All-sky monitors for X-ray astronomy

The rationale for a semipermanent all-sky X-ray monitor and a variety of options for its implementation are discussed. It is concluded that the Space Station offers an excellent opportunity for hosting such a monitor, and that a set of pinhole cameras can be configured to provide an effective and economical monitor system. A baseline of six independent pinhole modules, each of which requires approximately 1 cu ft, 30 pounds, 2 W and 100 bits per second, can provide full sky coverage with scientifically interesting sensitivities. No other resources or special accommodation (such as detailed alignment registration, time-tagging, or on-orbit servicing) would be required. The baseline system can locate bright sources to a few arcmin and can simultaneously measure each of the several hundred sources in the sky brighter than a few thousandths the intensity of the Crab nebula every day for decades.