Blazar PKS 0716+71 in very bright active state
AAVSO Special Notice #396January 19, 2015Blazar PKS 0716+71 in very bright active state
The blazar PKS 0716+71 == S5 0716+71 is currently in avery bright active state, at a visual magnitude of 12.1 as observed by G.Poyner on2015 January 19.212 (JD 2457041.712).The object was first noted in outburst byArkharov et al. (ATel #6942, 17 January 2015), who noted the object at anR-band magnitude of 12.4 on January 14, and brighter still at R=11.8 on January16.The object was likely fainter than13.5 through at least 2015 January 13.9 (JD 2457036.4063), with a visualfainter than of <13.5 reported by A. Glez-Herrera (Ferrol, Spain).The object was then observed in brightoutburst by Poyner, at a visual magnitude of 13.1 at 2015 January 16.965(2457039.465).Several visualobservations since then have put this blazar at or beyond its historical range,including the following: 12.4, JD 2457040.2778 and 2457040.4097 (K. Wenzel,Grossostheim, Germany); 12.2, JD 2457040.4736 (J. O'Neill, Massachusetts,United States); 12.4, JD 2457041.2674 (Wenzel); 12.3, JD2457041.3819 (Wenzel); and the 12.1 estimate by Poynernoted above.Continued monitoring of PKS 0716+71 during this outburstis encouraged.
PKS 0716+71 is located at the following (J2000)coordinates:
RA:07 21 53.44 , Dec: +71 20 36.4
Both visual and filtered instrumental observations willbe useful.The object is bright enoughfor spectroscopic observations, e.g. the report by R. Leadbeater on the ARASwebsite: http://www.spectro-aras.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1050
Blazar optical spectra are typically featureless, as theyare dominated by continuum emission from the relativistic jets responsible forthe optical light.
Please promptly report all observations to the AAVSO viaWebObs using the name "PKS 0716+71".
This AAVSO Special Notice was prepared by M. Templeton.
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