Issue 13-7, March 10, 2013
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1) THE 45TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE DIVISION FOR PLANETARY SCIENCES
2) CALL FOR DPS 2013 PRIZE NOMINATIONS : DEADLINE APRIL 26, 2013
3) CALL FOR WHITE PAPERS FOR THE DEFINITION OF THE L2 AND L3 MISSIONS IN THE ESA SCIENCE PROGRAMME
4) AIDA CALL FOR EXPERIMENT IDEAS
5) NSO OBSERVING PROPOSAL DEADLINE 15 MAY 2013
6) REMINDER: CALL FOR CHAPTERS FOR ASTEROIDS IV, DEADLINE MARCH 31ST, 2013
7) JOB/POSITION OPPORTUNITIES
8) UPCOMING MEETINGS
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THE 45TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE DIVISION FOR PLANETARY SCIENCES
Denver, Colorado, 6-11 October 2013 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
Dear DPS members, we invite you to attend the 45th Annual DPS meeting.
The DPS2013 website is up and running!
http://aas.org/meetings/45th-meeting-division-planetary-sciences
Remember these important dates:
– 18 July 2013 :
45th DPS Regular Abstract Submission Deadline – 9:00pm ET
– 23 July 2013 :
45th DPS Early Registration Deadline
– 2 September 2013 :
45th DPS Workshop Proposals Due
– 3 September 2013 :
45th DPS Hotel Reservations Deadline
– 3 September 2013 :
45th DPS Late Abstract Submission Deadline – 9:00pm ET
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CALL FOR DPS 2012 PRIZE NOMINATIONS
DEADLINE APRIL 26, 2013
Every year the DPS recognizes exceptional achievement in our field. It is time to consider nominating a respected colleague for one of the annual DPS prizes.
· The Gerard P. Kuiper Prize honors outstanding contributions to the field of planetary science.
· The Harold C. Urey Prize recognizes outstanding achievement in planetary research by a young scientist.
· The Harold Masursky Award acknowledges outstanding service to planetary science and exploration.
· The Carl Sagan Medal recognizes and honors outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the general public.
· The Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award recognizes and stimulates distinguished popular writing on planetary sciences.
Detailed descriptions of each of the prizes and the criteria for nominees for each can be found at prizes. The nomination form and instructions can also be retrieved from this website. The completed nomination form and supporting material should be emailed to [email protected].
Anyone may submit a nomination. A completed nomination will be retained and considered by the Prize Subcommittee for three years, or as long as the nominee is eligible, whichever is less. Past nominees may be re-nominated after the expiration of a prior nomination. A posthumous nomination is allowed for a limited time after the nominee’s death, except for the Sagan Medal. For specific details, see the URL noted above.
The deadline for nominations this year is April 26.
Consider for example the Carl Sagan Medal, that recognizes excellence in public communication in planetary science. Do you have a colleague that excels in reaching out to the public, that has a particularly effective way of communicating new findings in our field? We want to recognize those efforts, that are so important to the health of our field!
The Masursky Award recognizes meritorious service to planetary science. Do you have a colleague whose efforts made a significant difference in the success of an endeavor you’ve been involved in through engineering, managerial, programmatic or public service activities? Consider nominating that individual!
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CALL FOR WHITE PAPERS FOR THE DEFINITION OF THE L2 AND L3 MISSIONS IN THE ESA SCIENCE PROGRAMME
The Director of Science and Robotic Exploration intends to define, in the course of 2013, the science themes and questions that will be addressed by the next two Large (L-class) missions in the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 plan, ‘L2’ and ‘L3’, currently planned for a launch in 2028 and 2034, respectively.
This process starts with a consultation of the broad scientific community, in the form of the current Call, soliciting White Papers to propose science themes and associated questions that the L2 and L3 missions should address. The submission deadline for White Papers is 24 May 2013, 12:00 CEST (noon).
Full details are available at http://sci.esa.int/Call-WP-L2L3
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AIDA CALL FOR EXPERIMENT IDEAS
Submission date extended to 15 March 2013
Please note ESA’s Call for Experiment Ideas in relation to the ¨AIDA¨ joint asteroid impact mission concept. Both European and non-European institutions are invited to participate. The Call will help ESA map the interests of the different communities (asteroid risk assessment, hypervelocity impacts and debris, and detector technology among others) that are addressed by the ¨AIDA¨ project.
