Changing-type Seyfert NGC 2617 brightens again

ATel #9030; V. L. Oknyansky (Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow), N. A. Huseynov (Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory, Azerbaijan), V. M. Lipunov, E. S. Gorbovskoy, A. S. Kuznetsov, P. V. Balanutza, V. I. Metlov (Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow), C. M. Gaskell (UCSC)
on 7 May 2016; 10:44 UT
Credential Certification: Victor Oknyansky (oknyan@mail.ru)

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We report another brightening of NGC 2617, an AGN which underwent a dramatic change from a largely obscured Seyfert 1.8 to an unobscured Seyfert 1 between 2003 to 2013 (Shappee et al. 2013, ATel #5010; Shappee et al. 2014, ApJ, 788, 48). Spectroscopy and BVRIJHK photometry from January 2016 revealed that NGC 2617 was continuing to be in a high state (Oknyansky et al. 2016, ATel#9015). We report here a new brightening. CCD photometry with the 50-cm Maksutov AZT-5 telescope of SAI MSU Crimean Station on Apr.28 showed that NGC 2617 had a B magnitude of 14.84 in a 10-arcsecond aperture. This was 0.15 mag. brighter than on April 22. Unfiltered CCD photometry with a 15-arcsecond (8-pixel) aperture by the MASTER Global Robotic Network during May 1-5 confirms that NGC 2617 continues to be in a bright state and continues to vary. It is brighter than on Apr. 22 by about 0.1 mag. Light curves with new points can be seen here. (B is shown at the top and the unfiltered MASTER relative magnitudes at bottom – see ATel #9015 for details.)