Issue 20-05, February 2, 2020
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- OPAG AGENDA FOR FEBRUARY 2020 MEETING NOW AVAILABLE
- COSPAR SESSION 20-B0.4 TECHNOLOGIES FOR PLANETARY RESEARCH
- COSPAR SESSION B5.4: ICE GIANT SYSTEMS
- ANNOUNCEMENT OF CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE SUBMILLIMETER ARRAY
- HERA WORKSHOP, NICE (FRANCE), APRIL 20-22, 2020
- CYCLE 1 CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE (JWST)
- WORKSHOP: OBSERVATORY FOR THE OUTER HELIOSPHERE, HELIOSHEATH, AND INTERSTELLAR SPACE
- NASA ASTROPHYSICS VIRTUAL TOWN HALL: DUAL-ANONYMOUS PEER REVIEW FOR ASTROPHYSICS GENERAL OBSERVER/GENERAL INVESTIGATOR PROGRAMS
- JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES
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OPAG AGENDA FOR FEBRUARY 2020 MEETING NOW AVAILABLE
The final agenda for the February 3-4, 2020, OPAG meeting is now posted.
Please visit the link below for audio and video connection information:
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/meetings/upcoming/OPAG_agenda_Feb2020vs_29Jan_ToPost.pdf
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COSPAR SESSION 20-B0.4 TECHNOLOGIES FOR PLANETARY RESEARCH
As the Scientific Organizers of event COSPAR-20-B0.4 (Technologies for Planetary Research)
of the 43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Sydney, Australia, 15 – 23 August 2020,
we would like to encourage you and your colleagues to submit your abstract to the
session described below:
Description
To accomplish the goals of Planetary research in the next decade more complex
missions, instruments and space vehicles are being envisioned. In addition, the
advent of disruptive technologies such as Autonomy and CubeSats/SmallSats brings
new opportunities to achieve scientific discoveries previously considered out of
reach. This session explores diverse technologies that can enable new instruments
and missions that survive and operate in extreme environments from the moon to
the inner and outer reaches of the solar system, enable swarms of spacecraft to collect
scientific data throughout our solar system, drill through ice, determine if life is
present on planetary bodies, increase data rates from distant bodies and much more.
Abstract deadline: February 14, 2020
https://www.cospar-assembly.org/
Patricia M. Beauchamp, JPL-Caltech, email: [email protected]
Jean-Pierre Lebreton: [email protected]
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COSPAR SESSION B5.4: ICE GIANT SYSTEMS
We invite abstract submissions for the COSPAR 2020, Session B5.4: Ice Giant
Systems to be held in Sydney, Australia, 15-22 August 2020. This session will
cover all aspects of the Uranus and Neptune systems, including interiors, atmospheres,
magnetospheres, rings, and satellites. We welcome presentations spanning these
themes, as well as those on future mission architectures and enabling technologies
to make missions to these tantalising destinations a reality. We would also welcome
presentations that discuss the cross-disciplinary importance of a future mission to
an Ice Giant, including (but not limited to) the fields of exoplanetary science and
heliophysics).
Abstracts are due 2/14 at: https://www.cospar-assembly.org/
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ANNOUNCEMENT OF CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE SUBMILLIMETER ARRAY
Dear Colleagues,
We wish to draw your attention to the latest Call for Standard Observing
Proposals for observations with the Submillimeter Array (SMA). This call
is for the 2020A semester with observing period 16 May 2020 – 15 Nov 2020.
Standard Observing Proposals
Submission deadline: 05 Mar 2020 21:00 UTC = 05 Mar 2020 16:00 EST
= 06 Mar 2020 05:00 Taiwan
Proposal Information and Submission
The SMA is a reconfigurable interferometric array of eight 6-m antennas on
Maunakea jointly built and operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
and the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics. The array
operates in the 230, 345 and 400 GHz bands.
The SMA configurations include antenna separations ranging between 9 m and 508 m.
The small antennas allow access to low spatial frequencies (with projected baselines
as short as 6-m) in the sub-compact configuration, and at the other extreme, the finest
angular resolution with the very extended configuration at 345 GHz is ~ 0.25″. The
compact and extended configurations complete the range. The characteristics,
performance and sky coverage of the SMA are both similar and complementary to
those of the stand-alone Atacama Compact Array (ACA) component of ALMA,
while providing full access to the northern sky.
The heart of the SMA backend is the SWARM correlator, able to process 8 GHz
bandwidth (IF coverage of 4 to 12 GHz) for each receiver in each sideband, for a
total of 32 GHz bandwidth, at a uniform 140 kHz resolution. We are currently
expanding the correlator coverage by 50%, to 12 GHz bandwidth (IF coverage
from 4 to 16 GHz) for each receiver in each sideband, for 48 GHz total bandwidth,
while maintaining the fine 140 kHz uniform resolution. While not yet fully
commissioned, we are working toward offering this new capability in 2020A
as a shared-risk opportunity.