Here are the details and the links :
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/NEO/AIDA_Call_For_Experimen…
and
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NSO OBSERVING PROPOSAL DEADLINE 15 MAY 2013
The current deadline for submitting observing proposals to the National Solar Observatory is 15 May 2013 for the third quarter of 2013. Information is available from the NSO Telescope Allocation Committee at P.O. Box 62, Sunspot, NM 88349 for Sacramento Peak facilities ([email protected]) or P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, AZ 85726 for Kitt Peak facilities ([email protected]).
For full instructions see the Observing at the NSO page.
The most frequently accessed, specific instructions include:
• The Observing Request Form
• Users’ Manual for the SP facilities
• Users’ Manual for the KP facilities
• The Observing-run evaluation form for the SP facilities.
Proposers are reminded that each quarter is typically oversubscribed, and it is to the proposer’s advantage to provide all information requested to the greatest possible extent no later than the official deadline. Observing time at National Observatories is provided as support to the astronomical community by the National Science Foundation.
LINK: http://aas.org/posts/opportunity/2013/03/nso-observing-proposal-deadline…
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REMINDER: CALL FOR CHAPTERS FOR ASTEROIDS IV, DEADLINE MARCH 31ST, 2013
The Editors and the SOC invite you to volunteer to participate in the Asteroids IV project. More specifically, they solicit ideas for chapter topics and a solicitation for volunteers for chapter authors. If you would like to recommend chapters for the book, or would like to volunteer to write a particular chapter as a first author, contact the editors no later than March 31st, 2013. To be most helpful, and to be seriously considered for selection as a chapter author, you need to send detailed information as outlined at the bottom of the call for chapters that can be seen and downloaded on the Asteroids IV web site:
http://www.oca.eu/michel/ASTEROIDSIV/
The SOC will then make the final choice of chapters, based on the received ideas and its own conclusions. Your participation would be an extremely valuable service to the asteroid and planetary science community. Detailed information for Asteroids IV chapters/authors as well as the participation form are indicated on the Asteroids IV website.
The editors wish to render Asteroids IV as useful as Asteroids (1979), Asteroids II (1989), and Asteroids III (2002) leading to the science community’s primary reference manual for at least the next decade, and they hope you will volunteer to participate to this challenge.
On behalf of the co-Editors and SOC,
Patrick Michel
Editor, Asteroids IV
[email protected]
web: http://www.oca.eu/michel/
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JOB/POSITION OPPORTUNITIES
[Please visit the DPS web site at : jobs
for more information 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]]
POSTDOC – BOSTON UNIVERSITY – VENUS AND MARS IONOSPHERES
The Center for Space Physics at Boston University invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher position supervised by Professor Paul Withers. The research will involve the analysis of observations from the ionospheres of Venus and Mars, supplemented by numerical simulations. Candidates should possess a PhD degree in a relevant field. Experience conducting research on planetary ionospheres is desirable. The salary offered will be competitive and commensurate with experience. Funding is available for two years with the possibility of extension. The appointment is expected to begin as soon as possible after 1 June 2013. Please contact Paul Withers ([email protected]) for further information.
Applications should be sent by email to Paul Withers ([email protected]). The application should be submitted in PDF format and contain a curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, and contact information for three referees. Review of applications will begin on 30 April 2013. Women and underrepresented minorities are particularly encouraged to apply. Boston University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
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UPCOMING MEETINGS
See also: PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS
Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html
A) HABITABLE WORLDS ACROSS SPACE AND TIME
The 2013 STScI Spring Symposium
April 29 – May 2, 2013
Abstract submission deadline: March 15, 2013
On-line registration deadline: March 29, 2013
Within a matter of years, humanity will know for the first time the frequency of terrestrial planets in orbit around other stars. In this four-day symposium, scientists from diverse fields will discuss the formation and long-term evolution of terrestrial bodies throughout the various phases of stellar and Galactic evolution. A particular focus will be in how the specific conditions and challenges for habitability on Earth extend to other bodies in the Solar System and beyond. The existence of these overlooked environments may provide motivation for novel astronomical observations with existing and next generation ground and space-based observatories.
