Issue 15-36, August 21, 2015

 

+—————————————CONTENTS————————————-+

1. AAS DIVISION FOR PLANETARY SCIENCES ANNOUNCES 2015 PRIZE WINNERS
2. ABSTRACT DEADLINE FOR 47th DPS MEETING IN NATIONAL HARBOR
3. EDUCATION EVENTS AT 47th DPS MEETING
4. HARTMANN TRAVEL GRANTS FOR 47th DPS MEETING
5. ASTROCHEMISTRY OUTSTANDING DOCTORAL DISSERTATION AWARD

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

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AAS DIVISION FOR PLANETARY SCIENCES ANNOUNCES 2015 PRIZE WINNERS

 

The Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) is 
pleased to announce its 2015 prize winners.

 

Gerard P. Kuiper Prize for outstanding contributions to the field of planetary science: Dr. Yuk Yung 
(Caltech) has made numerous enduring contributions to planetary science, particularly in the areas 
of atmospheric photochemistry, global climate change, radiative transfer, atmospheric evolution, 
and planetary habitability. His unique integration of observations, laboratory data, and quantitative 
modeling has yielded pioneering insights into the characterization, origin, and evolution of atmospheres
in the solar system. His models of the chemistry of planetary atmospheres, developed through basic 
research, have been widely used to interpret results from spacecraft missions, including the Vikings, 
Voyagers, Pioneer Venus, Galileo, Venus Express, Cassini, Mars Science Laboratory, and New Horizons. 
Dr. Yung is Smits Family Professor at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. 
He received his bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from University of California, Berkeley, in 
1969 and his doctoral degree in physics from Harvard University in 1974.

 

Harold C. Urey Prize for outstanding achievement in planetary research by a young scientist: 
Dr. Geronimo Luis Villanueva (Catholic University of America, NASA Goddard Space Flight 
Center) has demonstrated exceptional capability and versatility in addressing scientific challenges 
in the planetary sciences. He was instrumental in the design and development of the high-resolution 
submillimeter heterodyne spectrometer for the SOFIA airborne observatory. He then moved into 
observational astronomy, making seminal contributions across the field of cometary science, including 
observations, data processing and analysis, and modeling and Monte Carlo simulations. Geronimo 
obtained the first measurement of the deuterium-to-hydrogen (D/H) ratio in water in a periodic comet, 
created algorithms to model cometary fluorescence emission incorporating large databases for H2O and 
HDO, and developed quantum-mechanical models for infrared bands. Turning to Mars, Geronimo 
conducted a multiyear multi-telescope observing campaign to chart the composition of the Martian 
atmosphere, including its seasonal variability as well as a quantitative assessment of Mars’s early 
water abundance. For his work with comets and with Mars’s atmosphere, Geronimo is recognized as 
one of the best young spectroscopists of his generation. Dr. Villanueva is currently a Research 
Assistant Professor at the Catholic University of America, in residence at NASA’s Goddard Space 
Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Universidad Mendoza, 
Argentina. He received his master’s degree from Clausthal Technical University, Germany, in 2003, 
and his Ph.D. from the University of Freiburg, Germany, in 2004.

 

Harold Masursky Award for outstanding service to planetary science and exploration: 
Dr. Christina Richey (NASA Headquarters & Smart Data Solutions, LLC) has made significant 
contributions to fostering equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion in planetary science in the spirit 
of the Harold Masursky award. Christina’s willingness to go far above and beyond the call of her 
regular work duties on these issues helps our planetary community become more open, diverse, and 
accepting. Much of her focus has been on education about the effects of harassment. She addresses 
anti-harassment policies at conferences; pushes for post-doc harassment training; ensures that key 
community leaders show support for all within the planetary sciences; helps distribute materials used 
by institutions to develop anti-harassment policies; and personally assists community members dealing 
with harassment issues. In addition to her anti-harassment work, she tackles broader issues that impact 
the most vulnerable members within our planetary-science community. She participates in mentoring 
workshops for early-career scientists as well as workshops on alternative careers. Dr. Richey is active 
in the Women in Planetary Science Group, is chair of the AAS’s Committee on the Status of Women 
in Astronomy (CSWA), and is an influential participant in the Women in Astronomy blog. Dr. Richey 
is currently a cross-divisional program officer at NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C., as well as the 
Deputy Program Scientist for the OSIRIS-REx mission. She earned her bachelor’s degree in physics from 
Wheeling Jesuit University, West Virginia, in 2004, and her master’s and doctoral degrees in physics from 
the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2007 and 2011, respectively.

 

Carl Sagan Medal for outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the general public: 
Dr. Dan Durda (Southwest Research Institute) has consistently communicated with the public about the 
wonders of exploring new worlds via the written word, the spoken word, and visual artistry. Dan writes 
for popular astronomy magazines such as Sky & Telescope and Mercury and authors columns, articles,
 and blogs for the public. As a natural extension of his compelling writing, Dan is sought as a planetary 
science spokesperson, both for lectures and on TV. His science addresses impacts and impact processes 
at many scales; thus he has become a requested media commentator on catastrophic asteroid impacts. 
The artistic dimension of Durda’s public outreach, however, sets him in a class apart. His art derives from 
a healthy dose of scientific knowledge, though, as Dan says, “I’m not afraid to loosen the reins at times.” 
His paintings and digital art present scientifically grounded depictions of solar-system objects as well as 
alien worlds. Dr. Durda is currently a planetary scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, 
Colorado. He earned his bachelor’s degree in astronomy from the University of Michigan in 1987 and his 
master’s and doctoral degrees in astronomy from the University of Florida in 1989 and 1993, respectively.

