Sharp increase of radio flux in flaring blazar PKS 1424-41
ATel #4819; Pfesesani Nemenashi (HartRAO), Michael Gaylard (HartRAO), Roopesh Ojha (NASA/GSFC)
on 17 Feb 2013; 11:25 UT
Credential Certification: Roopesh Ojha (Roopesh.Ojha@gmail.com)
Subjects: Radio, AGN, Blazar, Quasar
The Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) 26m telescope
has detected a sharp increase in the flux density of PKS 1424-41 (also
known as 2FGL J1428.0-4206, Nolan et al. 2012, ApJS, 199, 31)
coinciding with the flaring activity reported at gamma-ray and optical
(ATel#4714), X-ray (ATel#4717, ATel#4770) and OIR (ATel#4775) bands.
At 8.4 GHz, its flux has risen from 6.1 Jy on 2013
Jan 08 to 7.0 Jy on 2013 Jan 28 and it remains at that level. One
sigma uncertainties were estimated to be +-0.05 Jy. Observations
were made with the receiver in dual-beam Dicke-switched mode.
The radiometry bandwidth was 450 MHz. The left- and right-circular
polarization outputs were reduced independently and summed.
VLBI permitting, a single on-source drift scan was
made daily within 1.1 hours of zenith meridian transit.
Pointing errors in Declination were checked by
additional scans through the north and south half-power points of the beam.
The average pointing correction was 1.7%. Data were
calibrated against Hydra A (3C218) on the flux scale of Ott et
al. 1994, A&A, 284, 331.
Monitoring is continuing and future activity of interest will be
reported using this and other platforms.
