Subject: [DPS Members] DPS Mailing #11-04 : in memoriam J. Elliott,    
Decadal Survey, EPSC-DPS 2011 call for papers, Journals etc

Issue 11-04, March 4th 2011

+-----------------------------CONTENTS--------------------------------+
1) In memoriam : James L. Elliot
2) Decadal Survey Town Hall meetings
3) EPSC-DPS 2011 Joint meeting : call for papers
4) 2011 Prize nominations
5) Journals of interest to DPS members
6) NASA Infrared Telescope Facility Observing Proposals
7) Job opportunities
8) Upcoming Meetings
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+


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IN MEMORIAM

James L. Elliot, Professor of Planetary Astronomy and Physics at MIT, has
passed away Wednesday night March 2, 2011. Jim was one of the pioneers in
using stellar occultations to probe planetary atmospheres and the physical
properties of small bodies in the outer solar system and beyond. Among his
accomplishments are the discoveries of the ring system of Uranus and the
atmosphere of Pluto. He received his undergraduate degree from MIT in 1965
and his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1972. Before returning to MIT in 1978, he was
a postdoc and faculty member in the Astronomy Department of Cornell
University. Jim was a wonderful mentor and teacher, and was especially
supportive of women in astronomy. We will miss him deeply.


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DECADAL SURVEY TOWN HALL MEETINGS

The Solar System Decadal Survey report for 2013-2022 is scheduled for
public release in a presentation by Dr. Steve Squyres on March 7 at the
Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston. This presentation will
be streamed live:

http://www.livestream.com/2011LPS
C

It is expected that a response by NASA's Dr. James Green will also be
streamed live immediately after Dr. Squyres' presentation. In addition,
Dr., Green's presentation at NASA night at LPSC, scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
CST, Wednesday, March 9, will also be streamed live over the internet.

The document will be available on the website of the National Research
Council from that time onward:
ht
tp://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/CurrentProjects/ssb_052412

The Decadal Survey report is the result of a two-year effort of five
science panels working with the Steering Committee, and extensive community
input through nearly 200 white papers addressing every component of Solar
System studies and planetary exploration. The core of the report, which is
advisory to NASA and the NSF, consists of a prioritized list of recommended
flight missions and research directions, as well as recommendations for
research facilities and data archiving.

In an effort to disseminate the report widely, with opportunities for the
scientific community, students, and the public to ask questions to members
of the Steering Committee, the AAS Division for Planetary Sciences is
sponsoring a series of town hall events around the country and in Europe
(Boston, Boulder, St. Louis, Tucson, Orlando, New York, Chicago, Palo Alto,
Pasadena, Washington DC, EGU 2011 in Vienna, etc) in March and April 2011.

Links to the livestream of the rollout at LPSC, the Squyres charts, the
NASA response (livestream and charts) by Jim Green, the Decadal document,
and the schedule of town hall events and other supporting information can
be found at the http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/
2013decadal


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DPS-EPSC 2011 JOINT MEETING : CALL FOR PAPERS

La Cité Internationale des Congrès Nantes Métropole
03-07 October 2011, Nantes, France
http://meetings.coperni
cus.org/epsc-dps2011/

Abstract deadline: 31 May, 2011.

Dear colleagues,
We invite the world-wide community of planetary scientists to submit an
abstract for presentation of their recent work at the joint EPSC-DPS 2011
Meeting, which will take place at La Cité Internationale des Congrès
Nantes Métropole in Nantes, France, 3-7 October 2011. This modern congress
centre is very close to the centre of Nantes, an attractive city, the
historical capital of Brittany, on the west coast of France, about 2 hours
by high speed train from Paris.

The meeting will consist of oral and poster sessions, as well as
workshop-style sessions. We expect a very well attended meeting, with many
high quality presentations.

The current list of over 70 sessions is organized around the following
topics:
TP Terrestrial Planets
GP Giant Planet Systems
MG Magnetospheres and Space Physics
MT Missions and Techniques
EO Exoplanets and Origins
AB Astrobiology
SB Small Bodies
PD Planetary Dynamics
LF Laboratory and Field Investigations
OEA Outreach, Education, and Amateur Astronomy

The scientific program and abstract submission are accessible at:
htt
p://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/epsc2010/sessionprogramme
Please browse the list of sessions and identify the session that most
closely matches your area of interest; your abstract can then be submitted
directly to that session.
The session conveners, together with the Scientific Organizing Committee,
will finalize the science program shortly after the abstract deadline.

