Photometric reverberation mapping of Markarian 279
  By using standard broad-band VRI photometry we were able to discriminate the
variations of the broad hydrogen alpha line from the continuum variations for
the active galaxy Mkn 279. Cross-correlating both light curves enabled us to
determine the time lag of the broad line variations behind the continuum and
thus to determine the BLR size (about 8 light days). Our preliminary results
are rather consistent with the spectroscopic reverberation mapping results
(about 12/17 days). This study is a part of an ambitious program to perform
photometric reverberation mapping and determine BLR sizes (respectively - the
central black hole masses) for more that 100 nearby AGN.
