X-ray Outburst of the blazar, 3C454.3
ATel #484; R. Remillard (MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research) for the RXTE ASM team at MIT and NASA/GSFC
on 11 May 2005; 15:21 UT
Credential Certification: Ron Remillard (rr@space.mit.edu)
Referred to by ATel #: 488
The X-ray light curve of the blazar 3C454.3 was processed from
observations with the RXTE All-Sky Monitor, following the report
by Balonek (VSNET Alert) of an optical outburst.
An X-ray detection is evident when the results are examined
on timescales of one week or longer.
Over the recent time interval, MJD 53490.0 to 53501.5,
the average flux (2-12 keV) is 10.8 (1.7) mCrab, implying that
3C454.3 is currently one of the brightest AGN in the X-ray sky.
During the previous 10 days (MJD 53480.0 to 53490.0), the flux
is 0.4 (1.9) mCrab. We assess the outburst spectrum
to be moderately hard, i.e. harder than the spectrum
of a typical Galactic transient, yet softer than a classical
X-ray pulsar. Multifrequency observations are needed.
