March 20, 1998 HSH SXT CHIEF OBSERVER'S REPORT AND TABLE PLAN CHIEF OBSERVER'S REPORT for Week 12 14-Mar-98 to 20-Mar-98 SOLAR ACTIVITY Solar activity returned to a high level, including now some major flares. Last week we commented on the high-latitude region in the N, but there has also been an important one in the S, interconnected to another same-hemisphere region. That's the subject of this week's nugget. SXT INSTRUMENT STATUS SXT is working fine, but over the past day or so - at least 18-19 March, as far as we know now, the star tracker STT was not functional. This is a ground-based software problem, not anything on board. See the weekly operations meeting report for details. The latitude spread of the current ARs exceeds the SXT patrol capability, so we are at some risk of not obtaining a correct flare mode behavior. Chief observers should keep an eye on the patrol image window for the next year or so, as these high-latitude regions occur. I judge that the new N region will be OK with the current setting, so I am leaving it as-is for Week 13. I have added the DPE 2 leak-monitor image to the H rate table, because we weren't getting enough real-time examples. PLANNING There will be no resident Chief Observer at ISAS between Mar. 21 and Mar. 29. Here's what we will do: * This week's CO will make upload tables for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights (see below for details). The KSC tohbans will transfer each one in its proper sequence, the day before the upload, and then upload. They have been doing the same routine flawlessly this week, so I think there will be no problem. The three tables will be DARKCAL, DIFF, and STD, dwelling on the Al.1 filter for terminators. By the way, Al.1 SFD's were beautiful today despite the STT problem. * McKenzie will monitor health and functionality (QUICKSTRAY, TERM_REVIEW, LASTSFD, whatever). * Kano will be the local reference. He knows how to adjust the patrol window, the likeliest emergency action, and has a copy of the current checksheet. * MK_VISIBLE, the NASA HQ report, and other stuff will just wait til Nariaki or I arrive. I now plan to get back to Tokyo on Sunday, first day at ISAS Monday. SXT SCIENCE For Web material see Weekly: ftp://isass0.solar.isas.ac.jp/pub/sxt_co/SXTweekly.html Index: ftp://isass0.solar.isas.ac.jp/pub/sxt_co/index.html 1997: ftp://isass0.solar.isas.ac.jp/pub/yohkoh_in_1997/1997.html CAMPAIGNS There were no formal campaigns this week. PERSONNEL SEMINARS March 19. K. Nakakubo - automated XBP survey shows that there is not much solar-cycle variation of XBP numbers. The database thus made probably has many useful applications. March 19. T. Yoshida - the XDT (X-ray Doppler Telescope), a review of the rather beautiful data from the January rocket flight, together with some analysis of ratio maps and commentary about simultaneous EIT and Yohkoh data. March 19 (at NAOJ) - G. Haerendel - interesting and novel ideas about spicules and chromospheric heating. SXT TABLE PLAN FOR WEEK 98_13 (21-Mar-98 - 28-Mar-98) SXT Chief Observer: Hudson There are no special operations this week, just the standard tables. Note please that each day prior to the table upload, the KSC tohbans are to use SXTSPT to tranfer that night's table from the "UPLOAD LIST" as they have been doing. The final entry, "980325 P3 ARS1 STD", will stay on board Yohkoh until a new table can be prepared. ________________________________#_______________________________ JST Day UT Start Time Pass Table ID Sunday 21-MAR-98 18:08 3 980321 P3 ARS1 STD Tuesday 23-MAR-98 17:01 3 980323 P3 ARS1 DIF Wednesday 24-MAR-98 17:19 4 980324 P4 DARKCAL Thursday 25-MAR-98 15:54 3 980325 P3 ARS1 STD Saturday 27-MAR-98 14:47 3 980327 P3 ARS1 STD This naming convention uses the UT date of the first contact, even if the JST upload date may be different. Continuing requests: SSOC Tohban: On the weekly visible diagram, please mark the official five passes first and then cross out those passes that will be given to other satellites. That way we can keep the numbering straight in the Yohkoh software system. SSOC Tohban: SXT operations do not currently include terminator off- pointing. It is unnecessary this week to ask the SXT Chief Observer for terminator off-pointing information. KSC & SSOC Tohbans: If any KSC passes are likely to be cancelled (for example due to a typhoon) or an SXT table cannot be uploaded for some reason, please telephone and e-mail the Chief Observer immediately. (sxt_co@isass0.solar.isas.ac.jp, copy to sxt_st@flare2.solar.isas.ac.jp). KSC Tohbans: In general flare mode supersedes table upload, ie if a flare is in progress please do not upload a new table, and contact the chief observer. Normally it is OK to go ahead with the planned table without change on the next pass, if it is available. Chief observers should keep an eye on this.