RHESSI: First Results

The RHESSI observations consist of imaging spectroscopy in the γ-ray, hard X-ray, and “firm X-ray” (3-20 keV) bands. These data are now the most extensive and capable solar high-energy observations at high spectral and spatial resolution. The low-energy hard X-ray spectrum bridges the thermal and non-thermal ranges of solar electron distributions in flares systematically for the first time. In this presentation I survey some results from the first 18 months of observation, including findings on image and spectral morphology (both hard X-ray and γ-ray), and the behavior of microflares in the 3-20 keV band.