For more details visit the SMA Observer Center Proposal Information Page.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR STANDARD OBSERVING PROPOSALS
- Submissions open: 06 February 2020 (on or before)
- Submissions close: 05 Mar 2020 21:00 UTC = 05 Mar 2020 16:00 EST = 06 Mar 2020 05:00 Taiwan
Questions or comments regarding the Standard Observing Proposals can be
addressed to [email protected].
Sincerely,
Mark Gurwell
Submillimeter Array TAC Chair
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HERA WORKSHOP, NICE (FRANCE), APRIL 20-22, 2020
The Hera mission (ESA), which will perform the first rendezvous with a binary
asteroid and measure precisely the outcome of the NASA DART impact on the
binary’s moon, has been approved by ESA Member States in November 2019 in
the new Space Safety Program for launch in 2024.
The first Hera workshop after approval will take place in Nice (France) on April 20-22, 2020.
The main objective is to present and discuss current status of the ongoing activities in
support and preparation to the Hera mission. It also offers the small body community
the possibility to discuss possible contributions to the different working groups that
have been defined to support the mission development and data interpretation.
The venue is the Hôtel Saint-Paul in Nice and a block of bedrooms has been kept for
participants. A form can be downloaded on the workshop website to book a bedroom
at preferential rate (deadline on Feb. 16, 2020).
See: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/hera-community-workshop
Registration will open in mid-February, and the deadlines for registration and other
information will be provided in a second announcement. The Hera meeting is followed
by another workshop devoted to the asteroid Apophis on April 23-24, 2020 at the same
venue: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2020/
Patrick Michel and Michael Kueppers
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CYCLE 1 CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE (JWST)
The Cycle 1 Call for Proposals for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
was released on Jan. 23, 2020. Proposals are due May 1, 2020. The announcement
of opportunity is here:
http://www.stsci.edu/contents/news/jwst/2020/the-jwst-cycle-1-call-for-proposals-is-now-reopened
Full details about proposing can be found at:
https://jwst-docs.stsci.edu/jwst-opportunities-and-policies/jwst-call-for-proposals-for-cycle-1
Future updates regarding the Call can be found at:
http://www.stsci.edu/jwst/news-events/news
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WORKSHOP: OBSERVATORY FOR THE OUTER HELIOSPHERE, HELIOSHEATH, AND INTERSTELLAR SPACE
Thurs, Fri 21-22 May 2020
LASP-SPSC, University of Colorado, Boulder
With both Voyager spacecraft in interstellar space, the IBEX and the upcoming IMAP
missions imaging the outer boundaries of the heliosphere, and New Horizons in the
outer heliosphere, it is an ideal time to combine resources from these missions and modeling
efforts. This workshop seeks input aimed at developing plans to maximize the use of
these observations and their comparison to models, plus plan any operational changes
that can maximize the return from these missions.
Further information – and please register – here:
http://lasp.colorado.edu/home/mop/resources/hosted-meetings/outer-heliosphere-workshop/
LOC Fran Bagenal (CU-LASP)
SOC Co-Chairs Heather Elliott (SwRI), Ralph McNutt, Jr (JHUAPL)
Fran Bagenal
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
University of Colorado
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NASA ASTROPHYSICS VIRTUAL TOWN HALL: DUAL-ANONYMOUS PEER REVIEW FOR ASTROPHYSICS GENERAL OBSERVER/GENERAL INVESTIGATOR PROGRAMS
February 27, 2020 1pm-2pm ET
On February 27, 2020 at 1pm Eastern Time, NASA’s Astrophysics Division will
host a virtual community Town Hall to discuss the implementation of dual-anonymous
peer review for Astrophysics General Observer / General Investigator (GO/GI)
programs. Under this system, not only are proposers unaware of the identity of
reviewers, but the reviewers do not have explicit knowledge of the proposing
teams and institutions during the scientific evaluation of the proposal.
The Town Hall will: (1) discuss the motivation for switching to dual-anonymous
peer review, (2) describe how to write proposals that are compatible with dual-anonymous
peer review, and (3) explain how dual-anonymous peer reviews work. A separate
Town Hall will take place on March 3, 2020, for the four programs that will take
part in a parallel program conducted by the Science Mission Directorate for
ROSES-2020.
In advance of the Astrophysics Town Hall, questions may be submitted and upvoted
on at: https://arc.cnf.io/sessions/m1c4/#!/dashboard
The Town Hall will be broadcast live via WebEx. Connection details follow:
WebEx
URL: https://nasaenterprise.webex.com/nasaenterprise/j.php?MTID=m4418b2712db800a4801f0c93ec3c4ae5
Meeting password: Astrodapr2020!
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JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES
A) JOB OPPORTUNITY: PLANETARY SCIENCE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AT NASA GSFC
The Solar System Exploration Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight
Center is seeking a new public engagement team member to support their
planetary science missions and research teams.
