20 December 1999 N. V. Nitta CHIEF OBSERVER'S REPORT for Week 51 13-Dec-99 to 19-Dec-99 GENERAL The GOES X-ray background became higher (beyond the C1 level) due to two bright regions AR 8798 and AR 8806. However, the most intense flares barely reached M1. SXT TECHNICAL There were no outstanding issues at the moment, except that the standard recovery plan did not work as expected for an SEU (on 17-Dec-99 JST). Hara-san is investigating the reasons. Pointing may have to be updated some time during the week. For Web material see Current Week: http://isass1.solar.isas.ac.jp/sxt_co/991217.html Index: http://isass1.solar.isas.ac.jp/sxt_co/index.html This week's science nugget deals with a nice CME (17-Aug-99) that indicated interactions of magnetic fields on different scales. CAMPAIGNS There were no organized campaigns this week, waiting for the launch of FlareGenesis. We continued to send daily messages to Antarctica in support of target selection. The FFI sequence returned to the most standard one, whereas the flare sequence still included the modified AEC offset scheme. For SXT plans, see: http://isass1.solar.isas.ac.jp/sxt_co/sxt_future.html For SXT completed campaigns, see: http://isass1.solar.isas.ac.jp/sxt_co/sxt_catalog.html PERSONNEL Hugh Hudson went to California primarily to attend AGU 99 Fall meeting. Nariaki Nitta arrived to fill a small gap of SXT_CO coverage. SEMINARS No seminar. SXT TABLE PLAN, WEEK 52 (19-Dec-99 to 25-Dec-99) According to the most recent update from Antarctica, the FlareGenesis launch will not take place until 20 December at least. The default setup during the week is ARS1 (letting the spacecraft pick the brightest region), but ARS2 will be used whenever there are reasons to believe that the brightest region is not a region most likely to flare. ________________________________#_______________________________ JST Day UT Start Time Pass Table ID Monday PM 20-DEC-99 03:44 4 991219 P4 ARS1 DARK Tuesday AM 21-DEC-99 00:31 3 991220 P3 ARS1 DIFF Wednesday AM 21-DEC-99 21:19 1 991221 P1 ARS1 FG Thursday AM 22-DEC-99 19:50 1 991222 P1 ARS1 FG Thursday AM 23-DEC-99 00:56 4 991222 P4 ARS1 FG Friday AM 23-DEC-99 23:26 3 991223 P3 ARS1 FG Saturday AM 24-DEC-99 23:38 3 991224 P3 ARS1 STD This plan is subject to change. Continuing requests: 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, i.e. 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.