AGILE detection of a gamma-ray flare from the blazar 3C 273

AGILE is detecting significant gamma-ray emission above 100 MeV from a source positionally consistent with the the blazar 3C 273. Integrating from 2010-01-06 16 50 UT to 2010-01-08 07 50 UT, a quicklook maximum likelihood analysis yields a detection of 3C 273 at a significance level of about 5.0 sigma, and flux F = (450 140)e-8 ph/cm2/sec (E > 100 MeV), The most recent gamma-ray detection of significant emission from 3C 273 was reported by Fermi/LAT (ATel#2200) in September 2009, at a level comparable with our detection.