 

Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award to recognize and stimulate distinguished popular 
writing on planetary sciences: Stephen Battersby is a freelance science journalist and ex-astrophysicist 
who has written about such diverse subjects as giant black holes and small bogs, the end of time and the 
nature of slime — but he has a particular fondness for icy moons. He writes regularly for New Scientist 
magazine, and his work has also appeared in Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 
Current Science, and Discover. Recently he has been writing reports and articles for business, covering 
climate change, renewable energy, and adaptation. Battersby has been a features editor at New Scientist 
and a News & Views editor at Nature. He has a bachelor’s degree in physics from Oxford University and a 
Ph.D. in astrophysics from Imperial College, London. In his winning entry, “Splash of the Titans,” in the 
24 May 2014 issue of New Scientist, Battersby explores methane tides on the icy seashores of Saturn’s 
largest moon through the radar eyes of the Cassini spacecraft. The discovery of methane seas hiding under 
the orange haze on Titan ranks among the most fascinating chapters in the exploration of our solar system.

 

The 2015 DPS prizes will be presented at the 47th annual DPS meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, 
8-13 November 2015 [http://aas.org/meetings/dps47].

 

Contacts:

Dr. Vishnu Reddy

DPS Press Officer

+1 808-342-8932

[email protected]

 

Dr. Bonnie Buratti

DPS Chair

+1 818-468-1401

[email protected]

 

2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2

ABSTRACT DEADLINE FOR THE 47th DPS MEETING IN NATIONAL HARBOR

 

National Harbor, MD, 8-13 November 2015 at the Gaylord National Harbor

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47

 

DPS members you are invited to attend the 47th Annual DPS meeting!

 

* Important dates

 

25 August 2015: Regular Abstract deadline, coming up quickly!

 

See http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/abstracts

 

Other important dates:

24 August 2015 DPS 47 Exhibitor Deadline

http://aas.org/dps-47th-meeting/47th-dps-meeting-exhibiting-sponsorship-opportunities

1 September 2015 DPS 47 Early Registration Deadline

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/registration

8 September 2015 DPS 47 Regular Registration Deadline

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/registration

 

And also:

– 24 September 2015: 47th DPS Late Abstract Submission Deadline – 9:00pm ET

– 8 October 2015: 47th DPS Hotel Reservations Deadline

 

3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3

EDUCATION EVENTS AT 47TH DPS MEETING

 

Education at the DPS Meeting 2015 – National Harbor

 

The LOC of the upcoming DPS Meeting in National Harbor is putting together opportunities for 
scientists, students, and teachers to share and learn about science and education.  
We invite you to get involved! 

 

Education Oral Session – Scientist’s Showcase

If you are a scientist who is engaged in education and outreach activities, we invite you to submit 
an abstract to share your experiences and lessons learned with your fellow scientists.  This is a 
session by scientists for scientists.  (You may submit BOTH a science abstract AND and education 
abstract for talks and/or posters at the DPS meetings.)  Jennifer Grier, jgrier@psi.edu

 

Education Poster Session – Scientist’s Showcase and More

Share your planetary science education and outreach with other members of the community the 
low-key, conversational environment of a poster session.  Scientists, E/PO professionals, and educators 
are all welcome. Jennifer Grier, jgrier@psi.edu

 

Scientists in Education Workshop – Increase Your Impact

Please join your fellow scientists for a half day workshop about how to get involved in education 
and outreach, and how to have the most impact with your efforts, on Sunday morning, November 8th.  
We will share tried-and-true techniques, best practices, and useful resources and activities.  We’ll 
provide an announcement with time, location and registration details as the conference draws closer.  
Sanlyn Buxner, [email protected]

 

First Time Presenters at the DPS – Get Feedback

Is the DPS 2015 your first conference presentation (oral or poster?)  Nervous?  Would you like advice?  
Join others like you for this educational opportunity to get feedback from seasoned presenters at the 
First Timers’ Review on Sunday afternoon, November 8th.  Undergraduates, Graduate Students, and 
new Post-Docs are all welcome for this ~2.5 hour event that includes lunch.  If you are a veteran 
presenter and would like to be one of those offering advice, please let us know!  We’ll provide an
announcement with time, location and registration details as the conference draws closer. 
Andrew Shaner, [email protected]

 

Workshop for Teachers – Revising the Solar System:  Exploring Worlds Formerly Known as Planets

We invite teachers in the DC, VA, MD area (and beyond) to join us for a full day (Sunday, November 8th) 
workshop packed with NASA resources, education best-practices, real scientist presentations, and much 
more.  Our theme this year centers around the planets that were – Pluto and Ceres (along with other 
fascinating small bodies).  If you are interested in connecting with K-12 teachers about one of these topics, 
please contact:  Sarah Horst, [email protected], Christine Shupla, [email protected]

 

4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4

HARTMANN TRAVEL GRANTS FOR 47TH DPS MEETING

 

A generous contribution from William K. Hartmann, supplemented by member contributions and matching
funds from the DPS Committee, has enabled a limited number of student travel grants to assist participation
by early-career scientists at the annual DPS meeting.

