We present a study of the multiwavelength (MW) variability of the blazar AO 0235+164 based on the radio-to-$\gamma$-ray data covering a period from 1997 to 2023. The radio data are represented by the measurements from the SAO RAS, IAA RAS, and CrAO RAS telescopes. The optical measurements were collected with the SAO RAS 1-m and 0.5-m reflectors. The archive data at 230 GHz from the Submillimeter Array and the $\gamma$-ray data from the Fermi-LAT mission were used too. A significant correlation between different spectral bands is found with time delays up to 1.7 years. The relation between time delay and frequency is well described by a linear law. The revealed features of MW variability for the quiet period and for flaring states suggest that the mechanisms dominating the radio-$\gamma$-ray variations are not substantially different. AO 0235+164 shows a total variability period of $\sim$6 years for all wavelength bands, and 1.4-2.3 years during the low state, which may reflect its general properties.

Context. Understanding the mechanisms that launch and shape powerful relativistic jets from supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in high-redshift active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is crucial for probing the co-evolution of SMBHs and galaxies over cosmic time. Aims. We focus on the high-redshift (z = 3.396) blazar OH 471 to explore the jet launching mechanism in the early Universe. Methods. Using multi-frequency radio monitoring observations and high-resolution Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) imaging over three decades, we studied the milliarcsecond structure and long-term variability of OH 471. Results. Our spectral modeling of the radio flux densities revealed a synchrotron self-absorbed spectrum, indicating strong magnetic fields within the compact core. By applying the flux freezing approximation, we estimated the magnetic flux carried by the jet. We found that it reaches or exceeds theoretical predictions for jets powered by black hole spin energy via the Blandford-Znajek mechanism. This implies that OH 471 is in a magnetically arrested disk (MAD) state, where the magnetic flux accumulated near the horizon regulates the accretion flow, allowing for an efficient extraction of black hole rotational energy. Conclusions. Our study demonstrates the dominance of MAD accretion in powering the prominent radio flares and relativistic jets observed in the radio-loud AGN named OH 471. Statistical studies of larger samples of high-redshift AGNs will shed light on the role of MAD accretion in launching and accelerating the earliest relativistic jets.

We present a study of the multiwavelength variability of the blazar Ton 599 based on the radio-to--ray data covering the period of 1997-2024. The data are represented by the 1-22 GHz measurements from the SAO RAS RATAN-600 radio telescope, the 5 and 8 GHz data from the IAA RAS RT-32 telescopes, and the 37 GHz data from the RT-22 telescope of CrAO RAS. The optical measurements in the R-band were collected with the SAO RAS 1-m Zeiss-1000 and 0.5-m AS-500/2, SPbSU 0.4-m LX-200, and CrAO RAS 0.7-m AZT-8 telescopes. We also used the archive data at 230 GHz from the Submillimeter Array (SMA) and the -ray data in the 0.1-100 GeV band from the Fermi-LAT point source catalogue 4FGL-DR2. The blazar exhibits extreme variability properties with a variability index varying from 0.47 to 0.98. A characteristic feature of the light curves is the presence of double and triple flares with different spectral properties. A significant correlation ($\geq 2\sigma$) between the radio, optical, and -ray bands is found with time delays from 0 to 365 days. The L-S periodograms show the significant peaks ($>3\sigma$) related to periods of 2.4-3.9 years, which coincides with global oscillations obtained earlier on the time scale of 1987-2010.

The article examines the 5.4 magnitude earthquake that occurred on June 25, 2021 in the vicinity of Yayladere (Turkey). The analysis of the geomagnetic measurements carried out revealed a set of deterministic processes that preceded this event and are interpreted as its precursors. An estimate is made of the average time between the interval of existence of such phenomena and the moment of the earthquake under consideration. As a result, close values of the corresponding averaged time intervals were obtained for the statistics of all three components of the geomagnetic field considered in the article. The proposed technique can be used to predict seismic processes in various regions of the world in a near real-time mode.

The article investigates the properties of small-scale probability density fluctuations for measurements ofX, Yand Z-components of the Earth's magnetic field before the earthquake that took place in November 2022 in the southern European region. A comparison is made of the properties of the statistical functional corresponding to the measurements of the magnetic field for three spatially separated magnetovariational stations located at different geographical azimuths with respect to the point of the epicenter of the indicated event. It is shown that for all stations there is a significant topological similarity of the dependences corresponding to the specified functional, considered as a function of time.

