GCN Circular 42707
Sean MacBride (University of Zurich), Erin Howard, Ian Sullivan, Peter Yoachim, Eric Bellm (University of Washington), Shreya Anand (Stanford University), Federica Bianco (University of Delaware), Tiago Ribeiro, Lynne Jones, Alysha Shugart, Narayan Khadka, Kshitija Kelkar, Danica Zilkova, Kevin Fanning, Paulina Venegas, Kate Napier, Erik Dennihy, Anastasia Alexov, Bob Blum (NSF-DOE Vera C Rubin Observatory), Yousuke Utsumi (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan), Robert Lupton (Princeton University), Keith Bechtol (University of Wisconsin-Madison), reporting on behalf of NSF-DOE Vera C Rubin Observatory:
We observed the localization region of the sub-solar mass merger S251112cm, reported by LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA (GCN 42650, GCN 42690) with the 9.6 square degree field of view LSST Camera mounted on the 8.4-m Simonyi Survey Telescope at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. As reported in GCN 42690, S251112cm has a reported 90% localization area of 1681 square degrees and an expected false alarm rate of approximately one in four years. This is the first Target-of-Opportunity observation with Rubin Observatory since the transition to operations in late October 2025.
Rubin Observatory is in an early operations period of continued system optimization, prior to beginning sustained LSST observations [1]. During this period, data quality and acquisition rate are variable. Not all data products that will be available during the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) operations are currently available [2].
Observations were conducted through engagement of the new Rubin Target-of-Opportunity advisory board, as a sub-solar mass merger does not meet the typical alert quality criteria for Rubin Target-of-Opportunity (ToO) observation [3]. The observing strategy for this event is to image the localization area in LSST g and i bands, with one 30 second visit for each band, on nights 0, 2, 4, and 6 of the observing campaign.
On November 15 2025, at 01:49:27 UTC, we began observing the localization region of S251112cm, using the initial localization information provided in GCN 42650. We observed 39.2% (849.1 deg^2) of the localization area in the g-band, and 33.5% (754.9 deg^2) of the localization area in the i band. The difference in coverage was due to the localization area of S251112cm setting early in the night in Chile, before the telescope could observe the region in i band. For these observations, we reached a median depth of 24.8 mag in g band, 23.7 mag in the i band.
Due to the lack of prior Rubin observations in most of the imaging area, we performed image differencing against DECam templates. To support the usage of DECam templates, we devised a custom image processing task to create DECam templates from DES templates for use with LSSTCam observations. Apart from the DECam template task, we utilize the standard LSST data release production pipeline to obtain difference images and photometry on difference image sources [4].
With only a single epoch of observations at Rubin Observatory, we are unable to characterize viable candidates from Rubin observations alone. Here, we report on candidates reported in GCN 42658, 42663, 42666, 42675, 42677, 42681, 42682, and 42691. We do not recover several candidates from these GCN’s for one of many reasons: lack of signal in the difference images, poor image subtraction near the source, or a lack of imaging in the region. Here, we report the candidates that pass these criteria, and comment on any notable nearby galaxies, given the reported luminosity distance from LVK (GCN 42650).
We perform visual inspection on difference images that are coincident with previously reported candidates. We positively detect AT2025adgq, AT2025adhf, AT2025adkl, AT2025adjp, and AT2025addc. AT2025adhf and AT2025adkl were only detected unambiguously in one band (g and i respectively). Whether they are not detected in the other band is still under investigation.. AT2025adgq is detected unambiguously in two bands, separated from a host galaxy by ~10 arcseconds. AT2025adhf is nuclear to a barred spiral galaxy (WISEA J024344.38-551906.1), but its WISE colors are not consistent with the host being an AGN. AT2025adkl is offset by 90’ from a galaxy within the NED volume (GCN 42653), slightly offset from a small distant galaxy, and detected unambiguously in one band. AT2025adjp and AT2025addc are isolated sources detected unambiguously in two bands.
Here we report difference photometry for the aforementioned candidates:
| AT Name | Observation Date [UTC] | RA | Dec | g | unc_g | i | unc_i |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT2025adgq | 2025-11-15 | 7.3825 | -39.5143 | 19.55 | 0.005 | 19.52 | 0.003 |
| AT2025adhf | 2025-11-15 | 40.9351 | -55.3184 | - | - | 19.21 | 0.004 |
| AT2025adkl | 2025-11-15 | 7.5357 | -41.0787 | 21.58 | 0.014 | - | - |
| AT2025adjp | 2025-11-15 | 4.5396 | -33.8543 | 21.17 | 0.010 | 20.90 | 0.016 |
| AT2025addc | 2025-11-15 | 73.8589 | -53.1621 | 20.91 | 0.009 | 21.25 | 0.022 |
Analysis of these candidates is ongoing. We will continue to observe the localization area of S251112cm in the coming days according to the observing plan.
We thank all who contributed to the design and implementation of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Target-of-Opportunity system, including but not limited to, the LSST Transients and Variable Stars Science Collaboration Multiwavelength Characterization and Counterparts subgroup. We especially thank the Rubin Observatory observers, who are instrumental to the performance and success of the LSST.
This material is based upon work supported in part by the National Science Foundation through Cooperative Agreements AST-1258333 and AST-2241526 and Cooperative Support Agreements AST-1202910 and 2211468 managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), and the Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-76SF00515 with the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory managed by Stanford University. Additional Rubin Observatory funding comes from private donations, grants to universities, and in-kind support from LSST-DA Institutional Members.
[1] sitcomtn-005.lsst.io, §6
[2] lse-163.lsst.io
[3] www.inspirehep.net/literature/2846480
[4] pstn-019.lsst.io