The transient optical source MASTER OT J072007.30+451611.6 has been recently discovered and proposed as a peculiar polar with an unusually high amplitude of the orbital brightness variation in the optical of $\sim$3 mag. To clarify its nature, we performed multiband time-series optical photometry with 1.5-m class telescopes and spectroscopy with the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio Canarias. We also analysed archival data of different optical surveys and detected the source in X-rays with the Spectrum-RG/eROSITA telescope (extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array on board Spectrum Roentgen Gamma observatory). We confirm the orbital period of $\approx$1.5 h with the high amplitude of the brightness modulation. Compiling survey data, covering $\sim$19 yr, we find high and low-brightness states of the object at time-scales of years, likely explained by different accretion rates. Our data were obtained in the high-brightness state. Optical spectra with hydrogen and helium emission lines, consisting of broad and narrow components, indicate the presence of an accretion stream without disc. The Doppler tomography shows that the narrow component is mainly emitted from the Lagrangian L${}_1$ point, while the broad component is from the region where the accretion stream interacts with the white dwarf magnetosphere. The ratio of equivalent widths of He II 4686 and H $\beta$ emission lines is $<$0.4, which is curiously low for polars. The X-ray spectrum of the source can be described by the thermal plasma emission model with parameters consistent with values observed for polars.

We present the optical discovery and multiwavelength follow-up observations of AT 2024kmq, a likely tidal disruption event (TDE) associated with a supermassive (M_BH ∼ 10⁸ M_⊙) black hole in a massive galaxy at z = 0.192. The optical light curve of AT 2024kmq exhibits two distinct peaks: an early fast (timescale 1 day) and luminous (M ≈ ‑20 mag) red peak, then a slower (timescale 1 month) blue peak with a higher optical luminosity (M ≈ ‑22 mag) and featureless optical spectra. The second component is similar to the spectroscopic class of "featureless TDEs" in the literature, and during this second component we detect highly variable, luminous (L_X ≈ 10⁴⁴ erg s^‑1), and hard (f_ν ∝ ν^‑1.5) X-ray emission. Luminous (10²⁹ erg s^‑1 Hz^‑1 at 10 GHz) but unchanging radio emission likely arises from an underlying active galactic nucleus. The luminosity, timescale, and color of the early red optical peak can be explained by synchrotron emission, or alternatively by thermal emission from material at a large radius (R ≈ a few × 10¹⁵ cm). Possible physical origins for this early red component include an off-axis relativistic jet, and shocks from self-intersecting debris leading to the formation of the accretion disk. Late-time radio observations will help distinguish between the two possibilities.

Context. Galaxy groups are more susceptible to feedback from the central active galactic nuclei (AGNs) due to their lower gravitational binding energy compared to clusters. This makes them ideal laboratories to study feedback effects on the overall energy and baryonic mass budget. Aims. We study the LOFAR-detected galaxy group Nest200047, where there is clear evidence of multiple generations of radio lobes from the AGN. Using 140 ks Chandra and 25 ks XMM-Newton data, we investigated thermodynamic properties of the intragroup medium, including any excess energy due to the central AGN. We also investigated the X-ray properties of the central black hole and constrained the 2‑10 keV X-ray flux. Methods. We used spectral analysis techniques to measure various thermodynamic profiles across the whole field of view. We also used both imaging and spectral analysis to detect and estimated the energy deposited by potential shocks and cavities. Due to the faint emission from the object beyond the core, various background effects were considered. Results. Nest200047 has significant excess entropy, and the AGN likely contributes to a part of it. There is an excess energy of (5‑6.5)×10⁶⁰ erg within 400 kpc, exceeding the binding energy. The pressure profile indicates that gas is likely being ejected from the system, resulting in a baryon fraction of ∼4% inside r₅₀₀. From scaling relations, we estimated a black hole mass of (1‑4)×10⁹ M_⊙. An upper limit of 2.1×10⁴⁰ erg s^‑1 was derived on the black hole bolometric luminosity, which is ∼2.5% of the Bondi accretion power. Conclusions. Nest200047 is likely part of a class of over-heated galaxy groups, such as ESO 3060170, AWM 4, and AWM 5. Such excessive heating may lead to high quenching of star formation. Moreover, the faint X-ray nuclear emission in Nest is likely due to the accretion energy being converted into jets rather than radiation.

