Tentative Blazar Candidate EP240709A Associated with 4FGL J0031.5-5648: NICER and Archival Multiwavelength Observations

TL;DR

This study combines NICER and archival multiwavelength data to analyze a transient source, EP240709A, suggesting it is likely an active blazar, thus contributing to the identification of such objects.

Contribution

The paper presents the first multiwavelength follow-up of EP240709A, proposing its classification as a likely active blazar, which is a novel identification for this transient.

Findings

EP240709A is likely an active blazar.

Multiwavelength data supports blazar classification.

Follow-up observations improve understanding of transient sources.

Abstract

We report on follow-up observations of the recently discovered transient by the Einstein Probe, EP240709A, with the Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER). We also incorporated archival multiwavelength survey data from the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory (X-ray), Gaia (optical), the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (gamma-ray), and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (infrared) to distinguish between blazars and stellar systems. We suggest that EP240709A is likely an active blazar.