Subject: [DPS Members] DPS Mailing #11-02


Issue 11-02, February 2nd 2011

+-----------------------------CONTENTS--------------------------------+
1) Memorial for Donald Hunten
2) Close to deadline for DPS 2011 membership renewals
3) Subscribe to PEN
4) 2011B NASA KECK Call For Proposals
5) Job Opportunities
6) Upcoming Meetings
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+


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MEMORIAL FOR DONALD HUNTEN

Dear Colleagues,

The Lunar and Planetary Laboratory/Department of Planetary Sciences will
hold a memorial of Professor Donald M. Hunten on Friday, February 25,
2011, to celebrate his life and his contributions to Planetary Science.
The memorial will be held at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (Kuiper
Space Sciences third-floor atrium and Room 308) from 2:30 PM until
approximately 5:30 PM. All Don's friends and colleagues are invited to
attend.
More details will be provided soon. If you plan to attend, please let Mary
Guerrieri know ([email protected]). You are
welcome to send your
remembrances, etc., to Mary as well.

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DPS MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS FOR 2011

The 2011 renewal period is open online at
http://dps.aas.org/membership/
You will find there all the information you need on how to renew your
membership whether an AAS member or non-AAS members.
You can check your membership status at www.aas.org and by looking at the
member profile you’ll find the expiration date of your current
membership.
If you are an affiliate member and/or haven’t renewed up to now, be aware
that to avoid becoming “inactive” in the AAS lists, you should pay no
later than 27 February 2011.
For your convenience you may renew online at members.aas.org. Prompt
cooperation saves the AAS substantial cost and increases funding for our
program. Please direct
any questions regarding your renewal status to [email protected] or (202)
328-2010 extension 101.
Please take the time to update your member data also if you have changed
status or e-mail or address recently.
While you are renewing please take a moment and consider making a
contribution to one of our important programs or prize funds and help
ensure the stability and growth of your DPS.


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SUBSCRIBE TO PEN

The Planetary Exploration Newsletter is issued approximately weekly
and includes general announcements, meeting notices, and job ads.
Special notices from Jim Green, the NASA Planetary Science Division
Director, requiring quick distribution to the planetary community are
also distributed.

Current and back issues are available at
http://planetarynews.org
To subscribe, go to
http://planetarynews.org
/pen_subscribe.html

Please send all replies and submissions to pen_editor at psi.edu.
Announcements and other messages should be brief with links to URLs
for extended information, including detailed descriptions for job
announcements. Title plus text is limited to 200 words. Go to
http://planetarynews.org/su
bmission.html for complete submission
directions.

A planetary meeting calendar is posted at
http://planetarynews.org/meet
ings.html
If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or
workshop of which your colleagues should be aware, please send the
date, title, URL and location to pen_editor at psi.edu.

PEN is a service provided by the Planetary Science Institute
(http://www.psi.edu).

---------------------------------------------------
Mark V. Sykes, Ph.D., J.D.,
CEO and Director
Planetary Science Institute
1700 E. Fort Lowell, Suite 106
Tucson, AZ 85719
520-622-6300


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2011B NASA KECK CALL FOR PROPOSALS

NASA is soliciting proposals to use the Keck Telescopes for the 2011B
observing semester (August 2011 - January 2012). NASA intends the use of
the Keck telescopes to be highly strategic in support of on-going missions
and/or high priority, long term science goals. NASA Keck time is open to a
wide range of disciplines including exoplanets and solar system topics,
galactic and extragalactic topics,
cosmology and high energy astrophysics. This semester and
continuing into future semesters, there is limited time available for
observations of targets based on public Kepler data or data obtained
through
the Kepler Guest Observer programs. In addition, the call for CoRoT Key
Science has been extended to semester 2012B. Proposals are also sought in
the following discipline areas: (1) investigations in support of EXOPLANET
EXPLORATION science goals and missions; (2) investigations of our own SOLAR
SYSTEM; (3) investigations in support of COSMIC ORIGINS science goals and
missions; (4) investigations in support of PHYSICS OF THE COSMOS science
goals and missions; and (5) direct MISSION SUPPORT.

