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Abstract We present an optical variability analysis and comparison of the samples of Seyfert 1 (Sy1) and Seyfert 2 (Sy2) galaxies, selected from the Swift 9 month BAT catalog, using the light curves from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and All-Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN). We measured the normalized excess variance of TESS and ASAS-SN light curves for each target and performed a Kolmogorov–Smirnov test between the two samples, where our results showed significant differences. This is consistent with predictions from the unification model, where Seyfert 2s are obscured by the larger scale dust torus and their variability is suppressed. This variability difference is independent of the luminosity, Eddington ratio, or black hole mass, further supporting geometrical unification models. We searched the dependence of the normalized excess variance of Sy1s on absolute magnitudes, Eddington ratio, and black hole mass, where our results are consistent with relations found in the literature. Finally, a small subsample of changing-look (CL) active galactic nuclei (AGNs) that transitioned during the time frame of the ASAS-SN light curves, with their variability amplitudes changing according to the classification, have larger variability as type 1s and smaller as 2s. The change of variability amplitudes can be used to better pinpoint when the type transition occurred. The consistency trend of the variability amplitude differences between Sy1s and Sy2s and between CL AGNs in 1 or 2 stages suggests that variability can be a key factor in shedding light on the CL AGN or the dichotomy between Sy1 or Sy2 populations. 

We present the class of extreme nuclear transients (ENTs), including the most energetic single transient yet found, Gaia18cdj. Each ENT is coincident with its host-galaxy nucleus and exhibits a smooth (<10% excess variability), luminous (2 × 10⁴⁵to 7 × 10⁴⁵erg per second), and long-lived (>150 days) flare. ENTs are extremely rare (≥1 × 10^–3cubic gigaparsec per year) compared to any other known class of transients. They are at least twice as energetic (0.5 × 10⁵³to 2.5 × 10⁵³erg) as any other known transient, ruling out supernova origins. Instead, the high peak luminosities, long flare timescales, and immense radiated energies of the ENTs are most consistent with the tidal disruption of high-mass (  $\gtrsim 3{\mathrm{M}}_{\odot }$ ) stars by massive (  $\gtrsim {10}^8 {\mathrm{M}}_{\odot }$ ) supermassive black holes (SMBHs). ENTs will be visible to high redshifts (z~ 4 to 6) in upcoming surveys, providing an avenue to study the high-mass end of the SMBH mass distribution, complementing recent studies of actively accreting SMBHs at high redshifts with the James Webb Space Telescope. 

Abstract We report initial observations aimed at the characterization of a third interstellar object. This object, 3I/ATLAS or C/2025 N1 (ATLAS), was discovered on 2025 July 1 UT and has an orbital eccentricity ofe ∼ 6.1, perihelion ofq ∼ 1.36 au, inclination of ∼175°, and hyperbolic velocity ofV_∞ ∼ 58 km s⁻¹. We report deep stacked images obtained using the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope and the Very Large Telescope that resolve a compact coma. Using images obtained from several smaller ground-based telescopes, we find minimal light-curve variation for the object over a ∼4 day time span. The visible/near-infrared spectral slope of the object is 17.1% ± 0.2%/100 nm, comparable to other interstellar objects and primitive solar system small bodies (comets and D-type asteroids). Moreover, 3I/ATLAS will be observable through early 2025 September, then unobservable by Earth-based observatories near perihelion due to low solar elongation. It will be observable again from the ground in late 2025 November. Although this limitation unfortunately prohibits detailed Earth-based observations at perihelion when the activity of 3I/ATLAS is likely to peak, spacecraft at Mars could be used to make valuable observations at this time. 