Travel funding will be available for students: EPSC will make a
contribution to a large number of European PhD students to support their
attendance; DPS will provide support to recipients of the Hartmann Student
Travel Grant (see hereafter).

Information on registration, accommodation, travel routes, visa
requirements and social events will also become available shortly on the
meeting web site.

Please forward this message to colleagues who may be interested.
We look forward to seeing you in Nantes.
With best wishes,

Manuel Grande and Renu Malhotra
on behalf of the Scientific Organizing Committee

Mario Ebel
on behalf of Copernicus Meetings

-----------------------------
Hartmann Travel Grants for the join DPS/EPSC meeting

Starting with a generous contribution from William K. Hartmann, followed by
member contributions and matching funds from the DPS Committee, a limited
number of student travel grants are made available to assist toward
participating at the annual DPS meeting. Travel grants are primarily
intended for students, but post-doctoral scientists without other means of
support will also be considered. Travel grants for the Nantes meeting will
be no more than approximately five hundred dollars and are intended to
provide a supplement that makes the difference on whether or not a student
is able to attend the annual meeting. In some cases the travel grant may be
requested to cover the meeting registration fee. Preference is given to
students who have not received a Travel Grant in the past.
Because of the joint meeting there will be several changes to the DPS
travel grant program for this meeting only:
� DPS travel grants will be limited to students or post-docs attending US
institutions only. We have a reciprocal agreement with the EPSC that they
will fund European (and other foreign) students.
� The deadline for applications will be will be very early this year.
Application deadline is 9:00 PM PDT, Friday May 20, 2011. Late applications
cannot be accepted. All notifications will be made on or before June 3,
2011.
Please see the Hartmann Travel Grant page at the DPS web site (http://dps.aas.
org/meetings/travel_grant_application) for detailed information on
submittal and format.


4---------4---------4---------4---------4---------4---------4---------4
2011 PRIZE NOMINATIONS

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
are found at http://dps.aas.org/prizes.

The nomination form and instructions can also be retrieved from this
website. Anyone may submit a nomination. The nomination form and supporting
material are to be emailed to [email protected].

The deadline for nominations this year is April 4.

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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JOURNALS OF INTEREST TO DPS

a) 2011 ICARUS subscriptions for DPS members

DPS members now have the option to receive their ICARUS subscriptions in an
environmentally-friendly 'online-only' format. The standard print and
electronic format is still available for those who would like to continue
receiving hardcopies of ICARUS.

The subscription rate for DPS members remains the same for each option,
$107 USD.
The revised order form for 2011 DPS member ICARUS subscriptions which
includes both options can be found at
http://dps.aas.org/publications/

DPS members : enjoy this new option !

b) The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review

The A&ARv publishes invited reviews by leading experts from around the
world. Its 2009 Impact Factor is 11.857.
Recent reviews include:
� Lammer et al. (2009). What makes a planet habitable? Vol. 17, 181
� Absil and Mawet (2010). Formation and evolution of planetary systems: the
impact of high-angular resolution optical techniques Vol. 18, 317
� Javaux and Dehant (2010). Habitability: from stars to cells Vol. 18, 383
The scope of the A&ARv includes all areas of astronomy and astrophysics as
well as topics in planetary sciences and astrobiology. The editors choose
the reviews based on their scientific quality as well as their readability.
The reviews thereby provide an excellent starting point for scientists or
students seeking access to a new or unfamiliar field as well as for
researchers and lecturers in need of authoritative material in fields with
which they are less familiar. 
For more information please visit www.springer.com/159

c) New open access journal : Planetary Science
Planetary Science is a peer-reviewed, open access journal that publishes
original contributions on a wide range of subjects involving physics,
geology, chemistry, or biology, related to planetary sciences as well as
development of systems (missions, instruments, etc.) and computer science
(algorithms, models, etc.) that are part of this inter-disciplinary field.
In response to increasing voices from the scientific and educational
communities for freely available scientific literature, open source
publishing has gained significant momentum.
Planetary Science will be published under the brand SpringerOpen,
Springer's new range of fully open access journals, covering all
disciplines within the science, technology and medicine (STM) fields.

