BLAZAR OJ +287 CAMPAIGN 2006

A Blazar is a Quasar with one of the jets of radiation, which are emitted from these objects, pointing at the earth. They tend to be highly variable. Blazar OJ +287 in Cancer is of particular interest as the jet is well aligned with the earth (13 deg) and it appears to be periodic with a period of approximately 12 years. The next maximum is expected during 2006.

The characteristics of the maximum in 1994 were correctly predicted based on the hypothesis that there are two orbiting black holes at the core of this object. Observations of the expected 2006 maximum may help to confirm and refine this model.

More information can be found on the website of Dr Mark Kidger (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias) which also has a finder chart and comparison star UVBRI sequences

The British Astronomical Association (BAA) are running a campaign in association with Dr Mark Kidger during 2006-7

There is also a campaign being run by the Väisälä Institute for Space Physics and Astronomy (VISPA)

 

The results below are my measurements of this object, which have been passed to Gary Poyner who is coordinating the BAA campaign. You can view the current BAA light curve here. These are my first observations using standard photometric V and R filters. (CCDV and CCDR) The VISPA chart shows the comparison stars and sequences that I am using for my measurements. The objective is to produce data consistent with the values obtained by other observers.

(The CV and CR values are unfiltered, reduced using V and R values respectively. Of the two, the CV value is likely to be the more accurate due to the spectral response of the ICX424AL chip in the camera. The CCDI* values are experimental using an IR pass filter, not a standard photometric I filter.)

2nd Feb 2006

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DATE

JD

CCDV

CCDR

CV

CR

CCDI*

COMMENT

2450000

value

error

value

error

value

error

value

error

value

error

 

29.1.06

3765.411

-

-

-

-

14.94

0.01

14.51

0.01

-

-

-

29.1.06

3765.432

15.06

0.03

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

29.1.06

3765.465

-

-

14.73

0.03

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

17.2.06

3784.379

-

-

-

-

15.43

0.01

-

-

-

-

-

17.2.06

3784.401

15.61

0.03

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

17.2.06

3784.433

-

-

15.05

0.03

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

28.2.06

3794.508

-

-

-

-

15.22

0.02

-

-

-

-

Thin cloud

28.2.06

3794.533

15.41

0.04

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Thin cloud

28.2.06

3794.562

-

-

14.83

0.07

-

-

-

-

-

-

Thin cloud

21.3.06

3816.430

-

-

-

-

15.04

0.01

-

-

-

-

-

21.3.06

3816.449

15.13

0.03

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

21.3.06

3816.472

-

-

14.69

0.02

-

-

-

-

-

-

-