AO 0235+164 BVRI photometry

In both optical and radio bands the source has been observed at the faintest ever recorded levels, reaching V=19.80 and F_22GHz_=0.34Jy. In the optical bands we still see variability with amplitudes up to 1.5 magnitudes on timescales from days to weeks.

The radio variability is less dramatic, but in general follows the optical behaviour. A correlation between general trends in the optical and radio behaviour of AO 0235+164 may be recognized in the data from the present monitoring as well as in the historical light curves, suggesting a `base' mechanism responsible for the emission at both frequencies. A good candidate is a synchrotron process in the relativistic jet.