Abstract We present a detailed analysis of nearly two decades of optical/UV and X-ray data to study the multi-wavelength pre-explosion properties and post-explosion X-ray properties of nearby SN2023ixf located in M101. We find no evidence of precursor activity in the optical to UV down to a luminosity of$$\lesssim$$$$1.0\times10^{5}\, \textrm{L}_{\odot}$$, while X-ray observations covering nearly 18 yr prior to explosion show no evidence of luminous precursor X-ray emission down to an absorbed 0.3–10.0 keV X-ray luminosity of$$\sim$$$$6\times10^{36}$$erg s$$^{-1}$$. ExtensiveSwiftobservations taken post-explosion did not detect soft X-ray emission from SN2023ixf within the first$$\sim$$3.3 days after first light, which suggests a mass-loss rate for the progenitor of$$\lesssim$$$$5\times10^{-4}\,\textrm{M}_{\odot}$$yr$$^{-1}$$or a radius of$$\lesssim$$$$4\times10^{15}$$cm for the circumstellar material. Our analysis also suggests that if the progenitor underwent a mass-loss episode, this had to occur$$>$$0.5–1.5 yr prior to explosion, consistent with previous estimates.Swiftdetected soft X-rays from SN2023ixf$$\sim$$$$4.25$$days after first light, and it rose to a peak luminosity of$$\sim10^{39}$$erg s$$^{-1}$$after 10 days and has maintained this luminosity for nearly 50 days post first light. This peak luminosity is lower than expected, given the evidence that SN2023ixf is interacting with dense material. However, this might be a natural consequence of an asymmetric circumstellar medium. X-ray spectra derived from merging allSwiftobservations over the first 50 days are best described by a two-component bremsstrahlung model consisting of a heavily absorbed and hotter component similar to that found usingNuSTAR, and a less-absorbed, cooler component. We suggest that this soft component arises from cooling of the forward shock similar to that found in Type IIn SN2010jl. 

Light echoes occur when light from a luminous transient is scattered by dust back into our line of sight with a time delay due to the extra propagation distance. We introduce a novel approach to estimating the distance to a source by combining light echoes with recent three-dimensional dust maps. We identify light echoes from the historical supernovae Cassiopeia A and SN 1572 (Tycho) in nearly a decade of imaging from the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN). Using these light echoes, we find distances of $3.6\pm 0.1$kpc and ${3.2}_{-0.2}^{+0.1}$kpc to Cas A and Tycho, respectively, which are generally consistent with previous estimates but are more precise. These distance uncertainties are primarily dominated by the low distance resolution of the 3D dust maps, which will likely improve in the future. The candidate single degenerate explosion donor stars B and G in Tycho are clearly foreground stars. Finally, the inferred reddening towards each SN agrees well with the intervening column density estimates from X-ray analyses of the remnants. 

Abstract The Galactic bulge is critical to our understanding of the Milky Way. However, due to the lack of reliable stellar distances, the structure and kinematics of the bulge/bar beyond the Galactic center have remained largely unexplored. Here, we present a method to measure distances of luminous red giants using a period–amplitude–luminosity relation anchored to the Large Magellanic Cloud, with random uncertainties of 10%–15% and systematic errors below 1%–2%. We apply this method to data from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment to measure distances to 190,302 stars in the Galactic bulge and beyond out to 20 kpc. Using this sample, we measure a distance to the Galactic center ofR₀= 8108 ± 106_stat± 93_syspc, consistent with direct measurements of stars orbiting Sgr A*. We cross-match our distance catalog with Gaia DR3 and use the subset of 39,566 overlapping stars to provide the first constraints on the Milky Way’s velocity field (V_R,V_ϕ,V_z) beyond the Galactic center. We show that theV_Rquadrupole from the bar’s near side is reflected with respect to the Galactic center, indicating that the bar is bisymmetric and aligned with the inner disk. We also find that the vertical heightV_Zmap has no major structure in the region of the Galactic bulge, which is inconsistent with a current episode of bar buckling. Finally, we demonstrate withN-body simulations that distance uncertainty plays a factor in the alignment of the major and kinematic axes of the bar, necessitating caution when interpreting results for distant stars. 

Abstract Type Ia supernovae are critical for feedback and elemental enrichment in galaxies. Recent surveys like the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernova (ASAS-SN) and the Dark Energy Survey (DES) find that the specific supernova Ia rate at z ∼ 0 may be ≲ 20 − 50 × higher in lower-mass galaxies than at Milky Way-mass. Independently, observations show that the close-binary fraction of solar-type Milky Way stars is higher at lower metallicity. Motivated by these observations, we use the FIRE-2 cosmological zoom-in simulations to explore the impact of metallicity-dependent rate models on galaxies of $$M_* \sim 10^7\, \rm {M}_{\odot }-10^{11}\, \rm {M}_{\odot }$$. First, we benchmark our simulated star-formation histories (SFHs) against observations, and show that assumed stellar mass functions play a major role in determining the degree of tension between observations and metallicity-independent rate models, potentially causing ASAS-SN and DES observations to agree more than might appear. Models in which the supernova Ia rate increases with decreasing metallicity ($$\propto Z^{-0.5 \; \rm {to} \; -1}$$) provide significantly better agreement with observations. Encouragingly, these rate increases (≳ 10 × in low-mass galaxies) do not significantly impact galaxy masses and morphologies, which remain largely unaffected except for our most extreme models. We explore implications for both [Fe/H] and [$$\alpha /\rm {Fe}$$] enrichment; metallicity-dependent rate models can improve agreement with the observed stellar mass-metallicity relations in low-mass galaxies. Our results demonstrate that a range of metallicity-dependent rate models are viable for galaxy formation and motivate future work. 