d) Planetary and Space Sciences
Planetary and Space Science publishes original articles as well as short
communications (letters). Ground-based and space-borne instrumentation and
laboratory simulation of solar system processes are included.
The following fields of planetary and solar system research are covered:
- celestial mechanics, including dynamical evolution of the solar system,
gravitational captures and resonances, relativistic effects, tracking and
dynamics
- cosmochemistry and origin, including all aspects of the formation and
initial physical and chemical evolution of the solar system
- terrestrial planets and satellites, including the physics of the
interiors, geology and morphology of the surfaces, tectonics, mineralogy
and dating
- outer planets and satellites, including formation and evolution, remote
sensing at all wavelengths and in situ measurements
- planetary atmospheres, including formation and evolution, circulation
and meteorology, boundary layers, remote sensing and laboratory simulation
- planetary magnetospheres and ionospheres, including origin of magnetic
fields, magnetospheric plasma and radiation belts, and their interaction
with the sun, the solar wind and satellites
- small bodies, dust and rings, including asteroids, comets and zodiacal
light and their interaction with the solar radiation and the solar wind
- exobiology, including origin of life, detection of planetary ecosystems
and pre-biological phenomena in the solar system and laboratory simulations
- extrasolar systems, including the detection and/or the detectability of
exoplanets and planetary systems, their formation and evolution, the
physical and chemical properties of the exoplanets
- history of planetary and space research

Impact factor is 2.067


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NASA INFRARED TELESCOPE FACILITY OBSERVING PROPOSALS

Due date for the 2011B semester (August 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012) is
Friday, April 1, 2011. See http://
irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/observing/applicationForms.php for our 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 high-resolution spectrograph (up to R=40,000); (3) MIRSI, a 5
to 25 micron camera and low-resolution spectrometer (R=100 to 200), (4)
NSFCAM2, a 2048�2048 pixel, 1-5 micron camera with a 0.04"/pixel scale
(40"x40" field-of-view) 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.ed
u/Facility/.

Important notice: NSFCAM2 will be taken off line on Oct. 1, 2011, to
install a new infrared array. We expect it to be available starting in
semester 2012A (Feb. 1, 2012 - July 31, 2012). Near-infrared imaging is
suitable for some projects with the SpeX slit viewer which has
0.12"/pixel and a 60"x60" field-of-view.

In addition we anticipate that SpeX will be taken off line on Aug. 1, 2012,
and will be unavailable for then entire 2012B semester (Aug. 1, 2012 -
Jan. 31, 2013). This is necessary to upgrade SpeX with new arrays and array
controllers. We strongly recommend observers to plan their observing
accordingly. We also expect to accommodate key projects requiring large
amounts of observing time using CSHELL, NSFCAM2, MIRSI, MORIS, and visitor
instruments.


7---------7---------7---------7---------7---------7---------7---------7
JOB OPPORTUNITIES

a) Position: Comet and Asteroid Observer Post-Doc
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech),
Postdoctoral Scholars Program at the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory (JPL) invites applications for a post-doctoral research position
in JPL's
Planetary Ices Group.

The research will involve supporting a variety of programs in studying
small bodies in the solar system, i.e., comets and asteroids. One program
is to search for YORP accelerations in small near-Earth asteroids by
searching for phase lags in their rotational light curves. A second program
is to search for binary YORP accelerations in NEA binaries, searching for
delays in the time of mutual events. A third program is to observe
Jupiter-family comets at large solar distances in order to obtain the size
distribution of their nuclei. Lastly, we use CCD photometry to physically
characterize small bodies that are targets of spacecraft missions. The
post-doc will also develop his/her own research program in a topic of their
choosing. Dr. Paul Weissman,
Senior Research Scientist, in JPL's Planetary Science Section, will serve
as JPL postdoctoral advisor to the selected candidate. The appointee will
be guided by the JPL advisor to ensure that the research work will result
in publications in the open literature.

Candidates should have a recent PhD in Planetary Science,
Astronomy or a related area with a strong background in solar system
observational astronomy, in particular CCD photometry of small bodies in
the solar system, along with data reduction and analysis. Experience in
studies of comets and asteroids is highly desirable. The appointment is
contingent upon evidence of completion of a PhD. The annual starting salary
for recent PhDs is $52,000 USD and can vary somewhat according to the
selected applicant's qualifications. Postdoctoral Scholar positions are
awarded for a one-year period. Appointments may be renewed in one-year
increments for a maximum addition of two years.

Please send a letter describing your research interests, a curriculum
vitae, a list of three references (with telephone numbers, postal and email
address) and arrange the reference letters to be sent to:

Advisor Name: Dr. Paul Weissman
Advisor Address: 4800 Oak Grove Drive,
183-301, Pasadena, CA 91109
Advisor Telephone: (818) 3542636
Advisor Fax: (818) 393-4445
Advisor E-Mail:[email protected]

Caltech and JPL are equal opportunity/affirmative action employers. Women,
minorities, veterans, and disabled persons are encouraged to apply.

b) Professorship in Ghent University, Belgium
The Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium has a vacancy for a
professorship in the Department of Organic Chemistry, starting 1 October
2011. It concerns a position of full-time Professor in the rank of
Lecturer (docent) or Senior Lecturer (hoofddocent), charged with academic
teaching, scientific research and scientific services in the field of
analytical separation techniques.

