X-ray observations of characteristic structures and time variations from the solar corona: preliminary results from Skylab

Examples taken from the S-054 X-ray telescope observations made during the first Skylab mission show the hot coronal plasma tracing the configuration of the magnetic fields. The high spectral resolution and sensitivity of the instrument has enabled the following two facts to be more firmly established: (a) that the quiet homogeneous corona'' is in fuct highly structured and that the structures observed appear to be the results of dispersed active region magnetic fields; and (b) that numerons bright points are distributed randomly on the disk. Their presence at high latitudes may play a role in solar cycle models. In addition, the capability of Skylab for studying time evolution has enabled the restructuring of coronal features to be seen at times of high actrv- ity, indicating a restructuring of the coronal magnetic fields. Subject headings: corona, solar--X-rays, solar. (auth)