drastic increase in the flux of thermal neutrons of secondary cosmic radiation coming from the Earth was observed in the Pamir Mountains during the solar eclipse of July 22, 1990. In the following years, such phenomena were observed on each new moon and each full moon, when lunar and solar tides combine to produce an exceptionally high resultant tide. Tidal forces may serve as a trigger for the release of the deepearth seismic energy in a certain region. This directed our attention to the search for a temporal correlation between earthquakes and new and full moons, which may help identify a new type of seismic activity precursor. Such a correlation was found in the circum-Pacific belt and the adjacent regions at latitudes above 40° N and 10° S. The results of daytime measurements of the thermal neutron flux from the surface of the Earth in the Western Pamirs (Moskvin Glade, 4200 m above sea level) on August 1–14, 1994, are reported in the present study. Since these days were quiet in terms of weather and heliophysical and geophysical activity, the intensity of neutrons of secondary cosmic radiation was expected to remain almost constant. However, twofold (or even larger) intraday variations of the neutron count rate were observed on August 1–14, 1994. These quiet measurement conditions rule out the possibility that these bursts were associated with certain known extraterrestrial factors. It has been demonstrated that the observed neutron-intensity peaks were produced by lunar and solar tides. These results confirm that tidal forces play a prominent part in the generation of neutron fluxes from the surface of the Earth. The Astronomical Yearbook for 1994 published by the Russian Academy of Sciences was used in the present study.

The main goal of the Vernov mission is the study of magnetospheric relativistic electron precipitation and its possible influence on the upper atmosphere as well as the observation of Transient Luminous Events (TLE) and Terrestrial Gamma Flashes (TGF) across a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum.The RELEC (Relativistic Electrons) instrument complex onboard the Vernov spacecraft includes two identical X- and gamma-ray detectors of high temporal resolution and sensitivity (DRGE-1 and DRGE-2), three axis position detectors for high-energy electrons and protons (DRGE-3), a UV TLE imager (MTEL), a UV detector (DUV), a low frequency analyser (LFA), a radio frequency analyser (RFA), and AN electronics module responsible for control and data collection (BE).The RELEC mission conducts the following experiments:- simultaneous observations of high-energy electron and proton fluxes (within the energy range of similar to 0.1-10.0 MeV) and low-frequency (similar to 0.1-10 kHz) electromagnetic wave field intensity variations with high temporal resolution (similar to 1 ms);- fine time structure (similar to 1 mu s) measurements of transient atmospheric events in UV, X- and gamma rays with an optical imaging capability with a resolution of similar to 1 km in wide field of view (FOV);- measurements of electron flux pitch-angle distributions in dynamical ranges from similar to 0.1 up to 10(5) part/cm(2)/s;- monitoring of charged and neutral background particles in different areas of near-Earth space. (C) 2015 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

We present the first experimental results on the observation of optical transients, gamma-ray bursts, relativistic electrons, and electromagnetic waves obtained during the experiment with the RELEC complex of scientific equipment on the Vernov satellite.

At present, the Institute of Nuclear Physics of Moscow State University, in cooperation with other organizations, is preparing space experiments onboard the Lomonosov satellite. The main goal of this mission is to study extreme astrophysical phenomena such as cosmic gamma-ray bursts and ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. These phenomena are associated with the processes occurring in the early universe in very distant astrophysical objects, therefore, they can provide information on the first stages of the evolution of the universe. This paper considers the main characteristics of the scientific equipment aboard the Lomonosov satellite.

The times of increases in the thermal neutron flux from the earth are compared with the passages of the moon and the sun at the longitudes of the observation sites on July 26, 1991, July 27, 1991, July 12, 1995, July 29, 1996, and July 21, 1997 (the upper and lower transits of the moon and the sun). The results confirm the role of tidal forces in the generation of thermal neutron fluxes from the earth’s surface. The study uses the astronomical annuals of the Russian Academy of Sciences for the corresponding years.

В настоящее время в НИИЯФ МГУ в кооперации с другими организациями ведется подготовка космических экспериментов на борту спутника Ломоносов. Основная задача этой миссии - исследование экстремальных астрофизических явлений, таких, как космические гамма-всплески и космические лучи предельно-высоких энергий. Эти явления связаны с процессами, происходившими в ранней Вселенной в очень удаленных астрофизических объектах, поэтому они могут дать информацию о первых стадиях эволюции Вселенной. В настоящей статье рассматриваются основные характеристики научного оборудования спутника Ломоносов.

