[Vsnet-alert 8405] (fwd) 3C454.3 rebrightening

[Taichi Kato]

   Forwarded message from the WEBT.  3C454.3 appears to have rebrightened.

Subject: optical outburst of 3C454.3
Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 05:41:59 -0400
From: "Tom Balonek" <Tbalonek at mail.colgate.edu>

It appears that 3C454.3 is brightening in optical.  The skies amazingly
cleared (but in bright twilight) this morning (May 18, 8.8 UT) and I was
able to get five images in clear but very bright skies.  In all five
images the quasar is easily brighter than star H (R=13.09).  A quick
reduction of one image gives R about 12.5, but error is 0.25.  Don't
trust this measurement at this time (preliminary).  But, the object has
clearly brightened by several tenths of a magnitude.  Whew!

As always, see
http://astronomy.colgate.edu/astronomy/quasaroptical.html
    3C454.3: 2005 outburst information

Is anyone else getting optical measurements that they would be willing
to share -- letting me post the measurements on the above web site?  It
would be helpful for those who are undertaking multiwavelength studies
-- they may need supporting data to convince the schedulers to continue
monitoring this object.

    Tom

Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 12:27:11 +0200
From: Massimo Villata <villata at to.astro.it>
Subject: Re: [Fwd: optical outburst of 3C454.3]

3C 454 re-brightening? See 
http://astronomy.colgate.edu/~tbalonek/optical/3C454.3.050518d.tiff

massimo