Subject: [DPS Members] DPS Mailing #08-17: 2008 DPS Meeting, telescope deadlines... Issue 08-17, September 3rd 2008 DPS Web site: http://dps.aas.org/ +-----------------------------CONTENTS--------------------------------+ 1) DPS Meeting 2008: Early Registration and Late Abstract Deadlines Next Week 2) DPS Meeting 2008: More Workshops 3) DPS Meeting 2008: Public Outreach Volunteers Needed 4) NASA Infrared Telescope Facility Observing Proposals Due October 1st 5) NASA Keck Observing Proposals Due September 8th 6) Job Announcements 7) Upcoming Meetings +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ 1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1 DPS MEETING 2008: EARLY REGISTRATION AND LATE ABSTRACT DEADLINES NEXT WEEK See http://dps08.astro.cornell.edu A reminder that the early registration deadline, and the late abstract deadline, are both next Wednesday, September 10th 2008. Note that, new this year, the registration form includes a checkbox for a $20 contribution towards the meeting's carbon neutrality. 2---------2---------2---------2---------2---------2---------2---------2 DPS MEETING 2008: MORE WORKSHOPS DPS workshops and lunchtime sessions are listed at http://dps08.astro.cornell.edu/events.html. In particular, note the following: Observing Planets (Wherever They May Be) with the James Webb Space Telescope 9-5 pm, Friday 10 October 2008 Auditorium (Consult DPS meeting homepage for any venue changes) In this workshop, we will discuss the science of planetary observations with the James Webb Space Telescope, the premier space observatory of the next decade. We will focus on both planets within our Solar System and planets beyond, as well as objects relevant to planetary system formation (small solar system bodies, exoplanetary disks). The workshop goals are to: engage the broader planetary community in the exciting science that JWST will enable, educate the community about JWST's capabilities, and elicit from the community new ideas for planetary observations with JWST. We welcome proposals for short (10 minute) presentations on potential observations, as a basis for discussion and better understanding of JWST's role in solar system studies. Or just come and participate informally. Scientific Organizing Committee: J. I. Lunine, H. B. Hammel Contact: [email protected] 3---------3---------3---------3---------3---------3---------3---------3 DPS MEETING 2008: PUBLIC OUTREACH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED The Local Organizing Committee is seeking DPS member volunteers for four specific E/PO events at the upcoming DPS. Please consider helping to make our outreach activities a success at this meeting. Here are the opportunities and contact details: * Saturday Oct. 11, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., "Ask a Astronomer" at the "Spectacular Saturn Exhibit" (http://www.museum.cornell.edu/HFJ/calendar/calendar.html) We are seeking 5-10 volunteers to talk to the public about the images in the 'Spectacular Saturn' exhibition and related topics, during the lunch break (any time you can spare between 11:00 and 1:00). There will also be fun planetary art activities for children. Please contact Matt Hedman ([email protected]) if you can help with this activity. * Sunday Oct. 12, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., "Ask an Astronomer" on the Sciencenter's Sagan Planet Walk (http://www.sciencenter.org/saganpw/) We are seeking at least 2 scientists per planet station (including Pluto!) to answer questions from the public during a sponsored Planet Walk through Ithaca during the DPS lunch break on Sunday Oct. 12. Bill Nye (The Science Guy) will be leading the tour. Transportation to/from the meeting site will be available. The Sciencenter is a hands-on children's science museum who are also sponsoring an "Astronomy Day" at the museum that day. Please contact [email protected] if you can help at "your planet" during this fun family activity. * Monday Oct. 13, 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., Family Open House Day at Barton Hall poster area We are seeking 5-10 volunteers to talk with and answer questions from the public about the posters on display during the DPS lunch break on Monday. Please contact [email protected] if you can help with this E/PO activity. * Tuesday Oct. 14, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., "Women in Science" event at Boynton Middle School We are seeking 20 or more female scientists to proctor activities and to talk with middle school age children one-on-one about science. This event is sponsored by our local library. Please contact [email protected] if you can help with this event. 