Issue 13-27, November 1, 2013
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1) MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
2) MESSAGE FROM THE FRS
3) NEW DUE DATES FOR NASA SMD CALLS FOR PROPOSALS
4) CALL FOR LETTERS OF APPLICATION TO THE EXOMARS 2018 LANDING SITE SELECTION WORKING GROUP
5) PLANETARY SCIENCE AND HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
6) COMET ISON OBSERVING CAMPAIGN : CALL FOR INPUTS
7) BOOK ASTEROIDS IV: FINAL LIST OF CHAPTERS
8) REMINDER : 2014 ONLINE MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
9) JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
10) UPCOMING MEETINGS
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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
As October ends, I have some news to report about DPS leadership activities on behalf of our membership, and some ideas for you to reach out to your local neighborhood. But first let me correct an oversight in my last note: the DPS Denver meeting was a success not only because of Fran Bagenal and John Spencer, but also due to the significant help of Andrew Steffl. Thank you, Andrew!
Last week, DPS Vice Chair Bonnie Buratti and DPS Treasurer Andy Rivkin met with the leaders and staff of the AAS and the other Divisions. The goal was to develop a strategy for advocating with Congress for our common goals, and to share ideas on improving meetings and our organizations in general.
Makenzie Lystrup (DPS Federal Relations Subcommittee Chair) and I met with Joel Parriot of the AAS, as well as the new AAS Bahcall Fellow Joshua Shiode, to discuss public policy issues. Many of you have probably already seen Josh’s excellent blog on the state of play of the NASA SMD budget (http://aas.org/posts/blog/2013/10/astronomical-sciences-fy-2014-below-top-line-nasa). Please note that SMD Earth Sciences was not included in Josh’s assessment, leading to a false dichotomy between JWST and the Planetary Science Division; Josh may address this in a future blog.
We are all glad that our government colleagues are back at work and many of us can resume our normal work activities, yet much remains to be resolved with regard to the Federal budget. We will be in touch with membership with specific actions when appropriate, but feel free to write or send letters to your representatives in Washington at any time.
Comet ISON wends its way toward its Thanksgiving perihelion, now would be an excellent time to volunteer to talk about comets at a school, library, or some other local venue. The more “hands on” folks might like to have fun with a “Make a Comet” activity such as http://www.noao.edu/education/crecipe.html. Heads up, though: I have done this activity, and it can get very messy, which is of course why kids love it!
Enjoy the rest of autumn, and do great planetary science!
Heidi Hammel
DPS Chair
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MESSAGE FROM THE FRS
NASA and NSF have resumed operations under a continuing resolution that keeps the government funded at fiscal year 2013 (FY2013) levels until January 15, 2014. To fund the government for the rest of fiscal year 2014 (FY2014), a bipartisan budget conference committee composed of 29 Senators and House members is working to reach a deal by December 13, 2013.
If that budget conference committee fails, the spending reductions of FY2013 will be locked in. Plus, ANOTHER $20 billion in cuts must be made for the rest of FY2014. These additional FY2014 cuts result from the second round of sequestration. Remember that sequestration was designed to be so distasteful to both parties that it would force lawmakers to come up with a smarter package of fiscal restraint. But they failed to do so, which is why last March, the first set of cuts went into effect. Now the other shoe is poised to drop.
In the weeks leading up to that December 13 deadline, the FRS will advocate for planetary science funding. Last week, the DPS — together with the planetary sections of the AGU and GSA, as well as The Planetary Society — sent a letter to members of Congress urging them to continue their support of NASA’s Planetary Science Division budget. We will follow this letter up with other advocacy efforts, including a call to action by our members, as we approach December 13.
Planetary science certainly faces significant budget challenges, but I am optimistic for several reasons:
* We have been successful in garnering support from Congress, resulting in partially restoring cuts made by the Administration.
* Our community is very engaged: many planetary scientists are eager to advocate for our community and willing to respond to calls for action.
* Planetary exploration inspires and excites the public. When we engage with the public, we make them care, and we make it harder for drastic reductions to go without protested.
The FRS looks forward to working with all of you as we strive to secure the resources needed to continue the excellent work of our community.
Update from Makenzie Lystrup, Chair of the Federal Relations Subcommittee (FRS)
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NEW DUE DATES FOR NASA SMD CALLS FOR PROPOSALS
Please note the new due dates for NASA Science Mission
Directorate Research program because of the time lost to the shutdown.
