X-ray observations of a large-scale solar coronal shock wave

We report observations of a propagating disturbance in the solar corona observed in emission in soft X-ray images from the Yohkoh Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT). The disturbance was associated with a are which began at about 09:04 UT on 1997 November 03. This are was associated with a type II radio burst observed at decimetric-dekametric wavelengths by the Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam Radio Spectrograph. Halpha data from Kanzelhohe Solar Observatory show that a Moreton wave was associated with this event. Moreover, Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) 195 Angstrom data show an 'EIT wave' associated with this event. Extrapolations of the leading edge of the propagating soft X-ray disturbance show a close association with both of these wave features. The soft X-ray disturbance is observed to travel with a speed of about 546 km s(-1). Using Nancay Radioheliograph data we directly determine the source locations of the type II radio burst. These are found to be located close to the soft X-ray disturbance and show motions consistent with the soft X-ray motions. These results lead us to conclude that the "SXT wave" is the coronal counterpart of a Moreton wave, analogous to EIT waves, i.e., it is the first confirmed direct observation of a solar coronal shock wave in X-rays.