We report on a detailed study of a luminous, heavily obscured ($N_{\mathrm{H}}\sim 2\times {10}^{23}$ cm${}^{-2}$), radio-loud quasar SRGA J230631.0 + 155633 discovered in the 4–12 keV energy band by the Mikhail Pavlinsky Astronomical Roentgen Telescope X-ray Concentrator (ART-XC) telescope aboard the SRG observatory during the first two years of its all-sky X-ray survey in 2020–2021. The object is located at $z=0.4389$ and is a type 2 active galactic nucleus according to optical spectroscopy (Sloan Digital Sky Survey, confirmed by Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument). We combine radio-to-X-ray data, including near-simultaneous ART-XC and Swift X-ray Telescope (XRT) observations conducted in 2023 June. During these follow-up observations, the source was found in a significantly fainter but still very luminous state ($L_{\mathrm{X}}={1.0}_{-0.3}^{+0.8}\times {10}^{45}$ erg s${}^{-1}$, absorption corrected, 2–10 keV) compared to its discovery ($L_{\mathrm{X}}=6_{-3}^{+6}\times {10}^{45}$ erg s${}^{-1}$), which indicates significant intrinsic variability on a rest-frame time-scale of $\sim 1$ yr. The radio data show a complex morphology with a core and two extended radio lobes, indicating a giant FRII radio galaxy. From multiwavelength photometry and the black hole–bulge relation, we infer a bolometric luminosity of $\sim 6\times {10}^{46}$ erg s${}^{-1}$ and a black hole mass of $\sim 1.4\times {10}^9{\mathrm{M}}_{\odot }$, implying accretion at $\sim 30$ per cent of the Eddington limit. SRGA J230631.0 + 155633 proves to be one of the most luminous obscured quasars out to $z=0.5$. As such, it can serve as a valuable testbed for in-depth exploration of the physics of such objects, which were much more abundant in the younger Universe.

Context. Transitional millisecond pulsars (tMSPs) in tight binary systems represent an important evolutionary link between low-mass X-ray binaries and radio millisecond pulsars. To date, only three confirmed tMSPs and a few candidates have been discovered. Most of them are γ-ray sources. For this reason, searching for multi-wavelength counterparts to unassociated Fermiγ-ray sources can help us find new tMSPs. Aims. We investigate whether the unassociated γ-ray source 4FGL J1824.2+1231 belongs to the tMSP family. Methods. To find the counterpart to 4FGL J1824.2+1231, we used data from the SRG/eROSITA and Swift X-ray catalogues and from different optical catalogues. We also performed time-series photometric optical observations of the source with the 2.1 m telescope of the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional San Pedro Mártir, the 1.5 m telescope of the Maidanak Astronomical Observatory, and the 1.5 m Russian-Turkish telescope. In addition, we carried out optical spectroscopic observations with the Russian-Turkish telescope and used archival spectroscopic data obtained with the Gemini-North telescope. Results. Within the position error ellipse of 4FGL J1824.2+1231, we find only one X-ray source that coincides with an optical object. We consider it a likely multi-wavelength counterpart to 4FGL J1824.2+1231. The source shows strong optical variability and significant proper motion. The latter strongly implies that it is a Galactic source. Double-peaked H and He emission lines are detected in its spectrum with a flat continuum, as often observed in accretion disks of compact binary systems. The X-ray spectrum is well fitted by a power law with a photon index of ∼1.7. The derived intrinsic X-ray-to-γ-ray flux ratio is about 0.2. Conclusions. Assuming the X-ray/optical source is the true counterpart to 4FGL J1824.2+1231, all its properties suggest that it is a tMSP in the sub-luminous disk state.