Issue 18-16, April 22, 2018
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- DPS ELECTIONS 2018: CANDIDATE SLATE
- NEOWISE 2018 DATA RELEASE AVAILABLE APRIL 19, 2018
- THREE OUTER PLANETS ASSESSMENT GROUP (OPAG) NOTICES
- JWST COMMUNITY SURVEY
- SUMMER SCHOOL FOR SOFTWARE SYSTEMS IN ASTRONOMY
- METEOR CRATER FIELD CAMP
- JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES
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DPS ELECTIONS 2018: CANDIDATE SLATE
The DPS Nominating Subcommittee has identified the following candidates
for the 2018 DPS elections for Vice Chair and Committee :
Vice-Chair (1 to be elected):
o Matija Cuk, SETI Institute
o Amanda Hendrix, Planetary Science Institute
Committee (2 to be elected):
o Michael Bland
o Will Grundy, Lowell Observatory
o Lucille Le Corre, Planetary Science Institute
o Krista Soderlund, University of Texas, Austin
Additional candidates, supported by a petition of at least 20 DPS members,
may be nominated by May 15th. Please send any nominations to the
DPS Secretary, Anne Verbiscer, at [email protected].
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NEOWISE 2018 DATA RELEASE AVAILABLE APRIL 19, 2018
The Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE)
and IPAC at the California Institute of Technology announce the NEOWISE
2018 Data Release.
The 2018 Data Release includes all data acquired during the fourth year
of the NEOWISE Reactivation mission (Mainzer et al. 2014, ApJ, 792, 30),
13 December 2016 to 13 December 2017. These data are combined with the
Year 1, 2 and 3 NEOWISE data into a single archive that contains approximately
10.3 million sets of 3.4 and 4.6 micron images and a database of over 76 billion
source detections extracted from those images.
NEOWISE Reactivation scanned the sky nearly eight complete times during the
first four years of survey operations, with approximately six months between
survey passes. With twelve or more independent 3.4 and 4.6 micron exposures
made on each point of the sky during each survey epoch, the NEOWISE archive
is a time-domain resource for extracting multiple, independent thermal flux and
position measurements of solar system small bodies, as well as background galactic
and extragalactic sources.
A quick guide to the NEOWISE data release, data access instructions and supporting
documentation is available at http://wise2.ipac.caltech.edu/docs/release/neowise/.
Access to the NEOWISE data products is available via the on-line and API services
of the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive (IRSA) at https://irsa.ipac.caltech.edu.
NEOWISE is a project of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of
Technology. NEOWISE is funded by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration Planetary Science Division.
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THREE OUTER PLANETS ASSESSMENT GROUP (OPAG) NOTICES
Three (2) OPAG Notices:
(1) Nominations for OPAG Steering Committee and OPAG Chair
NASA solicits nominations (including self nominations) for new
members of the 15-person steering committee for the Outer Planets
Assessment Group (see https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/). Nominations
are due by May 7, 2018 and should be sent to current chair Alfred McEwen:
[email protected]. At least 3 positions need to be filled ASAP.
Candidates for OPAG chair should indicate theirinterest in that role.
NASA will ultimately choose new members by striving to maintain balance
in essential expertise (science and technology) and diversity (gender, ethnicity,
career stage, institution, etc.).
(2) Comments on 2018 OPAG goals document are due July 2, 2018. An
extensively revised draft goals document for the Outer Planets Assessment
Group has been posted at https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/. We invite the OPAG
science community to provide feedback by using the OPAG Discussion Board:
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/forums/viewforum.php?f=2. To use this, you must have
filled out a notification of interest form at https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/opag.cfm
and register for the discussion board. We plan to provide a 2018 version of this
document to the Discovery program library, so we need comments by July 2.
The goals document will continue to be updated for input to the next Decadal Survey.
(3) Next OPAG meeting: September 11-12 in Pasadena, CA
Details will follow at https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/
-OPAG Steering Committee
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JWST COMMUNITY SURVEY
Given that the JWST Cycle 1 proposal deadline has been extended, we wanted
to take this opportunity to get feedback from the astronomical community on
the proposal process. Our goal is to enable the best possible science with JWST,
so your feedback is greatly appreciated. The input you provide will be used to
improve the JWST proposal process.
The online survey focuses on the JWST proposal tools and information you may
have used as you prepared your proposal for submission, including:
- Proposal tools
- Documentation
- Support
Please take a few minutes to provide us with your anonymous feedback on these
topics by completing our online survey by May 1, 2018:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JWSTsurvey
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SUMMER SCHOOL IN SOFTWARE SYSTEMS FOR ASTRONOMY
SSfA at UH Hawaii Registration Opens Monday – Registration for Software
Systems for Astronomy 5 on the Big Island of Hawaii opens on Monday,
09-Apr-2018. The course covers software design and implementation of
telescope and instrument control systems, observation planning tools, and
software for analyzing and archiving astronomical data. SSfA-5 will be
offered as a two week intensive course, 23-Jul to 03-Aug, 2018.