For more information:
ht
tp://www.ugent.be/en/news/vacancies/autonomous/20110127we01WE07


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UPCOMING MEETINGS

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.

You may also want to consult the Planetary meetings and Conferences
Calendar at:
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/<
/a>

PEN : A planetary meeting calendar is also 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.

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

a) Microsymposium 52: The Moon: The First Billion Years of Crustal
Evolution
March 5-6, 2011, The Woodlands, Texas

http://www.pla
netary.brown.edu/html_pages/micro52.htm

Sponsored by: Brown University, The Vernadsky Institute, Brown/MIT NLSI.

The Moon's crust is thought to have formed from substantial melting in the
latter phase of lunar accretion and subsequent intrusions. On the basis of
Apollo/Luna samples and lunar meteorites, hypotheses for the compositional
structure and evolution of the crust, such as the lunar magma ocean model
and Mg-suite emplacement, have been formulated. Coincident with early
crustal evolution, impact basin formaton significantly perturbed the
physical and thermal structure of the Moon, excavated material from the
crust and perhaps the mantle, and laterally mixed huge quantities of
crustal material. Much remains to be learned about the first billion years
of lunar history, such as the processes involved in lunar crustal
formation, the aftermath and possible overturn of residual cumulates, the
intrusive history of the crust, and the effect of impact basin formation on
these processes.
Recent missions such as Kaguya, Chandrayaan-1, Chang'E-1, and Lunar
Reconnaissance Orbiter have begun to provide data to test hypotheses for
the mineralogy and structure of the lunar crust and to assess the
importance of impact basins in early crustal and thermal evolution. High
spatial and spectral resolution image and spectrometer data have shown the
detailed location and setting of both typical and anomalous exposures of
crustal and mantle material, and now permit the linking of specific lunar
sample types to local and regional geological settings, such as central
peaks and basin rings.
Together, these new data are changing our perspective on the next
generation of important scientific topics and exploration destinations.
Upcoming missions, such as GRAIL, will provide very high-resolution gravity
data for the crust in general and lunar impact basins in particular. Lunar
landers and rovers from Russia, India, China, Japan and the United States
can be targeted to areas that can help resolve fundamental questions about
the first billion years of crustal evolution.
The goal of Microsymposium 52 is to present a summary of these new
discoveries, and to bring together representatives of the lunar geology,
mineralogy, petrology, spectroscopy, geochemistry and geophysics
communities to ponder the implications of these new findings for the next
generation of significant scientific problems. A critical aspect of this
discussion will be to assess the implications of this new perspective for
future modes and destinations for robotic exploration of the Moon.

--
James W. Head, III
Department of Geological Sciences
Brown University, Box 1846
Providence, RI 02912 USA
* * * * *
Email: [email protected]

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

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

d) 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

e) 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.

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

g) 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 et al.
Department of Cosmosciences/Graduate School of Sciences, Hokkaido
University

h) 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]


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

Abstract deadline extended to 7 March.
See :
http://www.planetaryprobe.org/

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.

We would like to invite you to submit an abstract for Session #5 on Science
Instrumentation at this year's International Planetary Probe Workshop on
June 6-11, 2011 in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA, The workshop is shaping up to
be an excellent one and we anticipate that we will have a lively session.
The Science Instrumentation session will cover science sensors,
instruments, and. instrument systems including heat shield instrumentation,
applicable to planetary entry and in situ probes, required for Giant Planet
missions (e.g. Saturn and Neptune) as well as those necessary for Venus,
Titan and Europa.
The goal of the workshop is to bring together scientists, technologists,
engineers, mission designers, and policy makers interested in the
exploration of Solar System atmospheres and surfaces using atmospheric
entry and descent probes, aerial vehicles, surface landers, rovers and
penetrators. The workshop covers the technological challenges and
scientific opportunities associated with entry, descent, landing and flight
in planetary atmospheres, and surface science and mobility.
The 8th workshop will build on the success of the previous workshops to
promote international cooperation in probe missions to solar system bodies,
and to provide the opportunity for students--the next generation of
planetary explorers--as well as spacecraft engineers, technologists,
mission planners, and policy makers to participate in these endeavors.
Please forward this invitation to any of your colleagues that may be
interested. The website for abstract submission is: http://www.pla
netaryprobe.org/AbstractSubmission.aspx
Thanks
Best wishes, the conveners : Pat Beauchamp, Athena Coustenis, Jean-Pierre
Lebreton


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

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
/

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

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.

