LIFETIMES AND DISTRIBUTION OF CORONAL BRIGHT POINTS OBSERVED WITH YOHKOH

X-ray imaging from Skylab and various sounding rockets has established the existence of and begun the characterization of coronal X-ray bright points (XBPs). With the launch of Yohkoh, the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) provides a new opportunity to observe these small-scale structures with higher temporal resolution, improved dynamic range, and greater sensitivity. We present the results from the analysis of SXT full-disk images showing the location and detailed evolution of XBPs. We derive correlations of XBPs with magnetic bipoles, He I 10830-angstrom dark points, and other coronal features. From the evolution of 518 XBPs presented in this initial study, we derive a mean lifetime of about 12 hours, with some XBPs lasting as long as 5 days and others less than 10 minutes. A comprehensive study of the relationship between XBP lifetime, X-ray output, size, location, and variability may well lead to a re-evaluation of the nature and definition of XBPs.