Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 3893: V0332+53
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Circular No. 3893
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Postal Address: Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
TWX 710-320-6842 ASTROGRAM CAM Telephone 617-864-5758
V0332+53
J. Terrell and W. C. Priedhorsky, Los Alamos National Laboratory,
inform us that the TENMA x-ray transient mentioned on IAUC
3891 is apparently identical with V0332+53 (Terrell et al. 1982,
B.A.A.S. 14, 619), for which their analysis of the 1973 data gives
the position R.A. = 3h32m, Decl. = +53deg0 (equinox 1950.0, uncertainty
0.2 deg). The hard x-ray source was first observed from the satellite
Vela 5B in the 10-day interval centered on 1973 June 1, rose to an
intensity of ~ 1.4 Crab in July and was last observed around Aug.
30. The slow rise and symmetric fall of intensity are unusual.
Rapid fluctuations took the source to peak intensities > 2 Crab.
J. Davelaar, R. Blissett, L. Stella and M. McKay, EXOSAT
Observatory, Darmstadt; N. White, E.S.T.E.C., Noordwijk; and J.
Bleeker, Space Research Laboratory, Utrecht, report that observations
by EXOSAT during Nov. 20.2-20.4 and 21.6-21.8 UT yield the
following position: R.A. = 3h31m14s5, Decl. = +53deg00'17" (equinox
1950.0) error radius 10"). No change in the overall flux level was
observed between these two EXOSAT observations, the source strength
being 0.10 Crab. Autocorrelation analysis reveals the presence of
short noise fluctuations with typical decay and rise times of ~ 1
s and provides evidence also for fast time variability below 10
ms. A complex, though featureless, spectrum was measured, and it
is best described by a 4.8-keV blackbody with a soft excess below
4 keV modeled by a power law of photon index 1.0. A hydrogen
column density of ~ 10**26 m**-2 is suggested. Ground-based
observations at optical, infrared and radio wavelengths are strongly
urged. EXOSAT will continue to monitor the source periodically.
Specific EXOSAT observations are scheduled for Nov. 28.8-29.0 and
Dec. 1.4-1.6 UT. For information about future observations contact
McKay (telephone 49-6151-886-707, telex West Germany 419453
or 419441 ESOC D).
P. W. J. L. Brand, T. R. Geballe, M. P. Toner, A. S. Webster
and P. M. Williams, U.K. Infrared Telescope, Edinburgh University,
and Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, telex that an infrared candidate
has been found with the U.K.I.R.T. 5" east and 4" north (both +/-
5") of the EXOSAT position. It lies within a few arcsec of a
faint stellar image on the Palomar Sky Survey and was estimated to
be at R ~ 13-14 on the television guider. The infrared magnitudes
on Nov. 23.31 UT were measured to be J = 12.10, H = 10.70, K =
10.31 and L' = 9.65 (uncertainty 5 percent).
1983 November 25 (3893) Brian G. Marsden
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