All of the official documents associated with our solicitations are posted on:
http://nspires.nasaprs.com/
but, for your convenience, all of the changes to our due dates (with
links to the official NSPIRES program pages) are posted in one place on
the SARA web page at:
http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations/
Appendix C.7 of ROSES 13, Outer Planets Research proposals are now due
Friday, November 15, 2013
Appendix A.11 of ROSES 13, Ocean Vector Winds Science Team, proposals
are now due Friday, November 15, 2013
NASA Astrobiology Institute CAN Step-1 proposals are now due Monday,
November 18, 2013
NASA Astrobiology Institute CAN Step-2 proposals are now due Wednesday,
February 19, 2014
Earth Venture Instrument-2 (Appendix M of SALMON-2) proposals are now
due November 25, 2013
Mars 2020 NOI are now due Monday, November 4, 2013
Mars 2020 proposals are now due Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Responses to the RFIs on Sustainable Land Imaging Architecture Study
and also Lessons Learned from Recent Planetary Science Division AOs
are now both due by November 1, 2013.
[Adjusted for length – From the PEN]
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CALL FOR LETTERS OF APPLICATION TO THE EXOMARS 2018 LANDING SITE SELECTION WORKING GROUP
Dear Colleagues,
the Call for Letters of Application for Membership in the ExoMars 2018 Landing Site Selection Working Group (LSSWG) has been released today, with a deadline for application of Monday, 25 November 2013 (12:00 CET). Interested parties will find the relevant documentation at
Best regards,
Fabio Favata
European Space Agency
Head of the Programme Coordination Office
Directorate of Science and Robotic Exploration
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PLANETARY SCIENCE AND HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
Solar System observations have played a major role in HST’s science program since its launch in 1990. Planetary observations continue to figure prominently in HST’s annual schedule, particularly through Director’s Discretionary time, but the overall proposal pressure at the TAC has decreased in recent years. After consultation with the Space Telescope Users Committee, the Space Telescope Science Institute’s Director, Matt Mountain, has constituted an advisory committee to examine this issue and provide advice on future strategies for planetary science programs with HST. The committee is chaired by Prof. Phil Nicholson (Cornell), with the committee members drawn from the planetary science community.
The committee is charged with
• Reviewing the evolution of HST usage by the planetary community;
• Soliciting input from the community on the future role that HST can play in planetary science and on methods for identifying key science programs; and
• Investigating potential mechanisms for coordinating HST science programs with priorities among the planetary community.
At the present juncture, we would like to solicit suggestions from the community on ways that HST could better support planetary science, including possible changes in the way that proposals are reviewed, observing time is allocated and how scientific priorities within the planetary community could be captured and incorporated in the decisions of the TAC. Please submit your suggestions either in text form or as short (1-2 page) white papers to the e-mail address[email protected]. The committee will start considering submissions in mid- to late November.
Neill Reid, Science Mission Office, STScI
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COMET ISON OBSERVING CAMPAIGN : CALL FOR INPUTS
Dear DPS Community,
Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) is upon us and the Comet ISON Observing
Campaign is here to help. To that end, we are collecting observing
plans, observing logs, and links to refereed papers [1, 2, 3]. Visit our
observation calendar and table [1] to find who else is observing the
comet, and how your own observations fit into the larger campaign.
Submit your own observation plans or a summary of executed
observations to help facilitate important cross-team connections.
After observing comet ISON, please send the committee a brief summary
of your experience to help other observers obtain data during this
rapidly evolving perihelion passage [2]. Finally, papers concerning
comet ISON accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals, or
notes published in IAU Circulars and CBATs are welcome to be listed on
our ISON publication page [3].
Good luck observing comet ISON!
Mike Kelley for the Comet ISON Observing Campaign Team
URLs:
[1] http://isoncampaign.org/observation-plans
[2] http://isoncampaign.org/observation-logs
[3] http://isoncampaign.org/Publications
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BOOK ASTEROIDS IV: FINAL LIST OF CHAPTERS
We are pleased to announce the final list of chapters and lead authors defined for the book ASTEROIDS IV, a new volume in the Space Science Series. We first want to thank the community for its enthusiastic response to the call for chapters, which resulted in the submission of over 150 proposals. Given that we are limited to only about 40 chapters, the editors and scientific organizing committee were faced with the challenge of defining a broad set of topics that most represents the advances of the past decade. The list of chapters can be accessed here:http://www.oca.eu/michel/ASTEROIDSIV/AsteroidsIV_Chapters/AsteroidsIV_Chapters.html.
The community has grown significantly in size over the past decade and we regret that a larger portion of the community cannot directly participate in the writing, but the advances each of you have made will be included. Some of you will be able to participate as chapter referees later on in the process. We thank the whole community again for your input and support, as well as the SOC, for having helped us to define a great set of chapters, and we thank in advance the lead authors and their co-authors for the efforts they will do to write great chapters that will serve as references for at least the next decade.
Best regards,
Patrick Michel
On behalf of ASTEROIDS IV Editors
(P. Michel, F. DeMeo, W.F. Bottke)
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REMINDER : 2014 ONLINE MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
You should have paid your 2014 membership dues online at https://members.aas.org/ by 31 December 2013. Please take the time to renew by logging in to your membership record (today !) and in any case before the membership lists are updated within a month or two from the beginning of 2014. By renewing online and not receiving a paper renewal, you will help your Society save enormous costs.
Also, please take a moment to update your personal DPS member file.
