.
Preliminary analysis indicates that the source brightened in gamma rays on November 25, 2011, with a daily flux (E > 100 MeV) of (1.2+/-0.2)x10^-6 photons cm^-2 s^-1 (statistical errors only). The average flux of the source estimated over the period 20-26 November is (0.39+/-0.04)x10^-6 photons cm^-2 s^-1.
Since Fermi operates in all-sky survey mode, gamma-ray monitoring of this source will continue. In consideration of the activity of this source and the uncertain association we strongly encourage multiwavelength observations. The Fermi LAT contact person for this source is E. Torresi (torresi@iasfbo.inaf.it).
The Fermi LAT is a pair conversion telescope designed to cover the energy band from 20 MeV to greater than 300 GeV. It is the product of an international collaboration between NASA and DOE in the U.S. and many scientific institutions across France, Italy, Japan and Sweden.