Optical follow-up of S3 1227+25
ATel #7523; Roberto Nesci (INAF/IAPS)
on 17 May 2015; 22:22 UT
Credential Certification: Roberto Nesci (Roberto.Nesci@iaps.inaf.it)
Subjects: Optical, AGN, Blazar
Following the ATel #7516 by Mukherjee of a very high-energy flare of S3 1227+25, I performed an optical follow-up of the source in the V band with the 30cm telescope of the Foligno Observatory (IUA K56) on 2015-05-17.83 UT (JD 2,457,160). Photometry was made with IRAF/apphot using an aperture of 3". Comparison stars were taken from the UCAC4 catalog encompassing the source. S3 1227+25 was clearly detected at V=14.34 +/- 0.05, that is 0.78 mag brighter than the value reported in the UCAC4 (V=15.125). The public Catalina Sky Survey (CSDR2) light curve shows a strongly variable behavior ranging from V=16.7 to V=14.0: the last published point is on MJD 56463 (June 2013) at V=14.97 after a bright flare at V=14.1. The present status is therefore near the maximum recorded value for the source. The only previous similar flux level (V=14.0) was recorded several years ago around MJD 53470 (April 2005). Multiwavelength follow-up is encouraged.