4---------4---------4---------4---------4---------4---------4---------4 NASA INFRARED TELESCOPE FACILITY OBSERVING PROPOSALS DUE OCTOBER 1ST Due date for the February 1 to July 31, 2009 semester is Wednesday, October 1, 2008. See http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/observing/applicationForms.php for our new ONLINE submission form. Available instruments include: (1) SpeX, a 1-5 micron cross-dispersed medium-resolution spectrograph (up to R=2,500); (2) CSHELL, a 1-5 micron highresolution spectrograph (up to R=30,000); (3) MIRSI, a 5 to 25 micron camera and lowresolution spectrometer (R=100 to 200), (4) NSFCAM2, a 2048x2048 pixel, 1-5 micron camera with a 0.04 arcsec/pixel scale and a circular variable filter; and (5) PI-instruments including a low-resolution 3-14 micron spectrograph and high-resolution spectrographs for 8-25 microns. Information on available instruments can be found at: http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/Facility/. 5---------5---------5---------5---------5---------5---------5---------5 NASA KECK OBSERVING PROPOSALS DUE SEPTEMBER 8TH Proposals for NASA time on the W.M. Keck Observatory for the 2009A semester (February 1, 2009 to July 31, 2009) are due on September 8th 2008. See http://msc.caltech.edu/missions/KeckSolicitation/ 6---------6---------6---------6---------6---------6---------6---------6 JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has an opening for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Planetary Sciences. Application deadline is 1st November 2008; please refer to position #410-09 in all correspondence. For more information, please contact Judy Van Leuven ([email protected]) or refer to http://www.es.ucsc.edu/about/jobs/410-09.pdf. UCSC is an AA/EEO Employer. 7---------7---------7---------7---------7---------7---------7---------7 UPCOMING MEETINGS 1) Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) meeting, November 6-7, Tempe, AZ http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/ The November meeting of OPAG is a very important occasion. The outer planets science community needs to hear the results of the extensive, detailed studies of missions to Europa and Titan. We will discuss their scientific merits and hear about technical feasibility. This will probably be the last opportunity for OPAG to provide comments to NASA for their potential decision about these two missions. Contact: Fran Bagenal, OPAG Chair 2) Fall AGU Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 15-19 2008 See www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/ Abstract deadline is September 10, 2008. There are several additional sessions of planetary interest beyond those mentioned in last week's newsletter (08-16), as follows: * Comparative Climate Studies of Earth, Venus and Mars * MESSENGER at Mercury: The Second Flyby * The Library - Data Center Alliance in Earth and Space Sciences * The Phoenix Mission * The Van Allen Radiation Belts and Their Impact on Modern Space Science * Runaway Electrons and Energetic Radiation in Terrestrial and Planetary Atmospheres * Lightning and Electrical Phenomena on Other Planets * Sagan Lecture * IYA Dark Skies Awareness Programs, Citizen Science and You * Deccan Volcanism, Chixculub Impact, Global Environmental Change, the KTB and Other Mass Extinctions * Analog Modeling of Deep Planetary Interiors * Magnetism of Shock in Impact Craters and Planetary Magnetic Anomalies - New Developments * Composition and Evolution of Iron-Rich Cores in the Earth and Other Planets * Planetary Ices - Cryo-mineralogy and Cryo-petrology * Minerals in the Early Solar System - From First Condensates to Planetesimals * Outer Planet Auroras: In Situ and Remote Sensing Results 3) Europa lander: science goals and experiments: First announcement: International workshop 9-13 February 2009, Space Research Institute (IKI), Moscow, Russia http://www.iki.rssi.ru/conf/2009elw The Europa lander workshop will be hosted by the Space Research Institute (IKI) of Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Russia, from 9 to 13 February 2009. The workshop will last 5 days including the days of arrival/departure (and some sightseeing events) and consists of several sessions dedicated to the scientific goals and logistics of the project, key issues of Europa science with the special emphasis on astrobiology, and discussions of the requirements for scientific instruments. We kindly ask all colleagues interested in participation of Europa Lander workshop to preregister preliminarily before September 25 2008, at the meeting website. +---------------------------------------------------------------------+