1280
1279
1277

2013-04-18: Due to the Target of Opportunity targets IGR J18245-2452 and Mkn 421, the foreseen Galactic bulge monitoring observations in 1282 and 1284, respectively, have been unscheduled. This, therefore, prematurely ends the current observation window. The next visibility windows starts in mid August again.

2013-03-30: A new hard X-ray transient has been discovered by INTEGRAL: IGR J18245-2452, in M28 (see ATel 4927). It was not seen during our Galactic bulge observations in Revolution 1276. It is visible in Revolution 1277. Note that some IBIS data are missing, since it was turned off due to the high radiation at the beginning of the revolution.

2013-03-01: The Rapid Burster (MXB 1730-335) is active in Revolution 1267. It was not yet seen in the Revolution before that (1266). This has been reported in ATel #4848.

2013-02-25: The observations from Revolutions 1265 and 1266 show that KS 1742-293 is active again. This has been reported in ATel #4840.

2013-02-11: During the first observation of the current season, we find the transient sources Swift J174510.8-262411, Swift J1753.7-2544, XTE J1810-189 and XTE J1739-285 to be still active, while 1E 1740.7-2942 is still off. ATel #4804 has been issued to report this.

2013-02-06: Are you missing a source we should be following in the Galactic bulge region? Please let us know.

2013-01-29: The AO10 series of the Galactic bulge monitoring programme will start in Revolution 1261, on Feb 11, 2013. As usual, the overview of upcoming planned observations can be found in the observation schedule.

2012-10-27: Revolution 1226 was the last of the current AO9 series of Galactic bulge monitoring observations. The next season will start in the beginning of February 2013.

2012-10-17: Happy 10-years-in-space-birthday, INTEGRAL! Together with this celebration, a couple of movies featuring the Galactic bulge monitoring results, as well as a 3D-view of our Galaxy as seen by INTEGRAL, were released. A preview was shown at the 9th INTEGRAL Workshop - "An INTEGRAL view of the high-energy sky (the first 10 years)".

2012-09-19: A new, bright, Galactic X-ray transient has appeared in the Galactic center region in revolution 1212 (ATel #4381): Swift J174510.8-262411, also abbreviated to Sw J1745-26 (see GCNs 13774 and 13775, and ATels #4380, 4381, 4383, 4385, 4388, 4393, and 4394. The compact object is most probably a black hole. The transient triggered an INTEGRAL monitoring program for up to 1 Msec (PI: Belloni). Because of this ToO, the Galactic bulge monitoring program (as well as other programs) has been put on hold. We refer to the INTEGRAL scheduling pages for up-to-date scheduling information.

2012-08-13: A new season of Galactic bulge monitoring started today in revolution 1200. See the INTEGRAL scheduling pages for more information. As usual the near-real-time data can be downloaded from the ISDC, shortly following the end of a monitoring observation. Once processed by the ISDC the consolidated data can also be downloaded from the public available area. We note that in AO9 the monitoring may not be done every revolution (see the AO9 long-term plan), because of scheduling constraints in the current AO9 program.

The transient X-ray burster XTE J1739-285 is clearly active in JEM-X (last outburst was in 2006), as already reported in ATel #4304.

2012-04-16: Revolution 1161 was the last of the current series of Galactic bulge monitoring observations. The next season will start in the beginning of August. See the INTEGRAL Long-Term Plan for more information.

2012-03-08: Solar flares are hampering INTEGRAL's observations. Currently, all instruments are in safe mode. Since the radiation level is still high, it is not known yet when nominal operations return. Therefore, the Galactic bulge monitoring observations foreseen in revolution 1148 have not been executed.