Frankfurt Quasar Monitoring

MRK 180
Object data

  Cross-Identifications   PGC 35899, VII Zw 412, ZWG 334.43, 1133+704
  TXS 1133+704, RGB J1136+701, GB6 J1136+7009
  CGPG 1133.5+7027, 2MASX J11362642+7009268
  S5 1133+70, QSO B1133+704, RX J1136.5+7009
  RBS 1002, XSS J11349+6944, 1E 1133.5+7026
  7C 113332.70+702557.00, 1FGL J1136.6+7009
  1ES 1133+704, RX J1136.5+7009
  Equat. coordinates   RA  11 36 26.5     DE  +70 09 28     (J2000)
  Constellation   Draco
  Type   BL Lac
  Redshift (1)   z=0.046
  Distance (2) (3)    185 Mpc
  Total mag range (mv) (4)   14.3 - 15.4
  Catalog Magnitude (1)   14.49
  Absolute Magnitude (1)   -22.1 MB
  Light Travel-Time (2)   0.591 × 109 yrs
(1) Véron-Cetty & Véron 2006, A&A 455, 776
(2) NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database
(3) Co-Moving Radial Distance
(4) Literature
Finding chart

1133+704_chart_fqm.jpg

Comparison stars

star  B V Rc
1 14.49 (0.02)
 13.98 (0.02)
 		13.73 (0.02)
2 15.36 (0.03)
 		14.80 (0.02)
 		14.41 (0.02)
3 16.13 (0.04)
 		15.49 (0.04)
 		15.13 (0.02)
4 16.55 (0.03)
 		16.00 (0.03)
 		15.66 (0.04)
comparison stars from Villata et al. 1998, A&AS, 130, 305
MRK 180: High resolution images 

1133+704_DSS2R_4x4_fqm.jpg
Credit: DSS2R / Size 4´× 4´
Reduced contrast shows the
star-like nucleus of MRK 180
(arrow), together with
comparison stars #1 and #3
1133+704_DSS2B_4x4_fqm.jpg
Credit: DSS2B / Size 4´× 4´
The same field section:
enhanced contrast shows
the elliptical host galaxy
(phot. diam. 0.7´× 0.5´)
1133+704_nilsson2003_fqm.jpg
Credit: Nilsson et al. (2003)
The host galaxy of MRK 180:
High resolution R-band image
by the Nordic Optical Telescope
  (image size 56.9" × 56.9")
  
Light curve

1133+704_lc2001_fqm.jpg
Notes
Markarian 180 (MRK 180 for short) is a bright BL Lac object in the eastern part of Draco, only about 1° N of Lamda Draconis. The host galaxy (PGC) is thought to be an elliptical galaxy with an apparent diameter of 0.7´× 0.5´ (see images above). MRK 180 was discovered by swiss-born astronomer Fritz Zwicky (Zw), who described it as a "red fuzzy sperical compact, in contact with star or very compact spiral". The designation MRK 180 refers to the UV-Continuum-Survey run by Markarian et al. (MRK), searching for blue galaxies with excessive UV-emission. In 1976, MRK 180 was identified as a BL Lacertae-like object by spectral analysis. Later on, it was found that MRK 180 is also a source of radio emissions (detected by the 5-Ghz Survey (S5)). In addition, MRK 180 is also an emitter of both X-rays (EXOSAT, ROSAT (RX)) and gamma rays (Fermi).

MRK 180 is a small amplitude variable with a total range of about 1 magnitude in the optical. Visual observers with telescopes of 10- to 12-inch of aperture spot a stellar or star-like object at low power. With higher powers, or better with larger apertures, MRK 180 presents itself as a tiny diffuse object with a star-like nucleus. Just 6.3 arcsec south of the nucleus we find a faint star of mag 15.49, earlier described by Zwicky. This star, given as comparison star #3 (see table above), may interfere with the light from MRK 180 during photometric reduction. CCD observers, as well as visual observers, shall use the comparison stars given above.
____________

Starting our visual trip into the surrounding star field we first meet pretty bright edge-on galaxy NGC 3735, only 30´ N of MRK 180. The nucleus of NGC 3735 shows a Seyfert 2-spectrum, and was therefore classified as an AGN. Turning 3.5° E we find the large 10.7-mag galaxy NGC 4236. But don´t be fooled: what looks like an easy task for telescopes of 8- to 10-inch of aperture turns out to be a tough nut even for large apertures. Actually, NGC 4236 is a low surface brightness galaxy, spreading its faint light over a huge area of 22´× 6´. So you need very dark skies to spot this SBdm-type spiral, a member of the M81-galaxy group.
CCD observers will easily detect the faint edge-on galaxy UGC 6580, some 6 arcmin SE of MRK 180 (see finding chart above). UGC 6580 is a faint B=15.7 mag Sb-c spiral with an apparent diameter of 1.0 × 0.15 arcmin.

