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Possible detection of the initial phase of Aql X-1 outburst

ATel #5114; A. Meshcheryakov (1), I. Khamitov (2, 3), M. Eselevich(4), M. Pavlinsky (1), R. Burenin (1), I. Bikmaev (3, 5), S. Melnikov (3, 5), A. Galeev(3, 5), H. Kirbiyik (2), K. Uluc (2), S. Kaynar (2), O. Okuyan (2) (1 - Space Research Institute (IKI), Moscow, Russia; 2 - TUBITAK National Observatory, Antalya, Turkey; 3 - Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia; 4 - Institute of Solar-Terrestrial physics, Irkutsk, Russia; 5 - Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan, Kazan, Russia)
on 7 Jun 2013; 12:59 UT
Credential Certification: Alexander Meshcheryakov (mesch@iki.rssi.ru)

Subjects: Optical, X-ray, Binary, Neutron Star, Transient

Referred to by ATel #: 5117, 5129, 5136, 5148, 5158

During the campaign of optical monitoring of Soft X-ray Transient Aql X-1 performed at 1.5-m Russian-Turkish telescope (TUBITAK National Observatory, Antalya, Turkey) and 1.6-m AZT33-IK telescope (Sayan Solar Observatory, Russia), 3-5 June 2013 we detected a continuous brightening of the optical counterpart in g,r,i,z bands over about magnitude relative to its quiescent state brightness (e.g. from 20mag to 19mag over 3 days in g-band, from 18mag to 17.4mag in i-band).

The RTT150/TFOSC optical light curves can be found at http://hea.iki.rssi.ru/~mesch/aqlx-1/aql_x1_lc_5Jun2013.jpg

It is highly possible that the brightening of X-ray Nova Aql X-1 optical counterpart is a precursor of the expected X-ray outburst, which will possibly start in a few days. Multiwavelength observations (especially in UV,IR and X-ray bands) of Aql X-1 are highly encouraged.