 

Application details are at meetings/travel_grant_application.

 

Travel grants are primarily intended for students, but post-doctoral scientists without other means
of support will also be considered. 

 

The due date for applications is August 28, 2015 11:59 PM. 

 

The DPS Leadership is also soliciting additional contributions from members for the Hartmann Fund.
Your tax-deductible gift promotes the careers of our next generation of planetary scientists.
Thanks so much for your generosity.

 

5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5

ASTROCHEMISTRY OUTSTANDING DOCTORAL DISSERTATION AWARD 2016

 

To promote the emerging discipline of Astrochemistry within the Physical Chemistry Division of the 
ACS, we wish to recognize an outstanding Ph.D. thesis submitted by an Astrochemistry Subdivision 
member within the preceding two calendar years. The award consists of $500 cash prize and a certificate 
citing the contribution, which will be presented at the Fall 2016 ACS Astrochemistry Meeting. 
The following materials should be submitted to the Secretary of the Astrochemistry Subdivision 
[[email protected]] by the nominator as a single pdf file by March 1, 2016:

 

1. CV and publication list of the applicant

 

2. An abstract of the dissertation prepared by the applicant not exceeding 1,000 words exclusive of 
figures and references.

 

3. A nominating letter from the research advisor citing the specific contributions of the applicant and 
their significance.

 

4. Up to two seconding letters.

 

Nomination packages will not be renewed automatically but they may be resubmitted a second time. 
Applications from women and members of minorities underrepresented in the sciences are strongly 
encouraged. The selection committee will consist of the current chair, chair–elect, and past chair 
(http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/Bil301/ACSAstrochemistry.html). If any of these are sponsoring a 
candidate, they will be excused and the committee may include the vice-chair and then the secretary
 as needed.

 

The nominators (primary, secondary) and the nominee must be a member of the Astrochemistry 
Subdivision. You can join for a little as $ 15 per year 
(http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/Bil301/ACSAstrochemistryjoin.html). 

 

———————————+

Send submissions to:

Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected]) 

 

To unsubscribe visit http://aas.org/unsubscribe or email [email protected].

To change your address email [email protected].

 

 

—
Anne J. Verbiscer
Research Associate Professor
Department of Astronomy
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4325

Issue 15-35, August 19, 2015

 

+—————————————CONTENTS————————————-+

1. IN MEMORIAM : GIOVANNI PICARDI
2. ABSTRACT DEADLINE FOR 47th DPS MEETING IN NATIONAL HARBOR
3. EDUCATION EVENTS AT 47th DPS MEETING
4. HARTMANN TRAVEL GRANTS FOR 47th DPS MEETING
5. INTERNATIONAL OBSERVE THE MOON NIGHT (InOMN)
6. JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

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IN MEMORIAM: GIOVANNI PICARDI

 

On the night of August 16th Prof. Giovanni Picardi passed suddenly away. Born in 1936  
Prof Picardi has been during all his long career a brilliant and innovative radar scientist and
an admired teacher at the University of Rome Sapienza.  Among the many radar projects he
carried on, he has provided fundamental contributions to all the radars presently operating
around other bodies of the Solar System and planetary radar sounding would not have 
developed into the field of study we see today without his ingenuity and work. What he has 
done and what he has given to radar science will remain for the present and future students 
and scientists and the seeds of his activity will remain in the Italian and International community.

 

Enrico Flamini

 

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ABSTRACT DEADLINE FOR THE 47TH DPS MEETING IN NATIONAL HARBOR

 

National Harbor, MD, 8-13 November 2015 at the Gaylord National Harbor

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47

 

DPS members you are invited to attend the 47th Annual DPS meeting!

 

* Important dates

 

25 August 2015: Regular Abstract deadline, coming up quickly!

 

See http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/abstracts

 

Other important dates:

24 August 2015 DPS 47 Exhibitor Deadline

http://aas.org/dps-47th-meeting/47th-dps-meeting-exhibiting-sponsorship-opportunities

1 September 2015 DPS 47 Early Registration Deadline

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/registration

8 September 2015 DPS 47 Regular Registration Deadline

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/registration

 

And also:

– 24 September 2015: 47th DPS Late Abstract Submission Deadline – 9:00pm ET

– 8 October 2015: 47th DPS Hotel Reservations Deadline

 

3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3

EDUCATION EVENTS AT 47TH DPS MEETING

 

Education at the DPS Meeting 2015 – National Harbor

 

The LOC of the upcoming DPS Meeting in National Harbor is putting together opportunities 
for scientists, students, and teachers to share and learn about science and education.  
We invite you to get involved! 