The proposal process is being handled by the NASA Exoplanet Science
Institute (NExScI) at Caltech and all proposals are due on 17 March 2011
at 4 pm PDT. Please see the website
http
://nexsci.caltech.edu/missions/KeckSolicitation/index.shtml for
further information and the proposal submission site. Questions not
answered on these pages can be directed to [email protected] .

5---------5---------5---------5---------5---------5---------5---------5

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

a) RESEARCH POSITION IN EXOPLANETS
Job Summary:
The Physics Department of the University of Aveiro, Portugal, invites
applications for a three year research position in "Detection and dynamics
of extrasolar planets" under the Welcome II / Marie Curie program (in
attachment). The program targets the recruitment of European researchers
to join Portuguese research institutions after working in Outside-EU
Countries (US, Canada, Australia, South America, Asia, Africa, etc).
Job description:
The successful applicant is expected to do research in one of the
following topics: extra-solar planet searches and study, planet formation
and evolution, dynamics of multi-planetary systems. The main goal is to
cover both theory and observations with particular attention to the
dynamics of multi-body configurations and diversity of their dynamical
environments. The research can involve the reduction the observational
data, the use of computer simulations and/or theoretical analyses to
detect and characterize the planetary systems around the neighboring
stars. Computational experience is required and a background in Solar
System dynamics is a plus. Applications by researchers working on other
research topics related to the field of exoplanets will also be accepted
and evaluated.
Qualifications:
The candidate must have a Ph.D degree in Astrophysics, or equivalent
experience.
Application deadline: 28th February 2011
Expecting starting date: July-September 2011, to be agreed upon with the
successful candidate.
Type of contract: Three year Fellowship:
Fellow A - Researchers holding a PhD: total cost granted per fellow,
including mandatory costs of the employer: 61,000 €/year .
Fellow B - Researchers with 5 or more years of research experience after
obtaining their PhD degree: total cost granted per fellow, including
mandatory costs of the employer: 68,745 €/year.
Travel and mobility allowance: 1600 €/first year;
Research costs: 5000 €/year
Benefits include social security and 25 vacation days.
Host institution: Physics Department, University of Aveiro, PORTUGAL (EU).
------------------------------------------
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
------------------------------------------
Job Reference: Welcome II FCT
Language: English
Candidates should contact Prof. Alexandre Correia ([email protected]) before
February 28th 2011, with the following documents:
1. CV (including publication list)
2. Name and contact of 2 scientists who can provide a letter of
recommendation if needed.
3. The application should include a motivation letter mentioning:
expectations of the applicant, brief research plan, and short summary
of the current research interests.

The pre-selected candidate(s) will get the support from the University of
Aveiro to apply to the Welcome II program (deadline March 14th).

Contacts and further information:
Alexandre Corrreia:
http://www.oal.ul.pt/~acorreia/
Welcome II Program:
http
://alfa.fct.mctes.pt/apoios/contratacaodoutorados/welcome2/
University of Aveiro:
http://www.ua.pt/research/


b)
OPEN POST-DOC POSITION IN NANTES - FRANCE
On magnetic field and primitive Martian environment

For detailed information please contact Benoit Langlais
([email protected]
). Review of applications starts
immediately and shall continue until the position is filled.
Applicants should send a cover letter, complete CV, brief statement of
research interests and two recommendation letters to Isabelle Berthaud
(isabelle.berthaud@univ-nante
s.fr)


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UPCOMING MEETINGS

a) Fourth International Workshop on the Mars Atmosphere: Modelling and
Observations
February 8-11, 2011 ; Paris, France
http://www-mars.lmd.jussie
u.fr/paris2011/

b) TARGET NEO Workshop:
Providing a Resilient NEO Accessibility Program for Human Exploration
Beyond LEO
February 22, 2011 at the George Washington University Morton Auditorium in
Washington, DC.

