The Blazar BL Lacertae: 2018-2020 V-, R-, and I-Band CCD Photometry (Abstract)

Volume 49 number 1 (2021)

Manny Rosales

Connecticut College, Physics and Astronomy Department, New London, CT; lfbro@conncoll.edu

Christina Singh

Connecticut College, Physics and Astronomy Department, New London, CT; lfbro@conncoll.edu

Wyatt Carbonell

Connecticut College, Physics and Astronomy Department, New London, CT; lfbro@conncoll.edu

Leslie F. Brown

Connecticut College, Physics and Astronomy Department, New London, CT; lfbro@conncoll.edu

Gary Walker

114 Cove Road, West Dennis, MA 02670; bailyhill14@gmail.com

Abstract

(Abstract only) We observed the gamma-ray loud AGN BL Lacertae (BL Lac; R.A. 22h 02m 43.290s, Dec. +42° 16' 39.98" J2000; z = 0.0691) in the V, R, and I optical bands between July 2018 and September 2020 using the Walker telescope located at Sierra Remote Observatories. This source was active at these wavelengths during this time, and since August 2020 has been in a historically bright state. We present our three-year V, R, and I band light curves for BL Lac and compare its optical variations with this AGN’s gamma-ray behavior as observed by NASA’s Fermi-LAT.