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Subsections

3 Results

Table 1 lists the 9 quasars for which photometric sequences were obtained; coordinates at the 2000 equinox are given. BVR magnitudes of the reference stars are reported in Table 2, together with their uncertainties ($\sigma$) and the number of observations (N) for each band. For 10 stars VR magnitudes only are given. The magnitude and uncertainty evaluation has been performed as in Paper I.
  
Table 1: List of the quasars for which photometric sequences are derived

\begin{tabular}
{llll}
\hline
\noalign {\medskip}
Source & Name & RA (2000) & De...
 ...3C 454.3} & 22 53 57.75 & +16 08 53.6 \\ \noalign {\medskip}
\hline\end{tabular}

Finding charts for the stars identification are shown in Figs. 1-9. They are $10\rm\,arcmin$ wide; north is up and east is on the left.

3.1 PKS 0528+134

The blazar PKS 0528+134 has recently been pointed for long periods of time by the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO); consequently, international collaborations have been started in order to intensify the study of this object at different wavelengths.

We are not aware of any photometric sequence in its field, so that our work can offer a way to calibrate the large amount of optical data expected from this huge monitoring campaign.

We have to notice that Star 2 of our photometric sequence (see Fig. 2) is not a point-like source and, in good-seeing nights, it appears as a double object.

  
\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=8.4cm]{ds1501f1.eps}\end{figure} Figure 1: Finding chart of PKS 0420-01
  
\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=8.4cm]{ds1501f2.eps}\end{figure} Figure 2: Finding chart of PKS 0528+134

  
Table 2: BVR magnitudes of the comparison stars

\begin{tabular}
{ccccccccc}
\hline
\noalign {\medskip}
Blazar&Star&$B$\space ($\...
 ...) &3& 15.94 (0.02) &3& 15.34 (0.02) &3\\ \noalign {\medskip}
\hline\end{tabular}


3.2 OJ 248

The magnitudes determined for Stars 2, 4, and 5 in the field of OJ 248 are in agreement, within the errors, with those published by Villata et al. (1997) for Stars A, C, and B.
  
\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=8.4cm]{ds1501f3.eps}\end{figure} Figure 3: Finding chart of OJ 248

3.3 4C 29.45

A photometric sequence was published by Smith et al. (1985); BVR standard magnitudes of the same stars were also measured by Villata et al. (1997), substantially confirming the previous results. Stars 13, 14, and 15 in the above works correspond to Stars 2, 3, and 4 in the present paper and the calibrations agree within the errors. We add one star (Star 1), brighter and closer to the quasar.

A comparison among the different calibrations is performed in Table 3.

  
\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=8.4cm]{ds1501f4.eps}\end{figure} Figure 4: Finding chart of 4C 29.45

  
Table 3: Comparison among different calibrations in the field of 4C 29.45

\begin{tabular}
{\vert cccc\vert cccc\vert cccc\vert}
\hline
&&&&&&&&&&&\\ \mult...
 ...&(0.05)&(0.05)&(0.05)& &(0.05)&(0.05)&(0.04)\\ &&&&&&&&&&&\\ \hline\end{tabular}
  
\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=8.4cm]{ds1501f5.eps}\end{figure} Figure 5: Finding chart of 4C 21.35

3.4 3C 279

BVR magnitudes of Stars 1 and 5 are published in Villata et al. (1997; their Stars D and A); they are in agreement with the present values with the only exception of the V magnitude of Star 5.

The object "S" in Fig. 6 is characterized by large-amplitude and rapid variability. Its coordinates are $\rm RA(2000)=12^h\, 56^m\, 8\hbox{$.\!\!^{\rm s}$}
47$, $\rm Dec.(2000)=-5\hbox{$^\circ$}\, 44\hbox{$^\prime$}\, 34\hbox{$.\!\!^{\prime\prime}$}5$. It has been named "Simona" in Villata et al. (1998b).

  
\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=8.4cm]{ds1501f6.eps}\end{figure} Figure 6: Finding chart of 3C 279

3.5 PKS 1510-08

BVR magnitudes of two among the six comparison stars calibrated in the present work are reported in Villata et al. (1997): Stars A and B in that paper are our Stars 4 and 6. The respective magnitudes are in accordance within the errors, apart from the B magnitude of Star 6.
  
\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=8.4cm]{ds1501f7.eps}\end{figure} Figure 7: Finding chart of PKS 1510-08

3.6 3C 454.3

A UBV photometric sequence for 3C 454.3 was determined by Angione (1971); four stars of that sequence (plus another star) were recently calibrated in VRI by Fiorucci et al. (1998). A comparison among calibrations is performed in Table 4: a general agreement is found, when considering the large estimated uncertainties affecting some data. We notice that the magnitudes of Star 1 published by the quoted authors are lower than ours; we suspect that this could be due to a contribution to its flux by the fainter star close to it (see Fig. 9), when the photometry is performed with large aperture.
  
Table 4: Comparison among different calibrations in the field of 3C 454.3

\begin{tabular}
{\vert cccc\vert ccc\vert ccc\vert}
\hline
&&&&&&&&&\\ \multicol...
 ... &(0.09)&(0.09) & &($\sim 0.05$)&($\sim 0.05$)\\ &&&&&&&&&\\ \hline\end{tabular}

  
\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=8.4cm]{ds1501f8.eps}\end{figure} Figure 8: Finding chart of CTA 102
  
\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=8.4cm]{ds1501f9.eps}\end{figure} Figure 9: Finding chart of 3C 454.3

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