Panel discussion topics include:
• The NEO Population: Known and Unknown
• Mission Design: Getting There and Back
• NEO Characteristics for Safe and Meaningful Exploration
• Mission Duration: Quantifying the Risks
• Affordable Options for Providing a Resilient NEO Accessibility
• Program for Human Exploration Beyond LEO
Flyer and agenda is available online: http://www.targetneo.org/
Registration is free and open: http://www.gwu.edu/~spi/sy
mposiumrsvp.cfm

c) PLATO Science Conference
Berlin, 24-25 February 2011
http://ww
w-astro.physik.tu-berlin.de/plato-2011/index.html

d) 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC 2011),
7-11 March 2011, The Woodlands, Texas
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/m
eetings/lpsc2011/

e) Second International Conference on the Exploration of Phobos and Deimos
March 14-16, Moffett Field, CA
see: http://www.seti.org/PhD2011

f) European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2011
Vienna, Austria, 3-8 April 2011
http://meetings.cop
ernicus.org/egu2011/home.html
There will be several Planetary Sciences Sessions during the meeting, see
h
ttp://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2011/sessionprogramme/PS

g) ALMA Community days,
April 6-7, ESO, Garching, Germany
This is a two-day event aimed at familiarising the community with ALMA
Early Science capabilities, as well as the procedure and software
involved in proposal preparation and submission. Attendance could be
useful to anybody interested in obtaining ALMA Early Science observing
time. The first part of the meeting will be dedicated to both technical
and scientific presentations on ALMA and what can be expected during the
first period of Early Science. Subsequently, we will organize group
tutorials on the ALMA Observing Tool (OT), which will be used for the
preparation and submission of observing proposals. The conference website
is now online at
http://www.es
o.org/sci/meetings/2011/alma_es_2011.html
and registration is open. Note that we can host only a limited number of
participants that will be accommodated on a first-come-first-serve basis.
You can still get in a waiting list.

h) Exploring Strange New Worlds: From Giant Planets to Super Earths
Flagstaff, Arizona, May 1-6, 2011
http://nexsci.caltec
h.edu/conferences/Flagstaff

i) Japan Geoscience Union International Symposium 2011 (JpGU 2011),
Chiba-city, Japan, 22-27 May 2011,
see http://www.jpgu.org/meeting_
e/index.htm)

Note the session:
P-PS01: "Future explorations of Jupiter and Saturn system"
Giant planets are the most prominent representative bodies not only in the
solar system but also in other extrasolar systems. The origin of the Jovian
planets and the icy moons are inseparable and thus their origin, internal
structure, composition, etc. will be comprehensively discussed. In front of
the future mission Era, we'd like to promote the study of Jovian planets
and
their satellites. Also, progress in developing a solar sail mission to
observe
Jupiter system and Trojan asteroids will be discussed.
Important Dates:
Feb, 4 12:00 JST Deadline of Abstract submission
May, 9 Pre-JpGU Meeting registration closes

The Conveners
Jun Kimura
Sho Sasaki
Masaki Fujimoto
Yasumasa Kasaba
Yukihiro Takahashi
Takayuki Tanigawa
Kiyoshi Kuramoto
Department of Cosmosciences/Graduate School of Sciences, Hokkaido
University

j) Astronomical Union (IAU) Symposium 280 on:
The Molecular Universe
May 30 - June 3, 2011 Toledo, Spain

http://www.cab.inta-c
sic.es/molecular_universe

Contacts:
Prof. J.Cernicharo
[email protected]


k) 8th International Planetary Probe Workshop
6 – 10 June, 2011; Portsmouth, Virginia
4 – 5 June, Short Course: “Atmospheric Flight Systems Technologies”

Sending space vehicles to other worlds is one of humankind’s most
challenging and rewarding ventures. The 8th International Planetary Probe
Workshop (IPPW‐8) will bring together scientists, engineers,
technologists, mission designers, space agency leaders, and exceptional
students from around the world for a compelling, weeklong collaboration
focused on exploring solar system destinations via in‐situ missions.
This 8th workshop will build upon the IPPW tradition by encouraging
international cooperation in planetary probe missions, new technologies,
and scientific discoveries. In addition, students from around the world
will have a unique opportunity to present their work and to interact with
the leaders in their discipline areas.
IPPW‐8 will be held June 6‐10, 2011, near the
NASA‐Langley Research Center in southeastern Virginia, USA. Our
program includes invited talks, contributed presentations, posters, and
opportunities for networking with colleagues.
Preceding the workshop, on June 4‐5, we will offer a 2‐day
short course on
“Atmospheric Flight Systems Technologies.”
Mark your calendars now!
For more information: [email protected]

l) The Second CoRoT Symposium: Transiting planets, Vibrating stars and
their connection;
14-17 June 2011, Marseille