Abstract We present the third discovery from the COol Companions ON Ultrawide orbiTS (COCONUTS) program, the COCONUTS-3 system, composed of the young M5 primary star UCAC4 374−046899 and the very red L6 dwarf WISEA J081322.19−152203.2. These two objects have a projected separation of 61 ′ ′ (1891 au) and are physically associated given their common proper motions and estimated distances. The primary star, COCONUTS-3A, has a mass of 0.123 ± 0.006 M ⊙ , and we estimate its age as 100 Myr to 1 Gyr based on its stellar activity (via H α and X-ray emission), kinematics, and spectrophotometric properties. We derive its bulk metallicity as 0.21 ± 0.07 dex using empirical calibrations established by older and higher-gravity M dwarfs and find that this [Fe/H] could be slightly underestimated according to PHOENIX models given COCONUTS-3A’s younger age. The companion, COCONUTS-3B, has a near-infrared spectral type of L6 ± 1 int-g , and we infer physical properties of T eff = 1362 − 73 + 48 K, log ( g ) = 4.96 − 0.34 + 0.15 dex, R = 1.03 − 0.06 + 0.12 R Jup , and M = 39 − 18 + 11 M Jup using its bolometric luminosity, its host star’s age, and hot-start evolution models. We construct cloudy atmospheric model spectra at the evolution-based physical parameters and compare them to COCONUTS-3B’s spectrophotometry. We find that this companion possesses ample condensate clouds in its photosphere ( f sed = 1) with the data–model discrepancies likely due to the models using an older version of the opacity database. Compared to field-age L6 dwarfs, COCONUTS-3B has fainter absolute magnitudes and a 120 K cooler T eff . Also, the J − K color of this companion is among the reddest for ultracool benchmarks with ages older than a few hundred megayears. COCONUTS-3 likely formed in the same fashion as stellar binaries given the companion-to-host mass ratio of 0.3 and represents a valuable benchmark to quantify the systematics of substellar model atmospheres. 

ABSTRACT We analyse high-cadence data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) of the ambiguous nuclear transient (ANT) ASASSN-18el. The optical changing-look phenomenon in ASASSN-18el has been argued to be due to either a drastic change in the accretion rate of the existing active galactic nucleus (AGN) or the result of a tidal disruption event (TDE). Throughout the TESS observations, short-time-scale stochastic variability is seen, consistent with an AGN. We are able to fit the TESS light curve with a damped-random-walk (DRW) model and recover a rest-frame variability amplitude of $$\hat{\sigma } = 0.93 \pm 0.02$$ mJy and a rest-frame time-scale of $$\tau _{DRW} = 20^{+15}_{-6}$$ d. We find that the estimated τDRW for ASASSN-18el is broadly consistent with an apparent relationship between the DRW time-scale and central supermassive black hole mass. The large-amplitude stochastic variability of ASASSN-18el, particularly during late stages of the flare, suggests that the origin of this ANT is likely due to extreme AGN activity rather than a TDE. 

ABSTRACT As part of an All-Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN) search for sources with large flux decrements, we discovered a transient where the quiescent, stellar source ASASSN-V J192114.84+624950.8 rapidly decreased in flux by $$\sim 55{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$$ (∼0.9 mag) in the g band. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite light curve revealed that the source is a highly eccentric, eclipsing binary. Fits to the light curve using phoebe find the binary orbit to have e = 0.79, Porb = 18.462 d, and i = 88.6°, and the ratios of the stellar radii and temperatures to be R2/R1 = 0.71 and Te,2/Te,1 = 0.82. Both stars are chromospherically active, allowing us to determine their rotational periods of P1 = 1.52 d and P2 = 1.79 d, respectively. A Large Binocular Telescope/Multi-Object Double Spectrograph spectrum shows that the primary is a late-G- or early-K-type dwarf. Fits to the spectral energy distribution show that the luminosities and temperatures of the two stars are L1 = 0.48 L⊙, $$T_1= 5050\, \mathrm{K}$$, L2 = 0.12 L⊙, and $$T_{2} = 4190\, \mathrm{K}$$. We conclude that ASASSN-V J192114.84+624950.8 consists of two chromospherically active, rotational variable stars in a highly elliptical eclipsing orbit.