The new hire will initially support public engagement activities for
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission and two teams in NASA’s
Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI), and
coordinate logistics for planetary science field campaigns to remote
locations, as well as public engagement efforts, for Goddard’s
Instrument Field Team.
https://sesda.com/careers/ss096-science-outreach-and-logistics-coordinator/
B) POSTDOC POSITION IN PLANETARY SCIENCE AT CALTECH
Applications are invited for a postdoc position in Caltech’s Division
of Geological and Planetary Sciences. The successful applicant will
collaborate with Professor de Kleer’s research group on the development
of surface models for satellites and small bodies for interpretation of
multi-wavelength thermal observations. For more information see the job
listing at:
http://www.gps.caltech.edu/about/work/postdoctoral-positions/postdoctoral-position-planetary-science
C) PH.D. or M.S. OPPORTUNITY IN CLIMATE RESILIENCE
Auburn University seeks M.S. and Ph.D. students to apply for the newly
funded $3M NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Climate Resilience Program.
Domestic/permanent resident graduate students applying to Auburn can
apply for up to two years of project support ($34,500 stipend/yr and
tuition/fees paid). Additionally, international students and students
already supported by the university can apply as non-funded Trainees
still benefiting from the innovative interdisciplinary project. We seek
excellent students that want to help make the SEUS more resilient to
climate change related hazards through conducting interdisciplinary
research working with and communicating to both stakeholders and the
public. Programs associated with the NRT include the Earth System
Science Ph.D. Program in the Department of Geosciences. To learn more
about the project and to apply, please go to:
Applications are due on March 15, 2020. Students must be accepted to an
Auburn University M.S. or Ph.D. program and the graduate school to be
qualified as an NRT Trainee. Please contact the project PI, Dr. Karen
McNeal ([email protected]) with any questions. For questions
about planetary and/or impact-related projects in collaboration with
this program, also please contact Prof. David King
([email protected]).
D) POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR POSITION AT NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY IN
PLANETARY SCIENCE
The Edwards Research Group in the Department of Astronomy and Planetary
Science at Northern Arizona University seeks a postdoctoral scholar to
join the research team. The Edwards Group works primarily on
characterizing the surfaces of rocky planets and instrument
development. Specifically, we seek candidates to help determine the
surface roughness of Bennu from the OSIRIS-Rex Thermal Emission
Spectrometer and develop a thermal correction utilizing this roughness
model to correct longer wavelength (greater than ~2.6um) OSIRIS-REX
Visible and InfraRed Spectrometer data. The successful candidate is
expected to publish scientific papers and, as appropriate, submit
proposals for external funding.
Minimum Qualifications:
* A Ph.D. in geoscience/remote sensing/planetary science or a related
field
* Experience with investigations of planetary surfaces, especially
the Moon, Mars, or Bennu
* Experience with thermal modeling or spectral modeling of planetary
surfaces
Preferred Qualifications:
* Experience using laboratory/field instruments to address
outstanding problems in geoscience/planetary science
* A strong working knowledge of laboratory and spacecraft
spectroscopic methods
Applications must include a curriculum vitae, statement of research
interests, and contact information for three professional references.
Application deadline: March 3, 2020 @ 11:59PM MST
For questions, please contact: [email protected]
D) PHD POSITION: MODELING AND OBSERVATION OF ROCK-RICH SURFACES
The Institute of Planetology at the University of Münster, Germany, is seeking a
researcher to carry out a three-year PhD in planetary science starting April 15, 2020
at the earliest and funded at 75% (E13 TV-L) level.
The PhD candidate will be part of a junior research group dedicated to the
understanding of regolith evolution and to the analysis of images returned by
spacecraft from the Moon, asteroids, and Mars. Understanding the nature, origin,
and evolution of regolith is paramount for a wide range of research fields and
will serve engineering purposes for rover and lander missions. The activities
of the PhD student will be (1) the development of a numerical model to describe
the process of small impact (<1m) bombardment and the evolution of boulder-rich
surfaces, and (2) use of the model developed to analyze remote-sensing images
of planetary surfaces. The requirements are (1) proven and in-depth expertise
in programming (e.g., Matlab), (2) experience with remote-sensing data or
software, and (3) Master’s degree in geophysics, geo-informatics, or equivalent.
The University of Münster is an equal opportunity employer and is committed
to increasing the proportion of women in academics. Consequently, we actively
encourage applications by women. Female candidates with equivalent qualifications
and academic achievements will be preferentially considered within the framework
of the legal possibilities. We also welcome applications from candidates with severe
disabilities. Disabled candidates with equivalent qualifications will be preferentially
considered. Applications should include a CV, motivation letter, assessment reports
for previous projects (e.g. Bachelor’s and Master’s theses), copies of degree
certificates and transcripts, and contact details for two references. Please send
all documents combined in a single pdf to the address below. Review of
applications will begin February 28, 2020 and will be continued until the position
has been filled.
Dr. Ottaviano Ruesch, Institute for Planetology,
Westfaelische Wilhelms Universitaet Muenster, Germany
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