An Active Galactic Nucleus Identification for 3EG J2006–2321

We present a multiwavelength analysis of the high-energy gamma-ray source 3EG J2006-2321 (l = 1882, b = -2626). The flux of this source above 100 MeV is shown to be variable on timescales of days and months. Optical observations and careful examination of archived radio data indicate that its most probable identification is with PMN J2005-2310, a flat-spectrum radio quasar with a 5 GHz flux density of 260 mJy. Study of the V = 19.3 optical counterpart indicates a redshift of 0.833 and variable linear polarization. No X-ray source has been detected near the position of PMN J2005-2310, but an X-ray upper limit is derived from ROSAT data. This upper limit provides for a spectral energy distribution with global characteristics similar to those of known gamma-ray blazars. Taken together, these data indicate that 3EG J2006-2321, listed as unidentified in the Third EGRET Catalog, is a member of the blazar class of active galactic nuclei (AGNs). The 5 GHz radio flux density of this blazar is the lowest of the 68 EGRET-detected AGNs. The fact that EGRET has detected such a source has implications for unidentified EGRET sources, particularly those at high latitudes (|b| > 30^°), many of which may be blazars.