PKS 0716 71

Special Notice #295: Bright outburst of the BL Lac object PKS 0716+71

September 18, 2012:  AAVSO observer Klaus Wenzel (Grossostheim, Germany) noted that the BL Lacertae object PKS 0716+71 (== S5 0716+714) is currently brighter than it has been in several years, being at magnitude 12.7 (visual) on 2012 September 13.1354 (JD 2456183.6354).  This AGN is highly variable on short timescales, but recent observations of this object indicate that it remains bright.