No evidence for enhanced optical emission from BL Lacertae
ATel #4568; R. Bachev, B. Spassov, S. Ibryamov, S. Boeva, K. Stoyanov, E. Semkov, S. Peneva, A. Strigachev (IA-NAO, BAS, Bulgaria)
on 12 Nov 2012; 12:18 UT
Credential Certification: Rumen Bachev (bachevr@astro.bas.bg)
Subjects: Optical, Blazar
Referred to by ATel #: 4600
The blazar BL Lacertae showed recently historically high brightness in X-ray, FIR and radio bands (ATel #4557, #4565). We monitor this object on a regular basis in the optical and find no evidence for enhanced optical emission in October - November, 2012, when significant brightening was reported for the other bands. In fact, during this period BL Lacertae remained in a rather low optical state. We measured (with a typical photometric error of about 0.03) R-band magnitudes of 14.41 (Oct. 30.84 UT), 14.30 (Nov. 08.95), 14.09 (Nov. 09.76) and 14.07 (Nov. 10.72), while the maximum R-band magnitude of this object is around 12. These observations were carried out with the Belogradchik and Rozhen 60cm telescopes, Bulgaria. Further observations are encouraged.