In this paper, using the study of changes in the statistics of small-scale fluctuations of the probability density during measurements of three components of the magnetic field, we consider short-term precursors for an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 that took place on the island of Crete on October 12, 2021 at 9:26:03 UTC, as well as for related foreshocks and aftershocks. The technique used made it possible to identify the indicated precursors of the considered seismic events from several minutes to half a day before their onset. A significant increase in the number of such precursors before the main earthquake was found, as well as the possible existence of a structured sequence of seismic processes at the final stage of preparation of the events under study.

Context. Class II methanol masers are signposts of massive young stellar objects (MYSOs). Recent evidence shows that flares of these masers are driven by MYSO accretion bursts. Thus, maser monitoring can be used to identify such bursts which are hard to discover otherwise. Infrared observations reveal burst-induced changes in the spectral energy distribution (first and foremost a luminosity increase), which provide valuable information on a very intense phase of high-mass star formation. Aims. In mid-January 2019, flaring of the 6.7 GHz CH3OH maser (hereafter maser) of the MYSO G358.93-0.03 (hereafter G358) was reported. The international maser community initiated an extensive observational campaign which revealed extraordinary maser activity and yielded the detection of numerous new masering transitions. Interferometric imaging with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array and the Submillimeter Array resolved the maser emitting core of the star forming region and proved the association of the masers with the brightest continuum source (MM1), which hosts a hot molecular core. These observations, however, failed to detect a significant rise in the (sub)millimeter dust continuum emission. Therefore, we performed near-infrared (NIR) and far-infrared (FIR) observations to prove or disprove whether the CH3OH flare was driven by an accretion burst. Methods. NIR imaging with the Gamma-Ray Burst Optical/Near-infrared Detector has been acquired and integral-field spectroscopy with the Field-Imaging Far-Infrared Line Spectrometer (FIFI-LS) aboard the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) was carried out on two occasions to detect possible counterparts to the (sub)millimeter sources and compare their photometry to archival measurements. The comparison of pre-burst and burst spectral energy distributions is of crucial importance to judge whether a substantial luminosity increase, caused by an accretion burst, is present and if it triggered the maser flare. Radiative transfer modeling of the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the dust continuum emission at multiple epochs provides valuable information on the bursting MYSO. Results. The FIR fluxes of MM1 measured with FIFI-LS exceed those from Herschel significantly, which clearly confirms the presence of an accretion burst. The second epoch data, taken about 16 months later, still show increased fluxes. Our radiative transfer modeling yielded major burst parameters and suggests that the MYSO features a circumstellar disk which might be transient. From the pre-burst, burst, and post-burst SEDs, conclusions on heating and cooling time-scales could be drawn. Circumstances of the burst-induced maser relocation have been explored. Conclusions. The verification of the accretion burst from G358 is another confirmation that Class II methanol maser flares represent an alert for such events. Thus, monitoring of these masers greatly enhances the chances of identifying MYSOs during periods of intense growth. The few events known to date already indicate that there is a broad range in burst strength and duration as well as environmental characteristics. The G358 event is the shortest and least luminous accretion burst known to date. According to models, bursts of this kind occur most often.

This paper reports observations of a 22 GHz water maser `superburst' in the G25.65+1.05 massive star forming region, conducted in response to an alert from the Maser Monitoring Organisation (M2O). Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations using the European VLBI Network (EVN) recorded a maser flux density of $1.2 \times 10^{4}$ Jy. The superburst was investigated in the spectral, structural and temporal domains and its cause was determined to be an increase in maser path length generated by the superposition of multiple maser emitting regions aligning in the line of sight to the observer. This conclusion was based on the location of the bursting maser in the context of the star forming region, its complex structure, and its rapid onset and decay.

