Fermi-LAT detection of a GeV flare from the distant blazar 4C +01.02 (PKS 0106+01)
ATel #6844; Stefano Ciprini (ASI Science Data Center and INAF Observatory of Rome, Italy), on behalf of the Fermi Large Area Telescope Collaboration
on 21 Dec 2014; 21:56 UT
Credential Certification: Stefano Ciprini (stefano.ciprini@asdc.asi.it)
Subjects: Gamma Ray, >GeV, Request for Observations, AGN, Blazar, Quasar
The Large Area Telescope (LAT), one of the two instruments on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, has observed increasing gamma-ray flux from a source positionally consistent with the distant flat spectrum radio quasar 4C +01.02, also known as PKS 0106+01 and OC 12 (R.A.: 17.1615 deg, Dec: 1.58342 deg, J2000.0, Johnston et al. 1995, AJ, 110, 880) with redshift z=2.099 (Hewett et al. 1995, AJ, 109, 1498).
Preliminary analysis indicates that on 2014 December 20, 4C +01.02 (PKS 0106+01) was in a high state with a daily averaged gamma-ray flux (E>100 MeV) of (1.0+/-0.3) X 10^-6 photons cm^-2 s^-1 (statistical uncertainty only), about 6 times greater than the average flux reported in the second Fermi-LAT catalog (2FGL J0108.6+0135, Nolan et al. 2012, ApJS 199, 31). This blazar has been observed by the LAT at a similar flux level for the past three days; therefore this represents renewed GeV flaring activity. A previous outburst was announced in 2013 September (ATel#5394).
Because Fermi operates in an all-sky scanning mode, regular gamma-ray monitoring of this source will continue. In consideration of the ongoing activity of this source, we encourage multiwavelength observations. For this source the Fermi LAT contact person is S. Buson (buson@pd.infn.it)
The Fermi LAT is a pair conversion telescope designed to cover the energy band from 20 MeV to greater than 300 GeV. It is the product of an international collaboration between NASA and DOE in the U.S. and many scientific institutions across France, Italy, Japan and Sweden.