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

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.

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


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

European Week of Astronomy & Space Science (JENAM or EWASS 2011)
The "European Week of Astronomy and Space Science 2011" (EWASS 2011) will
take place in St. Petersburg, Russia, during the week of July 4-8, 2010.
Much progress is being made and it is hoped a second announcement will be
circulated shortly, at which time you are all invited to register.
EWASS2011 will host 9 Mini-Symposia, plenary sessions and many Special
Sessions on various aspects of modern astronomy. The European Astronomical
Society (EAS) General Assembly, Business and Council meetings will also
take place during EWASS 2011. We believe that EWASS 2011 will be a truly
exciting event, addressing a wide range of topics in Astronomy and Space
Sciences and related technologies, that are of interest to the European
astronomical community.
The conference web page containing most up-to-date information is available
at: http://www.jenam2011.org/conf/.
You can find there information about the Symposia, Special and Plenary
Sessions, and in due course the option to register. A limited amount of
financial support will be provided by EAS to facilitate the participation
of early career astronomers.
The "Abstract Submission" and "Grant Application" sections are now open,
and interested colleagues can submit their abstracts and apply for
financial support through the relevant pages at the conference web page.
The conference will be held in the Park Inn Hotel "Pulkovskaya", Pobedy
Square 1, 196240 St.Petersburg, Russia (http://www.park
inn.com/hotelpulkovskaya-stpetersburg). Conference Accommodation
Information regarding hotel accommodation, rates and booking of hotels will
be announced on the conference web page in late March 2011. All foreign
nationals are required to have an entry visa to travel to the Russian
Federation. The SOC plans to send invitation letters to participants upon
registration. More information on visa requirements and the necessary
procedure to acquire a visa will be given in late March 2011.
Contact: jenam2011 @ gao.spb.ru

Please note the symposium
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


o) 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 deadline
21 May 2011 : Deadline for early registration at reduced rate

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

q) 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.

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

s) 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

t) 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.

Several sessions are proposed in the Planetary Sciences Section, see:

http://www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2011/public.asp?page=mars/confSessi
onList.asp

The sessions titles are :

PS01 Solar wind interaction with planetary environments
PS02 Cosmic Dust: Its Formation and Evolution
PS03 Science and Exploration of the Venus
PS04 Exploring Mercury
PS05 Comparative Planetary Science
PS06 Outer Planets and Icy Worlds
PS07 Laboratory Planetary Sciences
PS08 Science and Exploration of Mars
PS09 Comparative Space and Surface Radiation Environments Planetology
PS10 Science and Exploration of the Moon
PS11 Formation and Evolution of the Solar System
PS13 Microwave and Infrared Remote Sensing of Solar System Objects
PS14 Astrobiology - Life in the Universe
ST05-PS12 Future Space Missions and Instrumentation for Space and Planetary
Science

Please contact the conveners for more information and submit your abstracts
before the deadline of March 15.

u) Call for Papers for Symposium 'Chemistry as a Tool for Space
Exploration & Discovery at Mars'
Fall 2011 American Chemical Society National Meeting.
August 28-September 1, 2011 in Denver, Colorado

Overview: Mars is the most accessible location outside of the Earth to
investigate for evidence of past and present habitable zones and for
extinct or extant extraterrestrial life. Chemistry-based approaches provide
the central tool in these exploration efforts. This search involves the
interplay of physical, organic, inorganic, analytical, biological, and
geochemistry along with inputs from atmospheric physics and remote imaging.
A series of missions by both NASA and ESA, some done jointly, which will be
launched within the next 10 years, will carry chemistry-based
instrumentation to examine whether evidence of past/present habitability
and habitation exists and where on Mars future exploration should be
directed. The discovery and localization of such evidence will have a
profound impact on the direction of international space exploration as well
as philosophical social implications.
Abstracts due March 21. Submit to http://abstracts.acs.org. All
prospective speakers, whether or not ACS members, need to register for an
ACS user name and password. After logging in, select 242nd National
Meeting, create new abstract (if first time), then 'Chemistry as a Tool
for Space Exploration and Discovery at Mars' under 'CASW."
Contributed papers may be in the form of oral talks or posters that will be
decided on the basis of submissions.

Symposium is co-sponsored by the NASA Astrobiology Institute.

Mark Allen ([email protected]) and Jeff
Bada ([email protected]), symposium
organizers
Ronald Cohen ([email protected]), meeting theme
program chair



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