Anomalous enhancement of solar insolation of the earth's surface in the presence of foci of excitation in its depths can cause a response at local sites. Such foci include, first of all, recent and past (retro) volcanoes, such as the ancient volcano on the territory of Kara-Dag in the Crimea. The authors of this article have found increased, in comparison with other localities of the Crimea, general insolation according to SSE. According to the 22-year linear trend, the rate of insolation growth falling on the earth's surface at Kara-Dag has been calculated, which is 2,69 kWh/m2 per century, being more than 2 times higher than insolation growth in other areas of the Crimea. This phenomenon has been the subject of discussion, and additional research is needed, both on the geological structure of Kara-Dag and on the impact of external and internal forces. At the stage of studying the structure of data on insolation of the earth's surface at Kara-Dag, we have built a 6-order sine-wave model. The most powerful (amplitudes more than an order of magnitude higher than the noise level) regular oscillations on the 22-year interval have periods of 365,3 and 365,7 days. Statistical estimates of the degree of approximation by a sinusoidal model (R2 = 0,9, RMSE = 0,7) indicate that, in addition to regular periodic oscillations, there are irregular fluctuations in the data at time intervals determined by a continuous time-frequency wavelet analysis. The wavelet transformation graph highlights the interval of insolation energy growth at Kara-Dag locality after 1995. In order to analyze the statistical relationship of changes in local insolation of the Earth's surface with the Earth's rotation around the axis and its orbital movement, solar activity and global temperature, autoregression models of the power spectral density were calculated using which coherent oscillations were found between variations in Kara-Dag paragraph and variations in the data: on the length of the day (LOD) with a period of 11,8 years and a square modulus of coherence of 0,85; about solar activity with periods of 10,5, 3,6 years and a squared coherence modulus of 0,8 and 0,85; about global temperature indices with periods of 2,3, 3,5 years and squares of coherence modulus 0,7 and 0,9, respectively. The increased growth of insolation and the temperature of the earth at Kara-Dag locality that we found requires additional research and observations.

The modern automation system is unthinkable without the use of the accurate time source. Although most systems currently use the GPS signals, it is obvious that the GLONASS system will be used in the Russian Federation in the near future. The greatest interest in the existence of the GLONASS concerns the joint use of the GLONASS and the GPS. The time offset between the GPS and the GLONASS is an important parameter in the processing of combined GPS/GLONASS measurements. High-precision evaluation system of the time difference can provide centimeter accuracy positioning. The present paper concerns the analysis results for the variable component C1 of GLONASS timescale offset values relative to the scale UTC, TAI for the period of 2009-2013.

Long series of multi-frequency monitoring data of the active galactic nucleus AO 0235+164, S0528+134 and S40954+658 from the radio to the gamma-ray are analyzed. Based on harmonic analysis of multi-frequency monitoring data we suggest that the observed harmonic components represent the precessional and orbital periods of a binary supermassive black holes (SMBH) system. The similarity of both the precessional and orbital periods in bright AGNs supports our hypothesis that, in all cases, we are observing emission from close binary systems consisting of SMBHs. The extremely compact size of the (less than 0.1 pc) may be a primary source of the powerful emission of the binary SMBH, which arises as a result of the dynamical losses due to the companion’s supersonic motion in the dense medium surrounding the orbit (109-1010) cm-3. The results obtained suggest that observed bright AGNs form a relatively rare population among massive elliptical galaxies, due to their narrowly directed emission and their short lifetimes

An experiment on radar location of space debris objects using of the method of VLBI was carried out in April, 2012. The radar VLBI experiment consisted in irradiation of some space debris objects (4 rocket stages and 5 inactive satellites) with a signal of the transmitter with RT-70 in Evpatoria, Ukraine. Reflected signals were received by a complex of radio telescopes in the VLBI mode. The following VLBI stations took part in the observations: Ventspils (RT-32), Urumqi (RT-25), Medicina (RT-32) and Simeiz (RT-22). The experiment included measurements of the Doppler frequency shift and the delay for orbit refining, and measurements of the rotation period and sizes of objects by the amplitudes of output interferometer signals. The cross-correlation of VLBI-data is performed at a correlator NIRFI-4 of Radiophysical Research Institute (Nizhny Novgorod). Preliminary data processing resulted in the series of Doppler frequency shifts, which comprised the information on radial velocities of the objects. Some results of the experiment are presented.

