Discovery of the NLS1 Mkn 335 in an X-ray high state
ATel #6468; Dirk Grupe (Morehead State University), Luigi Gallo (St. Mary's University), S. Komossa (MPIfR)
on 14 Sep 2014; 22:02 UT
Credential Certification: Dirk Grupe (dgrupe007@gmail.com)
Subjects: Ultra-Violet, X-ray, AGN
We report on the discovery of the highly X-ray variable Narrow-Line Seyfert 1
galaxy Mkn 335 (RA-2000=00h06m19.5s, Dec-2000=+20d12m11s) in a high
X-ray flux state.
For more than 7 years Mkn 335 has appeared to be in an extreme low X-ray
flux state (Grupe et al. 2007, ApJ, 668, L111; 2012, ApJS, 199, 28), but
on 2014 September 12 we discovered it at a high X-ray flux level not
seen since 2008. Swift observed Mkn 335 (target ID 35755)
on 2014 September 12 02:38 - 02:50 UT
(segment 252) and on 2014-September-13 04:23 - 04:39 UT (segment 251).
The observed fluxes in the 0.3-10 keV band are
(4.05+/-0.20)e-14 W/m2 and (4.35+/-0.21)e-14 W/m2,
respectively. During our previous observation on August 28 Mkn was at a level of
(1.70+/-0.13)e-14 W/m2 already indicating an increase in the X-ray flux. The
typical flux level over the last few year has been of the order of about 3e-15
W/m2.
In the UV W2 filter Mkn 335 appears to be brighter by 0.3 mag compared with
the previous observation on August 28. The apparent magnitude in the W2 filter
is currently 13.16mag
We encourage in particular optical observers to obtain optical spectra that will
allow to search for any changes in the permitted emission line fluxes and
ratios.
