SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL 43025 PROFESSOR BRIAN MCBREEN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN IRELAND 4 DUBLIN STILLORGAN ROAD E-mail: BMCBREEN@IRLEARN.UCD.IE Tel: 353-1-7062218 Fax: 353-1-2837275 Medium: 4GBDAT Subject: AGN Title: ASCA OBSERVATIONS OF THE TRANSITIONAL SOURCE B2 1308+326 - BL LAC OBJECT OR OVV QUASAR? Abstract: We propose ASCA observations of the hybrid BL Lac-OVV quasar object B2 1308+326 (z=0.996) in order to determine, on the basis of its x-ray spectrum, the true character of this source. It displays strong variability, high polarisation and weak line emission, all of which led to its classification as a BL Lac object. However, its VLBI polarisation structure perpendicular to the jet and association with a Fanaroff-Riley II radio galaxy make this classification dubious. The known x-ray spectral differences between BL Lacs and both highly polarised quasars and flat radio spectrum QSOs provide a means whereby the true nature of B2 1308+326 may be deduced. Simultaneous optical and radio monitoring will be used to investigate the suggestion that this source is a microlensed quasar. Co-Is: 1 TASHIRO MAKOTO UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO JAPAN (No Co-I contact data) 2 HANLON LORRAINE U.C. DUBLIN IRELAND 3 SMITH NIALL R.T.C. CORK IRELAND 4 STEEL SIMON U.C. DUBLIN IRELAND 5 WAGNER STEFAN MAX-PLANCK GERMANY 6 O' FLAHERTY KAREN ESTEC NETH 7 METCALFE LEO VILSPA SPAIN Target Name PRI RA Dec Time TC Off GIS SIS_Cts Obs ------------------- --- -------- -------- ---- -- --- --- ------- --- B2 1308+326 1 197.6188 32.3454 40 Y N P 0.20000 1 REMARKS: THE OPTIMUM PERIOD FOR OPTICAL OBSERVATIONS IS MARCH TO APRIL BUT THE SOURCE IS ALSO ACCESSIBLE IN FEBRUARY AND MAY. Co-Ordinated Ob: Start: May 20, 1996 at 00 UT Stop: Jul 25, 1996 at 00 UT