The first CoRoT symposium was held in February 2009 in Paris. At this
symposium, the first results were presented to the scientific community.
Since, the analysis of these initial high precision data gained scientific
maturity. In addition, the first two years of data are now public and
reviewed by a community much larger. It is thus time to gather again
planet and star communities.
The second CoRoT symposium will be held from 14 to 17 June 2011 in
Marseille (France) at the Palais des Congrès.
Besides presenting the latest results achieved in these two scientific
domains, the objective of this symposium is to highlight the
complementarity of these two fields of research. The symposium therefore
will also focus on the connection between stars and planets and what the
studies in one of the two field could bring to the other. Bringing
together the two communities will give rise to new projects that will
ultimately lead to new advances in the field of planetary systems,
considered as a whole.

You are invited to pre-register as soon as possible, for a final
registration before 15 May. You are also welcome to propose topics for
splinter sessions on half days, before 31 January.
Important dates and deadlines
* 31 January 2011: travel grant submission
* 31 January 2011: end of theme submission for splinter session
* 31 March 2011: end of pre-registration
* 30 April 2011: end of abstract submission
* 15 May 2011: end of final registration and payments
* 14–17 June 2011: colloquium
* December 2011: publication of the proceedings

http://symposiumcorot2011.oamp.fr
/

m) 9th IAA Low Cost Planetary Missions conference
June 21-24, 2011.
Hosted at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel
MD.

Abstract Submission is Open!
The 9th Low-Cost Planetary Missions Conference, organized and hosted by
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, MD, is
an international forum for planetary scientists, technologists, engineers,
managers, and agency officials to collect and exchange information and
ideas for making this class of robotic mission scientifically valuable and
yet affordably low cost.
The Low-Cost Planetary Missions conference is designed to increase and
enhance the global community of practitioners. Areas covered in the
conference program include, but are not limited to: missions and
scientific results; mission planning and operations; mission management,
technology and engineering, and delivery methods.

http://lcpm9.jhuapl.edu/index.php<
/a> for more information.

n) IUGG/IAMAS General Assembly
Melbourne 28 June- 7 July 2011, see:
http://www.iugg2011.com/pr
ogram-iamas.asp

Abstract deadline extended to 7 February 2011.
At that meeting, the ICPAE Commission has planned two Symposia:

M05 : Comparative Atmospheres of the giant planets and their satellites
Conveners : Athena Coustenis, Darrell Strobel and Frank Mills
Scope: Papers are invited which report progress on all aspects of our
current understanding of the evolution of atmospheres of the outer
planets, their moons and their interactions with their environment (rings,
magnetosphere, surfaces). The emphasis will be on insights gained from
recent space missions, including Cassini-Huygens and Earth-orbiting
satellites. Contributions describing the atmosphere-related objectives of
the relevant missions, analysis of observations, and the results of model
simulations of atmospheric evolution are also welcome. Research on
exoplanetary atmospheres in comparison to the ones in our solar system is
also of relevance. The relation of all of these aspects to the field of
Astrobiology shall be put forward.

J-M07 : Atmospheres and ices on terrestrial planets
Conveners: Dimitri Titov, Ralf Greve, Athena Coustenis
Scope: Papers are invited on the physics and chemistry of the lower,
middle and upper atmosphere, ionosphere and surface ice of the inner
planets and comets. Comparative studies of the atmospheres of Venus, Earth
and Mars, as well as the ices on Earth and Mars, are also invited, with
emphasis on the differences and similarities in their climates. Results
from recent missions to Mars, Venus and the terrestrial planets in general
are of particular interest. Reports on improvements in general circulation
models of the thermosphere and lower atmospheres of the planets, coupled
atmosphere/cryosphere models and descriptions of future planetary missions
are also invited, as well as advances in laboratory experiments.

o) ORIGINS 2011
ISSOL and Bioastronomy Joint International Conference
Montpellier, France, July 3rd-8th 2011
http://www.origins2011.univ-m
ontp2.fr/


Due date for submission is February 19th. Additionally, the travel grants
are due the same day! (You must submit and abstract to be considered for a
travel grant.)