Please find special instructions for off-island participants here:
http://astro.uhh.hawaii.edu/Summer/Summer-2018/ssfa18.php#Special_Summer_Note
More information about Software Systems for Astronomy 5 is here:
http://astro.uhh.hawaii.edu/Summer/Summer-2018/ssfa18.php
General information about the UHH summer program is here:
http://astro.uhh.hawaii.edu/Summer/Summer-2018/summer2018.php
The UHH regstration page is here:
https://hilo.hawaii.edu/depts/summer/SummerCourseRegistration.php
More detail about the course is given in the UHH catalog (the course number is 385):
https://hilo.hawaii.edu/catalog/astr-courses
If you have questions, send email to [email protected]
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METEOR CRATER FIELD CAMP
The LPI-JSC Center for Lunar Science and Exploration is excited to
announce a student field camp opportunity coming this fall!
The Field Training and Research Program at Meteor Crater is organized
under the auspices of the
NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI),
which is designed, in part, to train a new generation of explorers for the Moon
and beyond.
The Field Training and Research Program at Meteor Crater is a week-long geology
field class and research project based at Barringer Meteorite Crater, Arizona, more
popularly known as Meteor Crater. The goal will be to introduce students to impact
cratering processes and provide an opportunity to assist with a research project at the
crater. Skills developed during the field camp should better prepare the students for
their own thesis studies in impact cratered terrains, whether they be on Earth, the
Moon, asteroids, Mars, or some other solar system planetary surface.
The field camp is designed for graduate college students in geology and planetary
science programs, although advanced undergraduate students will be considered if
they have successfully completed a summer field geology program and have a
demonstrated interest in impact cratering processes. U.S. and international students
are eligible to apply.
The fifth edition of the program will run from October 6, 2018, through October 14, 2018.
Students are responsible for transportation to and from Flagstaff, Arizona.
Transportation will be provided from Flagstaff to Meteor Crater. Additional logistical
details will be provided to selected participants.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 11, 2018
For more information and access to an electronic application form, please visit
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/exploration/mcFieldCamp/
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JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES
A) POSTDOC IN PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF OUTER PLANETARY ICE ANALOGS
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
content/physics-and-chemistry-outer-planetary-ice-analogs
Application Deadline: May 1, 2018
Overview
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory invites applications for a postdoctoral research
position in the Planetary Ices Group. Drs. Murthy Gudipati and Bryana Henderson
will serve as postdoctoral advisors to the selected candidate with Dr. Gudipati
acting as primary. The appointee will carry out research in collaboration with
the postdoctoral advisors, resulting in publications in the open literature. The
postdoctoral position is available immediately.
Responsibilities
The research work will focus on the area of physics and chemistry of outer
planetary ice analogs using laboratory simulations and spectroscopy. This
position is aimed at understanding the evolution of organic matter in ices under
high-radiation conditions such as on Europa. The successful candidate should
have thorough hands-on experience in similar research activity and should be
able to participate in multiple projects. In addition to the fundamental research
mentioned above, the appointee will have an opportunity to participate in next-
generation space instrumentation concepts, mission concepts, and observations.
Qualifications
Candidates should have a recent Ph.D. in chemistry, physics, astronomy or
planetary sciences and a strong motivation to undertake this multidisciplinary
research. Experience and expertise in the following techniques are highly desired:
low-temperature techniques, laboratory ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopy,
laser spectroscopy, ultra-high vacuum techniques, and mass-spectrometry.
Candidates who have received their PhD within the past five years since the
date of their application are eligible. Postdoctoral positions are awarded for a
minimum of one-year period and may be renewed up to a maximum duration
of three years.
B) POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN EXPERIMENTAL PLANETARY SCIENCE
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Columbia University’s Astrophysics Laboratory invites applications for a
Postdoctoral Research Scientist to perform laboratory simulations of solar
wind ion irradiation of Mercury’s regolith surface. The successful candidate
will join the group headed by Senior Research Scientist Dr. Daniel Wolf Savin;
they will participate in designing, building, and performing experiments utilizing
a novel ion beam apparatus to study the spectral changes and sputtering yields of
regolith-like loose powders.
The appointment is initially for one year, with the possibility of renewal for up to
two additional years; this is contingent upon the availability of funds and mutual
satisfaction.
The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. or the equivalent degree in Planetary
Science, Physics, Geology, Astrophysics, or a related field. Desired laboratory
skills include experience with apparatus design and construction, fast ion beams,
ion optics, ultra-high vacuum techniques, visible and near infrared spectral reflectance
measurements, quadrupole mass spectrometers, catcher foils, X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy, and associated electronics. Desired computer skills include programming,
multidimensional data analysis, LabView, Python, Autodesk Inventor, Solidworks,
SIMION, Linux/Mac OS, and Windows OS.
The successful candidate will have a strong background in at least some of the
areas listed above, a proven research ability, and evidence of future research potential.
The candidate is expected to be able to work well independently and cooperatively
with a team and to communicate the results of his/her research both orally and in writing.
Demonstrated written and oral communication skills are highly desirable.
Questions regarding this position can be addressed to Dr. Savin at
Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae (including a list of
publications) and statement of past research. In addition they should arrange
to have three letters of reference sent directly by the writers to Dr. Savin.
Applications will be considered only after all of the requested material has been received.
Applications and letters should be submitted by email to
[email protected]. Screening of applicants will begin immediately and
will continue until the position has been filled.
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Send submissions to:
Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected])
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