Near-Infra-Red Observations of XTE J1701-462 using SMARTS

ATel #712; D. Maitra, C. Bailyn (Yale)
on 26 Jan 2006; 19:42 UT
Credential Certification: Dipankar Maitra (maitra@astro.yale.edu)

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We have been observing the putative near-infra-red counterpart of the newly discovered X-ray transient XTE J1701-462 (ATEL #696, #702, #706, #710), in I, J, H and K-bands, using the SMARTS 1.3m telescope and ANDICAM instrument since Jan 21. As of Jan 26.36 UT, the magnitudes of the source were:

I=20.3(2)
J=16.8(1)
H=15.7(1)
K=15.0(1)

The lightcurves show significant variability (~0.8 mag in I-band and ~0.6 mag in H-band). The variability appears to be correlated among the bandpasses.

Although this source is outside the XRT error box, it nevertheless shows characteristics appropriate for the counterpart of this X-ray source, in particular reddened colors and day-to-day variability.

I, J, H, K lightcurve