Observers who like to track down some more quasi-stellar photons may turn to quasar PG 1351+640, a bright 14-mag object at a distance of about 1.1×109 light-years, some 14.7° ESE of MRK 180.
Finally, another bright 14-mag quasar, PG 0804+761, is located some 15° NW, at a distance of about 1.2×109 light-years.
Literature
Angel, J.R.P., Stockman, H.S. 1980, ARA&A, 18, 321; Optical and infrared polarization of active extragalactic
     objects.
Colla, G., Fanti, C., et al. 1972, A&AS, 7, 1; The B2 Catalogue of radio sources - second part.
Dixon, R.S., Kraus, J.D. 1968, AJ, 73, 381; A High-Sensivity 1415 MHz Survey at North Declinations between
     19 and 37 degrees.
Fiorucci, M., Tosti, G. 1996, A&AS, 116, 403; VRI photometry of stars in the fields of 12 BL Lacertae objects.
Fiorucci, M., Tosti, G. 1996, A&AS, 117, 475; Automatic optical monitoring of 10 Blazars.
Katajainen, S., Takalo, L.O., et al. 2000, A&AS, 143, 357; Tuorla quasar monitoring I. Observations of 1995-1997.
Kinman, T.D. 1976, ApJ, 205, 1; Photoelectric Magnitudes and Polarization Data for possible BL Lacertae Objects.
Markarian, B.E. 1969; Astrofizika 5, 443; Galaxies with Ultraviolet Continuum II.
Moles, M., Garcia-Pelayo, J.M., Masegosa, J., Aparicio, A. 1985, ApJS, 58, 255; BVRI observations of BL Lacertae
     objects.
Nilsson, K., Pursimo, T., et al. 2003, A&A, 400, 95; R-band imaging of the host galaxies of RGB BL Lacertae objects.
Pica, A.J., Smith, A.G., et al. 1988, AJ, 96, 1215; Long-term optical behavior of 144 compact extragalactic objects -
     1969-1988.
Rector, T.A., Stocke, J.T. 2001, AJ, 122, 565; The Properties of the Radio-Selected 1 Jy Sample of BL Lacertae
     Objects.
Sowards-Emmerd, D., Romani, R.W., et al. 2005, ApJ, 626, 95; Northern Survey of Gamma-Ray Blazar Candidates.
Steinicke, W.; Katalog heller Quasare und BL Lacertae Objekte; Umkirch 1998.
Stickel, M., Fried, J.W., Kühr, H. 1993, A&AS, 98, 393; The complete sample of 1 Jy BL Lac objects. II.
Véron-Cetty, M.-P., Véron, P. 2001, A&A 374, 92; A Catalogue of Quasars and Active Nuclei: 10th edition.
Véron-Cetty, M.-P., Véron, P. 2003, A&A 412, 399; A Catalogue of Quasars and Active Nuclei: 11th edition.
Véron-Cetty, M.-P., Véron, P. 2006, A&A 455, 776; A Catalogue of Quasars and Active Nuclei: 12th edition.
Véron-Cetty, M.-P., Véron, P. 2010, A&A 518, 10; A Catalogue of Quasars and Active Nuclei: 13th edition.
Villata, M., Raiteri, C.M., et al. 1998, A&AS 130, 305; BVR photometry of comparison stars in selected blazar fields,
     I: Photometric sequences for 10 BL Lacertae objects.
Wills, D., Wills, B.J. 1976, ApJS, 31, 143; Spectroscopy of 206 QSO candidates and radio galaxies.
Zekl, H., Klare, G., Appenzeller, I. 1981, A&A, 103, 342; Optical Brightness Variations of BL-Lacertae Objects.

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© Stefan Karge  /  last obs. 2020-01-21
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