AstroNote 2026-111

ZTF26aaqodeo / AT2026irt  was first detected by ZTF on 2026-03-28 as an alert with a detection of g = 20.25 mag. Forced photometry reveals detections as early as 2026-03-20, with a color of g-r = -0.321 mag. It was reported as a transient to TNS on 2026-03-28. The candidate was identified as a likely TDE by tdescore, and assigned for spectroscopic follow-up. The transient is now post-peak with g-r = -0.168 mag. We obtained an optical spectrum on 2026-04-20 with LRIS on the Keck-I telescope (PI: Chornock), which revealed a blue continuum and broad features consistent with He II/N III, in line with the TDE-He class. The redshift was secured from host galaxy stellar absorption lines (z=0.1087). The spectrum also exhibited narrow line emission consistent with a star-forming host. With these observations, coupled with the persistent blue light curve, we classify ZTF26aaqodeo / AT2026irt as a likely TDE.

ZTF25acgtfmh / AT2025ahbd was first classified as a TDE on 2026-02-23 (TNSCR #23046) due to its persistent blue optical colors and good match to TDE templates using SNID-SAGE. We report further follow-up of this object with LRIS on 2026-04-20, which reveals a spectrum consistent with an AGN. This includes strong, broad triple-peaked Balmer emission, narrow N II and O III, and broad Mg II 2800 emission. The WISE colors are also consistent with an AGN (W1-W2 = 0.77) and the source was detected with eROSITA. Given this spectrum and the other multiwavelength characteristics, we reclassify ZTF25acgtfmh / AT2025ahbd as an AGN.

Based on observations obtained with the Samuel Oschin Telescope 48-inch and the 60-inch Telescope at the Palomar Observatory as part of the Zwicky Transient Facility project. ZTF is supported by the National Science Foundation under Award #2407588 and a partnership including Caltech, USA; Caltech/IPAC, USA; University of Maryland, USA; University of California, Berkeley, USA; University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, USA; Cornell University, USA; Drexel University, USA; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA; Institute of Science and Technology, Austria; National Central University, Taiwan; Operations are conducted by Caltech's Optical Observatory (COO), Caltech/IPAC, and the University of Washington at Seattle, USA.