 

Education Oral Session – Scientist’s Showcase

If you are a scientist who is engaged in education and outreach activities, we invite you to submit 
an abstract to share your experiences and lessons learned with your fellow scientists.  This is a 
session by scientists for scientists.  (You may submit BOTH a science abstract AND and education 
abstract for talks and/or posters at the DPS meetings.)  Jennifer Grier, jgrier@psi.edu

 

Education Poster Session – Scientist’s Showcase and More

Share your planetary science education and outreach with other members of the community the 
low-key, conversational environment of a poster session.  Scientists, E/PO professionals, and 
educators are all welcome. Jennifer Grier, jgrier@psi.edu

 

Scientists in Education Workshop – Increase Your Impact

Please join your fellow scientists for a half day workshop about how to get involved in education
and outreach, and how to have the most impact with your efforts, on Sunday morning, November
8th.  We will share tried-and-true techniques, best practices, and useful resources and activities.  
We’ll provide an announcement with time, location and registration details as the conference 
draws closer.  Sanlyn Buxner, [email protected]

 

First Time Presenters at the DPS – Get Feedback

Is the DPS 2015 your first conference presentation (oral or poster?)  Nervous?  Would you 
like advice?  Join others like you for this educational opportunity to get feedback from seasoned
presenters at the First Timers’ Review on Sunday afternoon, November 8th.  Undergraduates, 
Graduate Students, and new Post-Docs are all welcome for this ~2.5 hour event that includes 
lunch.  If you are a veteran presenter and would like to be one of those offering advice, please 
let us know!  We’ll provide an announcement with time, location and registration details as the 
conference draws closer. Andrew Shaner, [email protected]

 

Workshop for Teachers – Revising the Solar System:  Exploring Worlds Formerly Known as Planets

We invite teachers in the DC, VA, MD area (and beyond) to join us for a full day (Sunday, 
November 8th) workshop packed with NASA resources, education best-practices, real scientist 
presentations, and much more.  Our theme this year centers around the planets that were – Pluto 
and Ceres (along with other fascinating small bodies).  If you are interested in connecting with 
K-12 teachers about one of these topics, please contact:  Sarah Horst, [email protected], 
Christine Shupla, [email protected]

 

4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4

HARTMANN TRAVEL GRANTS FOR 47TH DPS MEETING

 

A generous contribution from William K. Hartmann, supplemented by member contributions
and matching funds from the DPS Committee, has enabled a limited number of student travel
grants to assist participation by early-career scientists at the annual DPS meeting.

 

Application details are at meetings/travel_grant_application.

 

Travel grants are primarily intended for students, but post-doctoral scientists without other
means of support will also be considered. 

 

The due date for applications is August 28, 2015 11:59 PM. 

 

The DPS Leadership is also soliciting additional contributions from members for the Hartmann
Fund. Your tax-deductible gift promotes the careers of our next generation of planetary scientists.
Thanks so much for your generosity.

 

5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVE THE MOON NIGHT (InOMN)

 

On September 19, 2015 the world will join together in an annual celebration of lunar and planetary 
science and exploration: International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN).

 

We invite you to be a part of it!

 

You celebrate InOMN by hosting or participating in an InOMN event.

 

Check out the map of registered events on observethemoonnight.org. If no one is hosting an
InOMN event near you, you can host your own! Invite your patrons, friends, family, or neighbors 
to look at and learn about the Moon with you. As of August 10, there were no registered events 
in AL, CT, DE, IA, ID, KS, MS, NE, NH, NV, WA, or WV. Let’s fill in the map!

 

Hosting an InOMN Event

A guide that walks you through the process of planning an InOMN event of any size is 
available on the InOMN website (http://observethemoonnight.org/getInvolved/), complete 
with advertising materials, suggested activities, an InOMN Moon map, evaluation materials, 
and more!

 

Worried about cloudy weather obscuring your view of the Moon? 

-The “Moon as Art” collection, chosen by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) team, 
showcases data and images from LRO – a spacecraft currently in orbit around the Moon – 
that reveals just how beautiful science can be! High-resolution images, with descriptions, 
are available here: http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/moonartgallery.html

– Additional beautiful, high-resolution images of the Moon’s surface taken by LRO’s 
cameras are available here: http://lroc.sese.asu.edu

 

Join the Conversation

You can also connect to fellow lunar enthusiasts through social media (@observethemoon 
and #moonnight on Twitter; International Observe the Moon Night on Facebook; and 2015 
International Observe the Moon Night on Flickr).

 

Happy Moon viewing!

The International Observe the Moon Night Coordinating Committee

 

6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6

JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES

 

A) LOWELL OBSERVATORY: TENURE-TRACK OR TENURED ASTRONOMER

 

Lowell Observatory invites applications for one or more tenure-track or tenured research 
positions in astronomy or planetary science. We invite applicants at any career level who 
can build on current strengths or open new areas for Lowell. A Ph.D. in astronomy, 
planetary science, or a related field is required, as is an outstanding record of research and 
demonstrated ability or potential to obtain external research funding. Candidates are 
invited to describe how they would make use of our observational facilities, but we will 
give equal consideration to all research areas. The start date for this position is flexible 
but desired by Fall 2016.

 

Additional position details can be found at:

https://lowell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Tenure-track-Astronomer.pdf

 

To apply: Send applications electronically to: [email protected]

Applications should include:

(1)       a cover letter and CV,

(2)       a research plan of 3 pages or less, and

(3)       names and mail/email addresses of three individuals who have agreed to serve as 
references. Do not ask for reference letters to be sent in advance.

 

Applications must be received by November 1, 2015 for full consideration.

Lowell Observatory is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

 

Thank you,

Mattie Harrington
Science Staff
Administrative Assistant
Lowell Observatory
(928) 233-3240 phone
(928) 774-6296 fax
[email protected]
#YearOfPluto

 

———————————+

Send submissions to:

Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected]) 

 

To unsubscribe visit http://aas.org/unsubscribe or email [email protected].

