[vsnet-alert 1616] New and Bright X-ray Transient

[Ron Remillard <rr@space.mit.edu>]

Bright X-ray Transient, XTEJ0421+560
 
D. Smith and R. Remillard (M.I.T.), Jean Swank, T. Takeshima,
and E. Smith (NASA / GSFC) report:
 
The RXTE All-Sky Monitor has detected a bright and rapidly rising
X-ray transient, which we designate XTE J0421+560. The best fit position is
at R.A. = 04h21.0m and Dec. = +56 03.5' (equinox 2000.0), with an error radius
(90% confidence) of 4'. The ASM count rate (2-12 keV) was below 40 mCrab
(at 3 sigma) on March 31.36, rising rapidly thereafter to 
139 mCrab (March 31.64), 504 (31.77), and 1880 (April 1.04).
An RXTE PCA observation, which began on April 1.08, confirms the
presence of a new source with a flux near 2 Crab.  The ASM spectrum
appears very hard, but the PCA light curve shows no obvious pulsations
at periods longer than 0.25 s. Observations at other wavelengths are
urgently needed.

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