Issue 21-26, Oct 3, 2021
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- 53RD DPS MEETING STARTS TODAY: ACCESSING THE MEETING
- NEPTUNE/TRITON SYSTEM SEMINAR SERIES
- IN MEMORIAM: GORDON PETTENGILL (1926-2021)
- IN MEMORIAM TERRENCE RETTIG (1946-2021)
- JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
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53RD DPS ANNUAL MEETING STARTS TODAY: ACCESSING THE MEETING
Virtual meeting platform: To start previewing the science presentations, follow the instructions in the emailed invitation to join the DPS 53 virtual meeting platform. Registrants should have received this email, titled “Log into #DPS2021 Virtual Meeting”, from meetings@aas.org on 27 September.
Slack: To join the DPS 53 conversation on Slack, follow the instructions in the emailed invitation to join the DPS 53 Slack workspace. This email, titled "reg-help has invited you to work with them in Slack," was sent by Slack on 27 September. For more information, view the customized Slack tutorial.
GatherTown: To attend poster sessions, interact with exhibitors, and socialize, visit the DPS 53 GatherTown space. GatherTown runs best in Google Chrome, though it may work in Firefox and Safari (beta) as well. Other browsers are not supported. For more information, view the customized GatherTown tutorial.
The reception starts tonight at 8pm eastern time.
It is not too late to register! https://aas.org/meetings/dps53
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NEPTUNE/TRITON SYSTEM SEMINAR SERIES
This new seminar series will showcase recent developments in scientific topics covering all aspects of the Neptune/Triton system: the magnetosphere, satellites, rings, atmosphere, ionosphere, interior structure, and magnetic field as well as their formation, thermal evolution, variation, and science related to analog objects such as Uranus. Please join us on the second Tuesday of each month at 3:00 PM GMT (8:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM ET) for a Neptune/Triton-relevant presentation from a guest speaker, followed by a lively discussion and community updates/news. The first seminar will occur on October 12; Dr. Matthew Hedman will be giving a presentation on Small Moons and Rings of Neptune. View the seminar schedule and register for seminars at http://neptuneodyssey.jhuapl.edu/Events/.
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IN MEMORIAM: GORDON PETTENGILL (1926-2021)
Dr. Gordon Pettengill died on May 8, 2021 at his home in Concord, Massachusetts at the age of 95. Dr. Pettengill was one of the very early pioneers in the use of radar to explore solar system bodies while working at the Millstone Hill facility of Lincoln Laboratories. Having assisted Bill Gordon during the construction of the Arecibo telescope via many trips to Arecibo in the early 1960s, Dr. Pettengill joined the staff of the observatory as Associate Director in 1963. Between then and when he resigned in late 1965, he worked with Rolf Dyce, Tommy Thompson, Andy Sanchez (U. of Puerto Rico) and, after January,1965, myself on observations of the Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars. He returned in late 1968 to be the observatory's director, a position he held until December 1970 when he took up a position as Professor of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT. Dr. Pettengill continued his involvement with the radar program at Arecibo, especially observations in the 1970s of the Galilean Satellites and Rings of Saturn working with Steve Ostro, who was a graduate student at MIT, and myself. Gordon was the PI on the radar altimeter instrument on the 1978 Pioneer Venus mission to Venus and he was also the PI on the later Magellan mission to that planet.
From Don Campbell, more at Arecibo Observatory website: http://www.naic.edu/ao/blog/memoriam-dr-gordon-pettengill)
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IN MEMORIAM TERRENCE RETTIG (1946-2021)
Terrence Rettig, retired professor of astrophysics in the Department of Physics at the University of Notre Dame, died Aug 22, 2021. In addition to teaching, Rettig served as a program director with the National Science Foundation and helped to establish the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program at Notre Dame — the longest-running REU program for physics in the country. “I view him as the founder of astronomy at Notre Dame,” said Peter Garnavich, professor of physics and chair of the Department of Physics. “Terry started as a teaching professor and his work was so impressive he was put on the tenure track. That shows how excellent he was at both teaching and research.” Rettig was instrumental in coordinating Notre Dame’s partnership with the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory. His research primarily focused on understanding the collapse of proto-planetary disks and the conditions and constraints under which planets form. Rettig’s work to understand comets and planet formation gained unique recognition in 2000 when the International Astronomical Union named an asteroid after Rettig.
More found at this website: https://news.nd.edu/news/in-memoriam-terrence-rettig-retired-professor-of-astrophysics/
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JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
Job seekers and employers are encouraged to browse DPS's job listings and advertise open positions. Recent openings and opportunities are listed below and more are at the link above.
A. Tenure Track Assistant Professor Position at UTSA - Physics & Astronomy, Exoplanets
The Department of Physics & Astronomy at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is seeking exceptional applicants for a full-time tenure track Assistant Professor position with experience in exoplanets and an academic record in multicultural education, diversity and inclusion beginning August 2022. We seek candidates whose exoplanet research focus (observational or theoretical) is relevant to future exoplanet missions (ground or space-based) or has direct synergies with solar system studies. In the case of exceptionally well qualified candidates appointment to associate or full professor is possible (tenure is contingent upon Board of Regents approval).
The successful applicant will be expected to (1) develop an externally funded and internationally recognized research program; (2) supervise graduate students; (3) teach undergraduate and graduate courses in astrophysics and/or physics; (4) work with others across disciplinary boundaries; (5) show a commitment to inclusion and diversity; and (6) serve the Department, College of Science, and the University.
https://jobregister.aas.org/ad/c0e4162e
Further information and application materials must be submitted electronically to https://jobs.utsa.edu/ using requisition number 6742. Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2021. Complete applications received by this date are guaranteed full consideration. UTSA is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
B. Postdoc Researcher, Laboratory Analysis Presolar Grains
https://dps.aas.org/content/postdoc-researcher-laboratory-analysis-presolar-grains
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Send submissions to:
Maria Womack, DPS Secretary (dpssec@aas.org)
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