Registration for this Symposium is now open and there are a limited number of spots. Please go to:
http://www.stsci.edu/institute/conference/habitable-worlds
and click on the “Register” link. We also invite contributions in the form of talks and posters, which can be submitted during the registration process or after one has registered. Only a small number of contributed talks are available.
B) 10TH INTERNATIONAL PLANETARY PROBE WORKSHOP
17 – 21 June, 2013,
San Jose State University, San Jose, California
Short Course: Entry, Descent, and Landing Systems 15 – 16 June 2013
EXTENDED ABSTRACT DEADLINE : 3 APRIL 2013
Join us for the 10 International Planetary Probe
Workshop (IPPW-10), hosted by San Jose State University, June 17 – 21, 2013. The 10th Probe Workshop brings together engineers, technologists, scientists, mission designers, space agency leaders, and students from around the world for a week-long collaboration focused on exploration of Solar System atmospheres and surfaces using atmospheric entry and descent probes and aerial vehicles. Preceding the workshop, a 2-day short course on Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) Systems is offered on June 15-16.
Student Scholarship Application Deadline : Friday,15 March 2013
AI Seiff Award Nominations Deadline : Friday, 15 March 2013
C) SUMMER COURSE “MOLECULES IN SPACE”
Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden
25 June – 2 July 2013
Application deadline: April 2, 2013
– Lectures by leading scientists
– Observations on a 20m telescope
– State-of-the art model calculations
– Poster session for participants
More info on: http://www.nordicastrobiology.net/Onsala2013
D) COMETS AS TRACERS OF SOLAR SYSTEM FORMATION AND EVOLUTION
July 9-11, 2013,
Toulouse, France
Abstract submission deadline: March 31, 2013
On-line registration deadline: April 30, 2013
E) THE PLUTO SYSTEM ON THE EVE OF EXPLORATION BY NEW HORIZONS:
PERSPECTIVES AND PREDICTIONS
Meeting Dates: July 22-26
Abstract Deadline: April 15
Early Bird Registration Deadline: May 31
The meeting is being held at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, USA.
Both registration and abstract submission are now open for the Pluto-2013 conference at: http://plutoscience.jhuapl.edu
Abstracts are solicited on all facets of the Pluto system—including origins, interiors, surfaces, compositions, atmospheres, satellites, plasma, and context in the Kuiper Belt.
Special issues of both Icarus and JGR-Planets are planned to publish new results and prediction papers in 2014.
Alan Stern (Program Committee Chair)
Hal Weaver (Local Organizing Committee Chair)
F) THE SEARCH FOR LIFE BEYOND THE SOLAR SYSTEM: EXOPLANETS, BIOSIGNATURES & INSTRUMENTS
Tucson, Arizona,
March 17-21, 2014
Motivated by the rapidly increasing number of known earth-sized planets, the increasing range of extreme conditions in which life on Earth can persist, and the progress toward a technology that will ultimate enable the search for life on exoplanets, the Vatican Observatory and the Steward Observatory announce a major conference entitled Exoplanets, Observations & Biosignatures: The Search for Life Beyond the Solar System.
The goal of the meeting is to help the international astronomical community toward the long-term goal of finding life beyond the solar system by bringing together the communities working on the observations and modeling of extrasolar planets, the development of exoplanet-focused instrumentation, biosignatures suitable for remote sensing, and the extreme life on Earth.
Venue
The event will be in the new El Conquistador Hilton Resort close to Tucson, next to the scenic Catalina Mountains.
Astrobiology School
The conference will be preceded by an independently-organized three-day school hosted at the University of Arizona’s Biosphere. The school will allow graduate students and junior postdocs to learn from the invited/keynote speakers and additional lecturers about the key topics of the conference. This will help them to benefit fully from the multi-disciplinary program and to connect with their peers from other disciplines.
Website: http://www.ebi2014.org
Contact: [email protected]
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Send submissions to:
Athena Coustenis, DPS Secretary ([email protected])
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