Fermi-LAT detection of a gamma-ray flare from the high-z blazar PKS 2149-306
ATel #4706; F. D'Ammando (Univ. Perugia, INFN) and M. Orienti (INAF-IRA Bologna, Univ. Bologna) on behalf of the Fermi Large Area Telescope Collaboration
on 6 Jan 2013; 08:09 UT
Credential Certification: Filippo D'Ammando (filippo.dammando@fisica.unipg.it)
Subjects: Gamma Ray, >GeV, Request for Observations, AGN, Black Hole, Blazar
The Large Area Telescope (LAT), one of the two instruments on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, has observed an increasing gamma-ray flux from a source positionally consistent with PKS 2149-306 (also known as 2FGL J2151.5-3021, Nolan et al. 2012, ApJS, 199, 31; R.A.= 21h51m55.5239s, Dec.= -30d27m53.697s, J2000.0, Johnston et al. 1995, AJ, 110, 880), a flat spectrum radio quasar at redshift z = 2.345 (Wilkes 1986, MNRAS, 218, 331).
Preliminary analysis indicates that on 2013 January 4 the source was in a flaring state, with a daily gamma-ray flux (E > 100 MeV) of (1.5 +/- 0.2) x 10^-6 ph cm^-2 s^-1 (statistical uncertainty only), which represents an increase of a factor of 23 with respect to the average source flux reported in the second Fermi LAT catalog (Nolan et al. 2012, ApJS, 199, 31).
Since Fermi operates in an all-sky scanning mode, regular monitoring of this source will continue. In consideration of the ongoing activity of this source we strongly encourage multiwavelength observations. The Fermi LAT contact person for this source is Filippo D'Ammando (filippo.dammando@fisica.unipg.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.