Thank you for your attention.
Send general replies to [email protected].
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JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
For all Job opportunities, please visit jobs
and also consider posting a job by filling out the jobs submission form at:
node/add/job
You can send any comments, questions, or suggestions to the DPS Jobs Czar at: [email protected]
A) RESEARCH ASSOCIATE IN SPACE PHYSICS, IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON, UK
– Title: Research Associate (planetary and cometary atmospheres)
– Location: Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, UK
– Duration: 2 years
– Area: planetary and cometary atmospheric physics
– Website: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/spat/jobs
– Closing date for application: 13 November 2013
B) TENURE-TRACK ASSISTANT PROFESSOR FACULTY POSITION (GEOCHEMISTRY) IN STONY BROOK UNIV.
Tenure-track Assistant Professor Faculty position within any specialty
of the general field of Geochemistry. Details may be found at:
http://www.stonybrook.edu/geosciences/
Must have a Ph.D. in the geosciences or closely related field at the
time of appointment. Must have the clear potential to establish an
internationally recognized, externally funded research program that
would include mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students.
Applicants should apply by January 10, 2014 through:
http://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/3305
Include cover letter, CV, research and teaching statements and the
names and contact information of three references. Or mail
applications can be submitted to:
Geochemistry Search Committee, Department of Geosciences, Earth and
Space Sciences, Room 255, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
11794-2100.
For a description and/or application procedures, visit:
www.stonybrook.edu/jobs (Ref. # F-8201-13-10)
Stony Brook University is an AA/EO employer and educator. For
disability-related accommodation, please call the University Human
Resources Services Department at (631) 632-6161 or the University
Hospital Human Resources Department at (631) 444-4700. In accordance
with the Title II Crime Awareness and Security Act, a copy of our
crime statistics is available upon request by calling (631) 632-7786.
It can also be viewed on-line at the University Police website at:
http://www.stonybrook.edu/police
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UPCOMING MEETINGS
A) NEW DATES FOR THE ASTEROID INITIATIVE IDEA SYNTHESIS WORKSHOP
NASA has selected new dates to resume the Asteroid Initiative Idea
Synthesis Workshop, which was postponed due to the recent government
shutdown. We look forward to resuming the workshop and continuing to
examine the many good ideas that were submitted in response to the
Asteroid Initiative Request for Information in June.
As before, the workshop will be conducted at the Lunar and Planetary
Institute in Houston. Seating capacity is limited, so the invitation
list to attend onsite will remain restricted. Virtual participation
options will again be available, and we will provide those options on
the workshop web page as the event nears:
http://www.nasa.gov/asteroidworkshop
Invitations to the same invited RFI responders and presenters will be
issued starting Monday, Oct. 28.
The new workshop dates are November 20-22, 2013. The program can be
found on the web site.
B) AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY 223RD MEETING
Washington, 5-9 January 2014
http://aas.org/meetings/223rd-aas-meeting-washington-dc
If DPS members intend to attend, please consider spending some time at the AAS booth to communicate with the community.
C) COSMIC VISION M3 CANDIDATE MISSIONS PRESENTATION EVENT
In February 2014, the ESA Science Programme Committee will decide which of five candidate missions (EChO, LOFT, MarcoPolo-R, PLATO, STE-QUEST) for the M3 launch opportunity should be carried forward to the next stage. Prior to this decision, the missions will be presented to the scientific community, on 21 January 2014, in Paris, France.
http://sci.esa.int/M3missions2014
D) WORKSHOP ON THE HABITABILITY OF ICY WORLDS
February 5–7, 2014, Pasadena, CA, USA
http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/icyworlds2014
The primary objective of this workshop will be to focus on the
astrobiological potential of icy worlds in the outer solar system–
including Europa, Ganymede, Enceladus, Titan and beyond–with discussion
on future research directions and spacecraft missions that can best
assess that potential. The agenda for the workshop will be organized
around thematic sessions that address the potential habitability of the
unique planetary environments of the outer solar system. Presentations
on research involving terrestrial analogs for icy world environments
are also encouraged. The workshop will be divided into thematic
sessions on: water and exotic solvents; chemical energy for life;
organics and their detection; ocean physics and chemistry; icy world
activity and habitability over time; continuing and future outer solar
system exploration.
Abstract Deadline: November 21, 2013.
E) INTERNATIONAL COMETARY WORKSHOP RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 1-3, 2014
The International Cometary Workshop, originally scheduled for July 2013 was postponed due to the US Budget sequester and the NASA travel restrictions that were imposed in response to the sequester. We are pleased to announce that we have rescheduled the Workshop for April 1-3, 2014. It will take in Toulouse France, and the updated abstract deadline is January 31, 2014. The new registration deadline is February 28, 2014. Pre-registration is now available. For more information see our website at icw.space.swri.edu.
Best regards,
Kathleen E. Mandt
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Send submissions to:
Athena Coustenis, DPS Secretary ([email protected])