To change your address email [email protected].

 

 

—
Anne J. Verbiscer
Research Associate Professor
Department of Astronomy
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4325

Issue 15-34, August 17, 2015

 

+————————————–CONTENTS————————————–+

1. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR: PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: 
   MORE OF WHAT YOU CAN DO
2. ABSTRACT DEADLINE FOR 47th DPS MEETING IN NATIONAL HARBOR
3. HARTMANN TRAVEL GRANTS FOR 47th DPS MEETING
4. SPITZER CYCLE-12 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION OPEN

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR:

 

Public Education and Outreach: More of what you can do

When Bonnie Meinke, the Education Officer, and I solicited DPS member to write about what 
they were going for outreach, we were pleased to get a number of good suggestions, which are 
summarized below.  Please keep your suggestions coming – we will share them in future 
newsletters and workshops.

Michael Shepard, Bloomsburg State College (Penna.)

I live in an area with a fairly popular local newspaper. Some years ago I volunteered to write a 
science column. It addresses many science topics, but since I’m a planetary scientist, that field 
gets disproportionate coverage. The column is called the “Curious Professor” and the paper is 
the Press Enterprise (pressenterpriseonline.com). The first year I did a column (700 words with 
1-3 illustrations) every week, but now it’s every other week on Tuesdays. ******************************************************************************

Richard Schmude, Jr., Professor, Gordon State (Georgia)  

One event that I have found successful has been to set up the telescope for trick or treat children.  
In Barnesville, Georgia, there is one street when the children gather on Halloween.   I have had 
up to 500 people look through my telescope at the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and other objects. 
I first started doing this at Los Alamos in 1990.   Since then I believe that over 5000 people have 
looked through my telescope at various celestial objects.   I believe that Venus will be well placed 
on Halloween 2015. 

*****************************************************************************

Dr. Al Grauer, Catalina Sky Survey, University of Arizona

 

I started producing 2min pieces on my MAC and putting the pieces on PRX:

http://www.prx.org/series/33698-travelers-in-the-night

where PRX radio stations can pick them up for free.  Radio stations are a tough nut to crack.

 

Last January I started putting pieces on the podcasting site:

http://www.spreaker.com/show/travelers-in-the-night

 

Today it has more than 9,200 plays and more than 2,100 followers.

I also started putting pieces on iTunes. This site has hundreds of thousands of

podcast shows so unless a bunch of people send in ratings and or reviews

the show is hard to find. People love what we are doing as DPS members.

*****************************************************************************
Andrew Fraknoi, Foothill College

“The Top Tourist Sights of the Solar System: 
Where Bill Gates’ Great-Granddaughter Will Go for Her Honeymoon”

A free illustrated talk by astronomer Andrew Fraknoi (Foothill College)
Saturday evening, June 20, 2015, at 8:30 pm.
Cushing Memorial Amphitheater on Mt. Tamalpais
3801 Panoramic Hwy, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Using spectacular images from space probes and the world’s largest telescopes, we will 
explore the most intriguing future “tourist destinations” among the planets and moons in 
our cosmic neighborhood. After the lecture, there will be a laser-guided tour of the night 
sky by Paul Salazar and stargazing through the telescopes of the San Francisco 
Amateur Astronomers.

Bonnie Buratti

DPS Chair

 

2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2

ABSTRACT DEADLINE FOR THE 47TH DPS MEETING IN NATIONAL HARBOR

 

National Harbor, MD, 8-13 November 2015 at the Gaylord National Harbor

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47

 

DPS members you are invited to attend the 47th Annual DPS meeting!

 

* Important dates

 

25 August 2015: Regular Abstract deadline, coming up quickly!

 

See http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/abstracts

 

Other important dates:

24 August 2015 DPS 47 Exhibitor Deadline

http://aas.org/dps-47th-meeting/47th-dps-meeting-exhibiting-sponsorship-opportunities

1 September 2015 DPS 47 Early Registration Deadline

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/registration

8 September 2015 DPS 47 Regular Registration Deadline

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/registration

 

And also:

– 24 September 2015: 47th DPS Late Abstract Submission Deadline – 9:00pm ET

– 8 October 2015: 47th DPS Hotel Reservations Deadline

 

3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3

HARTMANN TRAVEL GRANTS FOR 47TH DPS MEETING

 

A generous contribution from William K. Hartmann, supplemented by member contributions
and matching funds from the DPS Committee, has enabled a limited number of student travel
grants to assist participation by early-career scientists at the annual DPS meeting.

 

Application details are at meetings/travel_grant_application.

 

Travel grants are primarily intended for students, but post-doctoral scientists without other
means of support will also be considered. 

 

The due date for applications is August 28, 2015 11:59 PM. 

 

The DPS Leadership is also soliciting additional contributions from members for the Hartmann
Fund. Your tax-deductible gift promotes the careers of our next generation of planetary scientists.
Thanks so much for your generosity.

 

4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4

SPITZER CYCLE-12 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION OPEN

 

The SSC is now accepting Cycle-12 proposals.