Muriel Gargaud & Robert Pascal

Chairs of Origins 2011 Organizing Committee

p) JENAM2011
St. Petersburg, Russia, 4-8 July 2011.
http://jenam2011.org/conf/

S2: Planets of the Solar System and Beyond
Conveners: Mikhail Marov (Vernadsky Inst.Geochemistry/Keldysh Appl. Math.
Inst. Russia), Therese Encrenaz (Observatoire de Paris, France)

The symposium will be a meeting place for exchanging new results and
discussing future ground-based and space projects. The symposium will be
organized in six sessions:
-The Moon. Conveners: Sasha Bazilevsky, Yves Langevin
-Inner planets. Conveners: M. Lopez-Valverde, Igor Mitrophanov
-Outer planets. Conveners: Therese Encrenaz, Oleg Korablev
-Small bodies. Conveners: Maria-Teresa Capria, V. Emel'yanenko
-Exoplanets and planetary cosmogony. Conveners: Artie Hatzes, Leonid
Ksanfomality, Helmut Lammer
-Astrobiology. Conveners: Athena Coustenis, Alexei Rozanov

Deadline for abstracts : 25 April 2011


q) ASTEROIDS, COMETS, METEORS 2011
An International Conference On Small Solar System Bodies
July 18-22, 2011
Niigata, Japan

The scope of presentations and discussion is broad, including all topics
related to asteroids, comets, and meteors. ACM 2011 is expected to bring
together experts on small-bodies studies from around the world. It will
be the first meeting held after several significant and anticipated
events, which include the return of "Hayabusa" mission and the expected
result of "Dawn", "EPOXI" and "NExT", as well as many others. ACM 2011
will highlight the research currently being conducted, and encourage
discussion among researchers in various areas, and identify new avenues
of research.
General information and important dates are available at:
http://chiron.mtk.nao.ac.jp/ACM
2011/
All the process of registration and abstract submissions etc. should be
performed in the USRA/LPI meeting portal site with the kind help of the
Lunar and Planetary Institute. You can register your e-mail address for
receiving further information of the ACM2011 at the following site:
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meeting_portal/iofi/?mtg=acm2011
21 March 2011 Abstract deadline21 May 2011 Deadline for early
registration at reduced rate

r) IAU Symposium 282
"From Interacting Binaries to Exoplanets: Essential Modeling Tools"
July 18-22, 2011
at Tatranska Lomnica, Slovakia
http://www.ta3.sk/IB2E/

s) Gordon Research Conference on Origins of Solar Systems
July 17-22, 2011, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
Chair:Michael R. Meyer; Vice Chair:Edward D. Young

The 2011 Gordon Research Conference on Origins of Solar Systems will take
place at Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA 17-22 July. This unique
interdisciplinary meeting includes astronomers and astrophysicists
interested in star and planet formation, planetary scientists and
cosmochemists interested in the early history, structure, and evolution of
the Solar System, as well as scientists in related disciplines. By
bringing together this mix of expertise the conference attempts to address
fundamental questions that are not tractable within the confines of just
one discipline. Our goal is to understand whether planetary systems like
our own, and the potential for habitability that they represent are the
exception or the rule in the Milky Way galaxy.
The focus of the 2011 meeting (the 11th since this series began twenty
years ago) will be "Composition of Forming Planets: A Tool to Understand
Processes". Topics covered will include: 1) the initial conditions for
planet formation in circumstellar disks, including estimates of solar
nebula composition from the Genesis mission; 2) the evolution of the
physical structure of the gas and dust from which planets form; 3)
progress in our theoretical understanding of the major physical processes
that control planet formation; 4) the interplay between disk dynamics and
disk chemistry in determining the composition of forming planets including
new results from the Herschel Space Telescope; 5) meteoritic constraints
on the physical and chemical conditions in the solar nebula; 6) the role
of giant impacts in the structure and evolution of forming planets; 7)
satellites and rings of giant planets as mini-laboratories to study the
process of planet formation; 8) current census of extra-solar planets
including new results from the Kepler and COROT missions as well as other
facilities; 9) the essential chemical conditions for life and whether
those are readily obtained through our current understanding of planet
formation; and many other topics.
The conference will continue the usual format of invited lectures,
extended discussion, and poster sessions. The meeting provides an
excellent opportunity for young researchers to present their latest
research results and to participate in the dynamic informal conversations
that are typical of a Gordon Conference. We encourage young scientists,
including graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, to attend. Special
efforts will be made to promote interactions between invited speakers and
junior participants and we expect to provide some financial support to
facilitate the latter’s participation.

