Spectroscopic Identification of PMN J1717-5155 (= Fermi J1717-5156) as a Blazar
ATel #4777; L. Chomiuk (Michigan State University/National Radio Astronomy Observatory), J. Strader (Michigan State University), H. Landt (Durham University), C. C. Cheung (Naval Research Laboratory)
on 1 Feb 2013; 17:43 UT
Credential Certification: Teddy Cheung (ccheung@milkyway.gsfc.nasa.gov)
Subjects: Radio, Optical, Gamma Ray, AGN, Blazar
Referred to by ATel #: 15519
PMN J1717-5155 is a bright flat-spectrum radio source positionally consistent with the flaring gamma-ray source Fermi J1717-5156 discovered in April 2012 (ATel #4023). We measured its spectrum on 24 January 2013 with the Goodman High Throughput Spectrograph on the SOAR 4.1m telescope, with wavelength coverage of 3000-7000 A. We found broad emission lines associated with C III] (lambda 1909) and Mg II (lambda 2798) at a redshift, z=1.158. This identifies PMN J1717-5155 as a flat-spectrum radio quasar and confirms the blazar nature of the flaring gamma-ray source as previously indicated by its non-thermal X-ray, optical/IR, and radio continuum properties (ATel #4029, #4032, #4042, #4045, #4048).