Proposal Deadline: 11 September 2015, 4:00 PM PDT 

 

All proposals must be submitted electronically using Spot, the SSC proposal planning and
submission software.  Spot works with Java versions 1.6 and 1.7. Mac, Solaris and Windows
Spot/Leopard V19 are packaged with Java 1.6.  However Linux Spot V19 was auto-updated
to Java 1.8. If you are currently using Spot for Linux you need to reinstall Spot, which will
auto-update with the correct version of JAVA, or you can download a script from 
http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/warmmission/propkit/spot/jre/installJRE 

and run it to replace Java 1.8 with Java 1.7.  

 

The Complete Cycle-12 announcement is below: 

On behalf of NASA and the Spitzer Space Telescope Project, the Spitzer Science Center (SSC)
at Caltech is pleased to announce the release of the Cycle-12 Call for Proposals (CP). Both the
NASA Astrophysics and the Planetary Science Divisions are providing support for Spitzer operations.
The Cycle-12 CP solicits ~1,000 hours of General Observer (GO) and Snapshot proposals.
Innovative investigations with scientific high risk/gain are particularly encouraged. The Director
plans to select up to 250 hours of high risk/gain programs. 

 

The maximum proposal size for Cycle-12 is 100 hours and Cycle-12 programs will execute in
the December 2015 – September 2016 timeframe. 

 

Priority in the selection of Cycle-12 will be given to programs that highlight: 

 

— Astro2010 science themes

— Planetary science programs observing targets in our Solar System.

— Investigations that concentrate on developing the scientific landscape that JWST will explore,
or will help maximize the JWST scientific return. 

 

All programmatic and technical information for Cycle-12 is available electronically from the
Proposal Kit section of the Spitzer Science Center website at 
http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/warmmission/propkit/ 

 

The required Cycle-12 proposal templates are available now at theProposal Kit website.
Joint HST or Chandra observations can be proposed as part of a Spitzer Cycle-12 proposal. 

 

Any questions should be addressed to the Spitzer Helpdesk at  [email protected]

 

———————————+

Send submissions to:

Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected]) 

 

To unsubscribe visit http://aas.org/unsubscribe or email [email protected].

To change your address email [email protected].

 

 

—
Anne J. Verbiscer
Research Associate Professor
Department of Astronomy
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4325

Issue 15-33, August 5, 2015

 

+—————————————CONTENTS————————————-+

1. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR: 2015 DPS ELECTION RESULTS
2. ABSTRACT DEADLINE FOR 47th DPS MEETING IN NATIONAL HARBOR
3. HARTMANN TRAVEL GRANTS FOR 47th DPS MEETING
4. VATICAN OBSERVATORY SUMMER SCHOOL 2016
5. SIXTH ANNUAL PLANETARY SCIENCE SHORT COURSE
6. JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR: 2015 DPS ELECTION RESULTS

 

Dear DPS members,

 

I am very pleased to announce the results of the 2015 DPS election.  We welcome Lucy McFadden 
as incoming Vice-Chair, and as DPS Committee members, we welcome Carly Howett and Joe Spitale. 

 

The DPS relies on its membership to volunteer for leadership, so we thank all of our members who 
were willing to run for elected positions.  

 

As my term comes to an end in November, I am confident that DPS will be in good hands as these 
new leaders join our current strong Committee and Jason Barnes takes over as Chair.

 

Bonnie Buratti

DPS Chair

 

2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2

ABSTRACT DEADLINE FOR THE 47TH DPS MEETING IN NATIONAL HARBOR

 

National Harbor, MD, 8-13 November 2015 at the Gaylord National Harbor

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47

 

DPS members you are invited to attend the 47th Annual DPS meeting!

 

* Important dates

 

25 August 2015: Regular Abstract deadline, coming up quickly!

 

See http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/abstracts

 

Other important dates:

24 August 2015 DPS 47 Exhibitor Deadline

http://aas.org/dps-47th-meeting/47th-dps-meeting-exhibiting-sponsorship-opportunities

1 September 2015 DPS 47 Early Registration Deadline

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/registration

8 September 2015 DPS 47 Regular Registration Deadline

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/registration

 

And also:

– 24 September 2015: 47th DPS Late Abstract Submission Deadline – 9:00pm ET

– 8 October 2015: 47th DPS Hotel Reservations Deadline

 

3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3

HARTMANN TRAVEL GRANTS FOR 47TH DPS MEETING

A generous contribution from William K. Hartmann, supplemented by member contributions
and matching funds from the DPS Committee, has enabled a limited number of student travel
grants to assist participation by early-career scientists at the annual DPS meeting.

 

Application details are at meetings/travel_grant_application.

 

Travel grants are primarily intended for students, but post-doctoral scientists without other
means of support will also be considered. 

 

The due date for applications is August 28, 2015 11:59 PM. 

 

The DPS Leadership is also soliciting additional contributions from members for the Hartmann
Fund. Your tax-deductible gift promotes the careers of our next generation of planetary scientists.
Thanks so much for your generosity.

 

4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4

VATICAN OBSERVATORY SUMMER SCHOOL 2016

Vatican Observatory Summer School 2016: Water in the Solar System and Beyond

Students beginning graduate studies or in the last stages of undergraduate studies in astronomy, 
planetary sciences, or related fields are invited to apply for the 15th biennial Vatican Observatory 
Summer School to be held May 29 to June 24, 2016 at the Vatican Observatory, Castel Gandolfo, 
Italy. The school will address the latest developments in our understanding of the role that water 
plays in the origin and chemical development of comets, asteroids, icy moons, and planets including 
our own Earth, and in astrobiology. Curriculum includes research projects, plus field trips to 
Florence and other sites in Italy. The faculty include M. Wadhwa (ASU), A. Rivkin (APL), A. 
Coustenis (LESIA Paris), C. Impey (UAz), and occasional guest lecturers.