We present multiwavelength observations of 3C 454.3 from April 2008 to March 2010. The radio to optical data are mostly from the GASP-WEBT, UV and X-ray data from Swift, and gamma-ray data from the AGILE and Fermi satellites. We improved the calibration of optical-UV data from the UVOT and OM instruments and estimated the Lyalpha flux to disentangle the contributions from different components in this spectral region. The observations reveal prominent variability above 8 GHz. In the optical-UV band, the variability amplitude decreases with increasing frequency due to a steadier radiation from both a broad line region and an accretion disc. The optical flux reaches nearly the same levels in the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 observing seasons; the mm one shows similar behaviour, whereas the gamma and X-ray flux levels rise in the second period. Two prominent gamma-ray flares in mid 2008 and late 2009 show a double-peaked structure, with a variable gamma/optical flux ratio. The X-ray flux variations seem to follow the gamma-ray and optical ones by about 0.5 and 1 d, respectively. We interpret the multifrequency behaviour in terms of an inhomogeneous curved jet, where synchrotron radiation of increasing wavelength is produced in progressively outer and wider jet regions, which can change their orientation in time. In particular, we assume that the long-term variability is due to this geometrical effect. By combining the optical and mm light curves to fit the gamma and X-ray ones, we find that the gamma (X-ray) emission may be explained by inverse-Comptonisation of synchrotron optical (IR) photons by their parent relativistic electrons (SSC process). A slight, variable misalignment between the synchrotron and Comptonisation zones would explain the increased gamma and X-ray flux levels in 2009-2010, as well as the change in the gamma/optical flux ratio during the outbursts peaks.

We present ground-based and Hubble Space Telescope optical observations of the optical transients (OTs) of long-duration Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) 060729 and 090618, both at a redshift of z = 0.54. For GRB 060729, bumps are seen in the optical light curves (LCs), and the late-time broad-band spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the OT resemble those of local Type Ic supernovae (SNe). For GRB 090618, the dense sampling of our optical observations has allowed us to detect well-defined bumps in the optical LCs, as well as a change in colour, that are indicative of light coming from a core-collapse SN. The accompanying SNe for both events are individually compared with SN1998bw, a known GRB supernova, and SN1994I, a typical Type Ic supernova without a known GRB counterpart, and in both cases the brightness and temporal evolution more closely resemble SN1998bw. We also exploit our extensive optical and radio data for GRB 090618, as well as the publicly available Swift-XRT data, and discuss the properties of the afterglow at early times. In the context of a simple jet-like model, the afterglow of GRB 090618 is best explained by the presence of a jet-break at t - t(o) > 0.5 d. We then compare the rest-frame, peak V-band absolute magnitudes of all of the GRB and X-Ray Flash (XRF)-associated SNe with a large sample of local Type Ibc SNe, concluding that, when host extinction is considered, the peak magnitudes of the GRB/XRF-SNe cannot be distinguished from the peak magnitudes of non-GRB/XRF SNe.

We present ground-based and HST optical observations of the optical transients (OTs) of long-duration Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) 060729 and 090618, both at a redshift of z = 0.54. For GRB 060729, bumps are seen in the optical light curves (LCs), and the late-time broadband spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the OT resemble those of local type Ic supernovae (SNe). For GRB 090618, the dense sampling of our optical observations has allowed us to detect well-defined bumps in the optical LCs, as well as a change in colour, that are indicative of light coming from a core-collapse SN. The accompanying SNe for both events are individually compared with SN1998bw, a known GRB-supernova, and SN1994I, a typical type Ic supernova without a known GRB counterpart, and in both cases the brightness and temporal evolution more closely resemble SN1998bw. We also exploit our extensive optical and radio data for GRB 090618, as well as the publicly-available SWIFT -XRT data, and discuss the properties of the afterglow at early times. In the context of a simple jet-like model, the afterglow of GRB 090618 is best explained by the presence of a jet-break at t−to > 0.5 days. We then compare the rest-frame, peak V -band absolute magnitudes of all of the GRB and X-Ray Flash (XRF)-associated SNe with a large sample of local type Ibc SNe, concluding that, when host extinction is considered, the peak magnitudes of the GRB/XRF-SNe cannot be distinguished from the peak magnitudes of non-GRB/XRF SNe.

