Exceptional activity of the blazar CTA 102 (2230+114) observed by the GASP-WEBT
ATel #9821; P. Calcidese, A. Carbognani (Osservatorio Astronomico della Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta, Italy), C. M. Raiteri, M. Villata, M. I. Carnerero (INAF, Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Italy), J. A. Acosta-Pulido, C. Protasio, G. Rodriguez-Coira (Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, Spain and Departamento de Astrofisica, Universidad de La Laguna, Spain), for the GASP-WEBT Collaboration
on 2 Dec 2016; 16:54 UT
Credential Certification: Claudia M. Raiteri (raiteri@oato.inaf.it)
Subjects: Infra-Red, Optical, AGN, Blazar, Quasar
We report on optical and near-infrared observations of the blazar CTA 102 performed in the framework of the GLAST-AGILE Support Program (GASP) of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT).
This source is now experiencing an extraordinary outburst, as stated by Atels #9732, #9743, #9756, #9776, #9788, #9801, #9808.
Observations with the 81 cm telescope of the Osservatorio Astronomico della Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta (Italy) detected CTA 102 at R=11.42+-0.02 on JD~2457724.25 (2016 December 1.75 UT). The source showed noticeable intranight variation, reaching R=11.82+-0.02 at JD~2457724.38.
Previous observations carried out with the 1.5 m Carlos Sanchez Telescope at the Teide Observatory (Spain) showed J=11.53, H=10.74, K=9.82 on November 24.9 UT;
J=11.78, H=11.00, K=10.06 on November 26.9 UT;
J=11.71, H=10.93, K=10.09 on November 27.8 UT (typical error of 0.03 mag).
CTA 102 is one of the 28 blazars for which the GASP-WEBT performs a long-term, multiwavelength monitoring, so observations of this objects are ongoing.
