Bibcode
Stirpe, G. M.; Alloin, D.; Axon, D. J.; Clavel, J.; de Bruyn, A. G.; del Olmo, A.; Goad, M.; Gondhalekar, P. M.; Jackson, N.; Kollatschny, W.; Laurikainen, E.; Lawrence, A.; Masegosa, J.; McHardy, I. M.; Moles, M.; O'Brien, P. T.; Penston, M. V.; Perea, J.; Perez, E.; Perez-Fournon, I.; Robinson, A.; Rodriguez-Espinosa, J. M.; Tadhunter, C. N.; Terlevich, R. J.; Unger, S. W.; van Groningen, E.; Vila-Vilaro, B.; Wagner, S. J.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics 285, 857-867 (1994)
Advertised on:
5
1994
Citations
21
Refereed citations
17
Description
We report on the Lovers of Active Galaxies' (LAG) monitoring of the
Seyfert 1 galaxy Markarian 279 from January to June 1990. The source,
which was in a very bright state, gradually weakened after the first
month of monitoring: the Hα and Hβ flux decreased by 20% and
35% respectively, and the continuum under Hα by 30%. The
luminosity-weighted radius of the broad line region (BLR), as derived
from the cross-correlation function, is of the order of 10 light days.
This result is very uncertain because the features in the light curves
are very shallow, but it is unlikely that the radius of the BLR is more
than 1 light month. The profile variations of Hα confirm that the
prevailing motions are not radial. The data of the present campaign and
those obtained in previous years, when the source was in a much weaker
state, show that the red asymmetry of the Balmer lines correlates
positively with the broad line flux. This new effect is briefly
discussed.