The first results obtained through the university small satellites program developed at Moscow State University (MSU) are presented. The space environment was investigated aboard two MSU microsatellites designed for scientific and educational purposes, Universitetsky-Tat’yana and Universitetsky-Tat’yana-2. The scientific equipment is described to study charged particles in near Earth space and atmospheric radiations in ultraviolet, red, and infrared optical wavelength ranges. The dynamic properties of fluxes of charged particles in microsatellite orbits are studied and findings are presented regarding specific parameters of solar proton penetration during the geomagnetic disturbances. Experimental results are considered concerning flashes of ultraviolet (UV), red (R), and infrared (IR) radiation that are transient light phenomena in the upper atmosphere. The space educational MSU program developed on the basis of the Universitetsky-Tat’yana projects is reviewed.

Представлены первые результаты реализации программы создания малых университетских спутников, разработанной в Московском государственном университете им. М.В. Ломоносова: исследование космической среды на борту двух научно-образовательных микроспутников МГУ Университетский–Татьяна и Университетский–Татьяна-2. Описаны комплексы научной аппаратуры, предназначенные для изучения заряженных частиц в околоземном космическом пространстве и излучений атмосферы в ультрафиолетовом и красном-инфракрасном оптических диапазонах длин волн. Представлены результаты исследований динамики потоков заряженных частиц на орбитах микроспутников и особенностей проникновения протонов СКЛ во время геомагнитных возмущений. Рассмотрены экспериментальные данные о вспышках ультрафиолетового и красного-инфракрасного излучений – транзиентных световых явлениях в верхней атмосфере. Приведены результаты космической образовательной программы МГУ, созданной на базе проектов Университетский–Татьяна.

Thermal neutrons' flux near the Earth's crust is very sensitive regarding different processes and phenomena both in the near-Earth space and in the Earth's crust by reason of the dual nature of the thermal neutron flux. Its first source is associated with high-energy particles of cosmic rays penetrating into the Earth's atmosphere and interacting with its elements. The second source originates from the radioactive gases contained in the Earth's crust. So the contributions of these two sources are specified by the Earth's crust conditions and its movements, on one hand and variations of high-energy particles flux near the Earth.The paper presents the observations of the thermal neutrons flux during the Ground level enhancements (GLEs) recorded oil January 20, 2005 and December 13, 2006. January 20, 2005 event became the first clear response to GLE in thermal neutrons' data during the whole period of observations (from 1994). The biggest response observed at Antarctic experimental unit, was in good time correspondence with the response at Neutron Monitors (NMs). The difference of the amplitudes of the response at these units must be explained by different energy ranges of the registered particles. GLE on December 13, 2006 registered by one of Moscow thermal neutrons' units, corresponded to NM data both in amplitude and time of the observed effect. The absence of the response at another Moscow unit must be linked to energy spectra of this event different from the previous and higher sensitivity of the first unit to the relative low energy neutrons coming from above due to "thin roof". (C) 2008 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Описан комплекс научной аппаратуры установленной на борту научно-образовательного микроспутника МГУ Университетский – Татьяна, предназначенный для изучения заряженных частиц в околоземном космическом пространстве и излучений атмосферы в ультрафиолетовой области спектра. Представлены данные измерений потоков заряженных частиц на орбите микроспутника, рассчитаны спектры и изучена динамика границ проникновения протонов СКЛ во время геомагнитных возмущений 2005 г. Измерены интенсивности ультрафиолетового излучения во всем диапазоне изменения освещенности атмосферы, а также интенсивности полярных сияний в районах Северного и Южного полюсов. Рассмотрены экспериментальные данные о вспышках ультрафиолетового излучения – транзиентных световых явлениях в верхней атмосфере, приводятся примеры осциллограмм их временного развития и их распределение по географическим координатам.

A correlation between the functional activity of the synthesis apparatus of blood lymphocytes in different animals and the variations in the neutron count rate near the Earth surface has been studied. From 1999 to 2002 for rats and from 2002 to 2003 for ground squirrels, a reliable positive correlation between the synthetic activity of animal blood lymphocytes and the neutron count rate was found. The correlation was observed for both the neutron flux directed towards the Earth and the total neutron flux (the neutron field of the Earth). There was no a correlation for the neutron flux directed away from the Earth in this period. In 2005-2006, which is characterized by a minor variations in the neutron count rate, no correlation was observed. Thus, the biotropic effect of thermal neutrons makes its self-evident as changes in the functional activity of blood lymphocytes in periods of significant variations of neutron fluxes.