For more details, and to apply for admission, visit www.vaticanobservatory.va 
Application deadline is Oct 31, 2015. 

5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5

SIXTH ANNUAL PLANETARY SCIENCE SHORT COURSE

 

September 8-14, 2015

The Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (http://cpsx.uwo.ca) and the NSERC CREATE 
program “Technologies and Techniques for Earth and Space Exploration” (http://create.uwo.ca) are 
pleased to announce the 6th annual Planetary Science Short Course, which will run September 8th 
to 14th. Topics to be covered include origin of the solar system and planet formation; planetary 
interiors; planetary surfaces; astromaterials, planetary atmospheres; astrobiology, and exoplanets.

Details on the course can be found here: 
http://cpsx.uwo.ca/study/study-1/graduate-courses/2015-ps-short-course

This course will run at the University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada and is suitable for 
senior undergraduate and graduate students students. Questions? Please contact [email protected].

6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6

JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES

 

A) RESEARCH ASSOCIATE AT LASP TO ANALYZE DATA FROM THE LANGMUIR PROBE 
AND WAVES INSTRUMENT ON MAVEN

 

The Space Physics and Planetary group at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP),
University of Colorado is involved in several space flight missions. We have a level 1 (post- doc) 
position available, analyzing data from the MAVEN mission. The focus of the level 1 position is on 
Mars ionosphere analysis using data from the Langmuir Probe and Waves (LPW) instrument with 
support of data from all other instruments on the MAVEN spacecraft.

Candidates with planetary ionosphere data analysis experience are encouraged to apply. We will also 
consider candidates with instrument hardware experience. Examples of the primary work tasks include:
instrument operation, data production, and software development.

The successful candidate will be working closely with Dr. Andersson and Prof. Ergun.

The position will initially be a one year contract with a possible extension. 
Salary will be commensurate with hiring level, experience and qualifications.

Evaluations will begin immediately and we will continue to accept applications but no longer 
than September 1st 2015.

Questions can be sent to [email protected]. Please submit your application electronically to:https://www.jobsatcu.com/hr/postings/101636/preview

———————————+

Send submissions to:

Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected]) 

 

To unsubscribe visit http://aas.org/unsubscribe or email [email protected].

To change your address email [email protected].

 

 

—
Anne J. Verbiscer
Research Associate Professor
Department of Astronomy
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4325

Issue 15-32, August 3, 2015

 

+————————————-CONTENTS—————————————+

1. FINAL REMINDER: PLEASE VOTE IN THE 2015 DPS ELECTION
2. ABSTRACT DEADLINE FOR 47th DPS MEETING IN NATIONAL HARBOR
3. HARTMANN TRAVEL GRANTS FOR 47th DPS MEETING
4. OPAG ANNOUNCEMENT
5. VEXAG ANNOUNCEMENT

6)  JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1

FINAL REMINDER: PLEASE VOTE IN THE 2015 DPS ELECTION

 

TODAY IS YOUR LAST DAY TO VOTE!

 

Thank you to those who have already voted!

 

The 2015 election for DPS Vice-Chair and Committee will close TODAY August 3rd 2015.

 

Go to http://aas.org/vote/ 

 

You will need your AAS member login ID (which defaults to your membership number), and your password.
If you haven’t registered or renewed your DPS membership recently, you are getting this e-mail because we
are using large recent DPS lists, but you may actually not be an active member anymore… So, please check
your status now and renew if you haven’t done so already at  (http://members.aas.org). This will allow you
to vote and benefit from all membership advantages.

 

If you have trouble voting on line, the AAS can do a proxy vote and vote on your behalf (send an e-mail to
[email protected]). You will still get an automated email confirmation and a separate manual email, both with
who you voted for and a confirmation number.

 

You should vote for one of the two candidates for Vice-Chair:

o Lucy McFadden, Goddard Space Flight Center

o Ralph McNutt, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

 

The elected Vice-Chair will take his/her functions in November 2015 and will become the DPS Chair in
October 2016.

 

You should also vote for two of the five candidates for DPS Committee: 

o Adrienne Dove, Univ. Central Florida

o Gianrico Filacchione, Institute for Astrophysics and Planetary Science from Space

o Paul Hayne, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

o Carly Howett, Southwest Research Institute

o Joe Spitale, Planetary Science Institute

 

The successful candidates will serve on the Committee for three years after November 2015.

 

The detailed vitae and position statements for each of the candidates is linked from the main election page,

http://aas.org/vote/

 

If you find you’re having difficulties voting, it may be that your registration with DPS has expired.

Please go to the Member Pages (http://members.aas.org) and click the Member Profile link to review
your information. Or ask [email protected]for assistance.

 

Voting is one of your privileges as a DPS member, so please take a moment to vote!

 

Thank you!

 

2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2

ABSTRACT DEADLINE FOR THE 47TH DPS MEETING IN NATIONAL HARBOR

 

National Harbor, MD, 8-13 November 2015 at the Gaylord National Harbor

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47

 

DPS members you are invited to attend the 47th Annual DPS meeting!

