Spitzer Space Telescope - Directors Discretionary Time Proposal #526


Capturing the Rare Spectral Change in a Nearby Seyfert

Principal Investigator: Varoujan Gorjian
           Institution: JPL

     Technical Contact: Varoujan Gorjian, JPL

Co-Investigators: 
Michael Werner, JPL
Kieran Cleary, JPL

Science Category: AGN/QSO/RG
 Observing Modes: IrsStare MipsPhot
  Hours Approved: 0.3

Abstract:
Spitzer has for the first time detected thermal continuum variability in 
the spectrum of an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN). The Seyfert 1 Fairall 9 
was observed in 2003 and in 2007 and has shown a distinct change in its 
slope in the 5-11um range. What is needed with this DDT observation is a 
third epoch to show how the change in emission is progressing and hence 
what that progression can tell us about the parsec scale structure of 
the putative torus that plays such a large role in AGN unification schemes.