We report the discovery of VVV-WIT-04, a near-infrared (near-IR) variable source towards the Galactic disc located ∼0.2 arcsec apart from the position of the radio source PMN J1515−5559. The object was found serendipitously in the near-IR data of the ESO public survey VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV). Our analysis is based on variability, multicolour, and proper motion data from VVV and VVV eXtended surveys, complemented with archive data at longer wavelengths. We suggest that VVV-WIT-04 has an extragalactic origin as the near-IR counterpart of PMN J1515−5559. The Ks-band light curve of VVV-WIT-04 is highly variable and consistent with that of an optically violent variable quasar. The variability in the near-IR can be interpreted as the redshifted optical variability. Residuals to the proper motion vary with the magnitude suggesting contamination by a blended source. Alternative scenarios, including a transient event such as a nova or supernova, or even a binary microlensing event, are not in agreement with the available data.

VVV-WIT-04: An extragalactic variable source caught by the VVV Survey / Saito, R. K.; Minniti, D.; Ivanov, V. D.; Masetti, N.; Navarro, M. G.; Fernandes, R. C.; Ruschel-Dutra, D.; Smith, L. C.; Lucas, P. W.; Gonzalez-Fernandez, C.; Ramos, R. C.. - In: MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. - ISSN 0035-8711. - 490:1(2019), pp. 1171-1178. [10.1093/mnras/stz2631]

VVV-WIT-04: An extragalactic variable source caught by the VVV Survey

Minniti D.;
2019

Abstract

We report the discovery of VVV-WIT-04, a near-infrared (near-IR) variable source towards the Galactic disc located ∼0.2 arcsec apart from the position of the radio source PMN J1515−5559. The object was found serendipitously in the near-IR data of the ESO public survey VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV). Our analysis is based on variability, multicolour, and proper motion data from VVV and VVV eXtended surveys, complemented with archive data at longer wavelengths. We suggest that VVV-WIT-04 has an extragalactic origin as the near-IR counterpart of PMN J1515−5559. The Ks-band light curve of VVV-WIT-04 is highly variable and consistent with that of an optically violent variable quasar. The variability in the near-IR can be interpreted as the redshifted optical variability. Residuals to the proper motion vary with the magnitude suggesting contamination by a blended source. Alternative scenarios, including a transient event such as a nova or supernova, or even a binary microlensing event, are not in agreement with the available data.
2019
Catalogues; Infrared: stars; Radio continuum: galaxies; Radio continuum: general; Stars: individual: VVV-WIT-04; Surveys
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
VVV-WIT-04: An extragalactic variable source caught by the VVV Survey / Saito, R. K.; Minniti, D.; Ivanov, V. D.; Masetti, N.; Navarro, M. G.; Fernandes, R. C.; Ruschel-Dutra, D.; Smith, L. C.; Lucas, P. W.; Gonzalez-Fernandez, C.; Ramos, R. C.. - In: MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. - ISSN 0035-8711. - 490:1(2019), pp. 1171-1178. [10.1093/mnras/stz2631]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1403888
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