6 Progress

One step towards that goal, now in place, is the fully automatic comparison of Ulysses data with any GCN-distributed GRB event, to search for an increase in the Ulysses data that may fit the presence of, and light-travel time from, the event seen near the Earth by BATSE or the other participants in the GCN. A successful fit will automatically create a two-spacecraft burst source annulus; this will generally limit the several-degree BATSE source field to a considerably smaller total celestial area. These annular segments are distributed in turn by the GCN to the community. The extension of this process to use NEAR data, as well as Ulysses data, is presently being undertaken, towards the goal of automating GRB source localizations. The other step being pursued is the automation of the NEAR data generation, in analogy to the process in use with Konus data. That is, GRB events will be both first detected in the NEAR data, generating a search in the Ulysses and other spacecraft data files, and vice versa. The last human step, the calculation of the limits of the source field, or "error box", must also be automated before the results can be delivered in the most reliable and rapid manner.