Optical observations of J1023+0038

ATel #6162; T. Guver (Istanbul Univ.), O. Erece (TUG), E. Kalemci, E. Gogus (Sabanci Univ.) K. Y. Eksi (ITU), H. Kirbiyik (TUG)
on 22 May 2014; 09:30 UT
Credential Certification: Tolga Guver (tolgaguver@sabanciuniv.edu)

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We report our optical observations of the transitional pulsar binary MSP J1023+0038 using 1.0 meter TUBITAK National Observatory T100 telescope.

Following the earlier NIR (ATEL # 6103) and other reports (ATel #5514, #5515, #5516, #5534, #5647, #5747, #5868) showing that the system is active, we obtained R and B band observations of the field on 2014 May 14 and 15. Using 300 s exposure times we are able to clearly detect the source in each filter.

Using one of the comparison stars given by Thorstensen & Armstrong (2005, AJ, 130, 759) with RA : 10 23. 43.31 DEC: +00 38 19.5 and its USNO A2.0 magnitudes (R = 14.2 and B = 15.7) the magnitude of the binary is calculated and given in the table below. The measurements indicate that the system is approximately 1 magnitude brighter in the B band compared to the values reported by Thorstensen & Armstrong (2005) and in agreement with earlier reports (ATEL #5514, #5514, #6103) shows that the source is still actively accreting.

We will continue to monitoring observations using a 60 cm telescope located in the same site in B, V, and I bands.

JD FILTER MAG Err

2456791.3132991898 B 17.156 ±0.047
2456791.3176763887 B 17.088 ±0.047
2456791.3220947916 B 17.081 ±0.054
2456791.3308368055 B 16.161 ±0.032
2456791.3352656248 R 16.075 ±0.029
2456791.3395303241 R 16.073 ±0.037
2456791.3444734951 R 16.16 ±0.030
2456791.3486561342 R 16.13 ±0.023
2456791.3529942129 R 16.159 ±0.025
2456791.3572840276 B 17.211 ±0.055
2456791.3617429398 B 17.253 ±0.053
2456791.3662849539 B 17.473 ±0.070
2456792.2389063658 R 16.094 ±0.041
2456792.2435784722 R 16.078 ±0.026
2456792.2478199075 R 16.119 ±0.020
2456792.2520310185 R 16.068 ±0.016

The errors in the table show only the formal uncertainties of the measurements.

We are grateful to TUBITAK National Observatory for prompt scheduling the observations and technical support. Based on observations obtained at the TUBITAK National Observatory Bakirlitepe Antalya, with the project 14AT100-612.