In 2007-2008 we carried out a new multiwavelength campaign of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) on BL Lacertae, involving three pointings by the XMM-Newton satellite, to study its emission properties. The source was monitored in the optical-to-radio bands by 37 telescopes. The brightness level was relatively low. Some episodes of very fast variability were detected in the optical bands. The X-ray spectra are well fitted by a power law with photon index of about 2 and photoelectric absorption exceeding the Galactic value. However, when taking into account the presence of a molecular cloud on the line of sight, the data are best fitted by a double power law, implying a concave X-ray spectrum. The spectral energy distributions (SEDs) built with simultaneous radio-to-X-ray data at the epochs of the XMM-Newton observations suggest that the peak of the synchrotron emission lies in the near-IR band, and show a prominent UV excess, besides a slight soft-X-ray excess. A comparison with the SEDs corresponding to previous observations with X-ray satellites shows that the X-ray spectrum is extremely variable. We ascribe the UV excess to thermal emission from the accretion disc, and the other broad-band spectral features to the presence of two synchrotron components, with their related SSC emission. We fit the thermal emission with a black body law and the non-thermal components by means of a helical jet model. The fit indicates a disc temperature greater than 20000 K and a luminosity greater than 6 x 10^44 erg/s.

Prompted by a high optical state in 2007 September, the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope consortium organized an intensive optical, near-IR (JHK) and radio observing campaign on the intermediate BL Lac object 3C 66A throughout the fall and winter of 2007-2008. In this paper, we present data from 28 observatories in 12 countries, covering the observing season from late 2007 July through 2008 February. The source remained in a high optical state throughout the observing period and exhibited several bright flares on timescales of similar to 10 days. This included an exceptional outburst around 2007 September 15-20, reaching a peak brightness at R similar to 13.4. Our campaign revealed microvariability with flux changes up to vertical bar dR/dt vertical bar similar to 0.02 mag hr(-1). Our observations do not reveal evidence for systematic spectral variability in the overall high state covered by our campaign, in agreement with previous results. In particular, we do not find evidence for spectral hysteresis in 3C 66A for which hints were found in an earlier campaign in a somewhat lower flux state. We also did not find any evidence for spectral lags in the discrete correlation functions between different optical bands. We infer a value of the magnetic field in the emission region of B similar to 19 e(B)(2/7) tau(-6/7)(h) D(1)(13/7) G, where e(B) is the magnetic field equipartition fraction, tau(h) is the shortest observed variability timescale in units of hours, and D(1) is the Doppler factor in units of 10. From the lack of systematic spectral variability, we can derive an upper limit on the Doppler factor, D <= 28 tau(-1/8)(h) e(B)(3/16). This is in perfect agreement with superluminal motion measurements with the VLBI/VLBA of beta(app) <= 27 and argues against models with very high Lorentz factors of Gamma greater than or similar to 50, required for a one-zone synchrotron-self-Compton interpretation of some high-frequency-peaked BL Lac objects detected at TeV gamma-ray energies.

Context. BL Lacertae is the prototype of the blazar subclass named after it. Yet, it has occasionally shown a peculiar behaviour that has questioned a simple interpretation of its broad-band emission in terms of synchrotron plus synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) radiation.Aims. In the 2007–2008 observing season we carried out a new multiwavelength campaign of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) on BL Lacertae, involving three pointings by the XMM-Newton satellite in July and December 2007, and January 2008, to study its emission properties, particularly in the optical-X-ray energy range.Methods. The source was monitored in the optical-to-radio bands by 37 telescopes. The brightness level was relatively low. Some episodes of very fast variability were detected in the optical bands. Flux changes had larger amplitude at the higher radio frequencies than at longer wavelengths.Results. The X-ray spectra acquired by the EPIC instrument onboard XMM-Newton are well fitted by a power law with photon index and photoelectric absorption exceeding the Galactic value. However, when taking into account the presence of a molecular cloud on the line of sight, the EPIC data are best fitted by a double power law, implying a concave X-ray spectrum. The spectral energy distributions (SEDs) built with simultaneous radio-to-X-ray data at the epochs of the XMM-Newton observations suggest that the peak of the synchrotron emission lies in the near-IR band, and show a prominent UV excess, besides a slight soft-X-ray excess. A comparison with the SEDs corresponding to previous observations with X-ray satellites shows that the X-ray spectrum is very variable, since it can change from extremely steep to extremely hard, and can be more or less curved in intermediate states. We ascribe the UV excess to thermal emission from the accretion disc, and the other broad-band spectral features to the presence of two synchrotron components, with their related SSC emission. We fit the thermal emission with a black body law and the non-thermal components by means of a helical jet model. The fit indicates a disc temperature and a luminosity .