Found by an Old Einstein

We obtained new ROSAT HRI and optical observations in the field of the Einstein X-ray source E 0336–248, which we use to identify it as a 19th magnitude BL Lacertae object at z = 0.251 with LX = 1× 10 45 erg s. It is also a 14 mJy radio source at 20 cm. An emission-line galaxy at z = 0.043 that was previously considered a Seyfert identification for E 0336–248 is shown instead to be an unrelated, non-active H II region galaxy that lies 78 from the X-ray source. The resolution of this historical case of mistaken identity illustrates that discoveries of non-AGN emission-line galaxies with high X-ray luminosity should be tested carefully. The properties of E 0336–248 are similar to those of other X-ray selected BL Lacs, including its location in an apparent group or cluster of galaxies. Somewhat unusual is the weak contribution of nonstellar optical light relative to the starlight in the spectrum of its host galaxy, which raises once again the possibility that even high-luminosity BL Lac objects may be difficult to identify in X-ray selected samples. We discuss a possible manifestation of this problem that appeared in the recent literature. 1 Permanent address: Department of Astronomy, Columbia University, 550 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027. 2 Visiting Astronomer, Kitt Peak National Observatory, National Optical Astronomy Observatories, which is operated by AURA, Inc., under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.