Blazar variability studies with the 1.3 m Robotically Controlled Telescope and the automated 0.6 m Bell Observatory telescope

Abstract

Abstract One of the key programs on the 1.3 m Robotically Controlled Telescope (RCT) located at Kitt Peak National Observatory and the 0.6 m telescope at the Bell Observatory operated by Western Kentucky University is a study of the variability of the class of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) known as Blazars. Blazars are highly variable on timescales of minutes to decades and this variability is seen across the electromagnetic spectrum. In addition, they display a featureless spectrum, thus continuum variability provides the only diagnostic of these objects. Variability provides information on the size of the emission region responsible for the observed variations and when observations are obtained at multiple wavelengths, it can be used to discriminate between emission models. However, traditional ground based observations are limited in a variety of ways. We will discuss how an automated facility, with time dedicated to this astrophysically interesting problem, can overcome many of these limitations, and we show results from the Bell Observatory as well as some of the first results of Blazar observations from the RCT. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)