t) 2011 Sagan Summer Workshop: Exploring Exoplanets with Microlensing
Pasadena, CA, July 25-29, 2011
http://nexsci.caltech.edu/wo
rkshop/2011

u) First Announcement Of Rings 2011 Scientific Workshop
Tentative Dates: July 27-29, 2011
Location: Cornell University in Ithaca, New York

This workshop will explore the present state of investigations into
the structure, composition and dynamics of planetary rings, emphasizing
recent results from the Cassini Mission to Saturn as well as current
theoretical work and numerical simulations. The format will combine
daily oral sessions with ample time for splinter meetings and informal
discussion. Contributed oral and poster papers are welcome.
Possible session topics include ring origins, ring composition
and particle size distributions, gravitational over/instablities
and accretionary phenomena, dynamics of ring-embedded objects,
dusty ring features' interactions with the electromagnetic environment,
and comparative studies of various ring/disk systems.
In addition to formal sessions we will allow time for outdoor activities
to make the best of Ithaca's scenic setting in the heart of the Finger
Lakes. These might include hikes to spectacular waterfalls, a dinner
lake cruise featuring wines from local vineyards, world-renowned museums
(Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Corning Museum of Glass, Museum of the
Earth), and more.
Participation in the workshop is open to anyone, but space may be
limited to ~100 participants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Instructions for registration and abstract submissions will be given at
a later time, but if you think you may attend, please e-mail M. Hedman
at [email protected] so
we may begin to obtain a rough head
count. The meeting dates may shift slightly depending upon availability
of rooms in Ithaca. Please let us know if you would prefer other dates.
Feel free to forward this notice to any interested colleagues

v) Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (Aogs) 2011
August 8-12, 2011, Taipei.
http://
www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2011/public.asp?page=home.htm
Abstract deadline : 15 March 2011.

w) New-Horizons Workshop On Icy Surface Processes
August 30 - 31, 2011 at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.

The principal objective of this workshop is to review the state of
knowledge and present new ideas pertaining to the geological and
geochemical processes that operate on the surfaces of icy worlds, with the
goal of aiding our understanding of the Pluto system during the first
reconnaissance in 2015 by NASA’s New Horizons mission. In recognition of
the Lowell Observatory’s key role in the discovery of the Pluto System,
Lowell is hosting the workshop on the old Observatory grounds in Flagstaff
AZ. The workshop is co-sponsored by Southwest Research Institute and NASA
Ames Research Center.
The workshop will focus on Solar System solid body icy surfaces (anywhere
in the Solar System) and the physical and geological processes that shape
icy landforms and mobilize surface materials. Subjects to be covered
include possible analogs for surfaces of Pluto system, compositional
considerations, the physical properties of surface materials, landscape
and volatile origin and evolution, the implications for other KBOs, and
the plans and expected datasets resulting from Pluto system investigations
by the New Horizons mission. There will be both invited and contributed
talks. Contributed oral or poster papers are welcome.
Participation in the workshop is open to anyone, but is limited to ~75
researchers.
Instructions for registration and submissions will be given at a later
date.
SOC: Jeffrey Moore, Will Grundy, Alan Stern, William McKinnon, and Paul
Schenk
LOC: Will Grundy
POC: Carrie Chavez ([email protected])

---------------------------------+