 

* Important dates

 

25 August 2015: Regular Abstract deadline, coming up quickly!

 

See http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/abstracts

 

Other important dates:

24 August 2015 DPS 47 Exhibitor Deadline

http://aas.org/dps-47th-meeting/47th-dps-meeting-exhibiting-sponsorship-opportunities

1 September 2015 DPS 47 Early Registration Deadline

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/registration

8 September 2015 DPS 47 Regular Registration Deadline

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/registration

 

And also:

– 24 September 2015: 47th DPS Late Abstract Submission Deadline – 9:00pm ET

– 8 October 2015: 47th DPS Hotel Reservations Deadline

 

3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3

HARTMANN TRAVEL GRANTS FOR 47TH DPS MEETING

 

A generous contribution from William K. Hartmann, supplemented by member contributions and
matching funds from the DPS Committee, has enabled a limited number of student travel grants to
assist participation by early-career scientists at the annual DPS meeting.

 

Application details are at meetings/travel_grant_application.

 

Travel grants are primarily intended for students, but post-doctoral scientists without other means
of support will also be considered. 

 

The due date for applications is August 28, 2015 11:59 PM. 

 

The DPS Leadership is also soliciting additional contributions from members for the Hartmann Fund.
Your tax-deductible gift promotes the careers of our next generation of planetary scientists.
Thanks so much for your generosity.

 

4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4

OPAG ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

Our next OPAG meeting will be 24–26 August at JHU/APL.

The agenda is posted on the OPAG homepage.

 

Registration is now open — the link is on the OPAG homepage: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/

 

All logistical instructions are posted at this registration link.

 

A reminder:  we have a new capability on our website for group discussions.  Go to the menu tab
titled “OPAG Discussion Board”.  This will be a place for us all to post our thoughts and especially
our vision for the future.  Please use it to say what you think!!  Right now the over-arching science
themes part of our new science goals document is under construction – we are considering

“Explore Ocean Worlds and Ice Giants”.

 

Sincerely,

Candy Hansen

OPAG Chair

 

5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5

VEXAG ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) meeting #13 will be held on Tuesday-Thursday,
October 27–29, 2015, at James Webb Auditorium, NASA Headquarters, Washington DC. . 

A preliminary agenda is available at VEXAG Web-Site http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/.

Current plans are:

Tuesday – 27 October 2015 – NASA and mission reports
Wednesday – 28 October 2015 –Venus science and technology reports
Thursday – 29 October 2015 – VEXAG activities (adjourn at mid-day)

Presentations on Venus science and technologies for Venus missions are invited. If interested, contact Lori
Glaze and Patricia Beauchamp ([email protected], and [email protected])

If you’ll be attending in person and haven’t done so already, please enter your name on the Meeting
Registration /Intent to Attend Form on the VEXAG Website.

6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6

JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES

 

A) FACULTY POSITIONS IN EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES AT SIO-UC SAN DIEGO

 

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/planetary_news/2015/07/27/job-opportunity-faculty-positions-in-earth-and-planetary-sciences-at-sio-uc-san-diego/

 

Deadline : September 15, 2015

 

———————————+

Send submissions to:

Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected]) 

 

To unsubscribe visit http://aas.org/unsubscribe or email [email protected].

To change your address email [email protected].

 

 

—
Anne J. Verbiscer
Research Associate Professor
Department of Astronomy
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4325

Issue 15-31, July 31, 2015

 

SPECIAL ISSUE

 

+————————————–CONTENTS————————————–+

1. 2015 DPS ELECTION DEADLINE EXTENDED

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1

2015 DEADLINE EXTENDED

 

Since unplanned server maintenance kept the DPS online voting website offline for most of
July 29 and 30, we have extended the deadline to vote for one (business) day until Monday,
August 3, 2015. If you tried to vote on July 29 or 30 and were not able to access the site,
please accept our apologies and try again.

 

Thank you to those who have already voted!

 

The 2015 election for DPS Vice-Chair and Committee is now open, and will close on August 3rd 2015.

 

Go to http://aas.org/vote/ 

You will need your AAS member login ID (which defaults to your membership number), and
your password. If you haven’t registered or renewed your DPS membership recently, you are
getting this e-mail because we are using large recent DPS lists, but you may actually not be an
active member anymore… So, please check your status now and renew if you haven’t done so
already at  (http://members.aas.org). This will allow you to vote and benefit from all membership
advantages.

 

If you have trouble voting on line, the AAS can do a proxy vote and vote on your behalf
(send an e-mail to [email protected]). You will still get an automated email confirmation and a
separate manual email, both with who you voted for and a confirmation number.

 

You should vote for one of the two candidates for Vice-Chair:

o Lucy McFadden, Goddard Space Flight Center

o Ralph McNutt, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

 

The elected Vice-Chair will take his/her functions in November 2015 and will become the
DPS Chair in October 2016.

 

You should also vote for two of the five candidates for DPS Committee: 

o Adrienne Dove, Univ. Central Florida

o Gianrico Filacchione, Institute for Astrophysics and Planetary Science from Space

o Paul Hayne, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

o Carly Howett, Southwest Research Institute

o Joe Spitale, Planetary Science Institute

 

The successful candidates will serve on the Committee for three years after November 2015.

 

The detailed vitae and position statements for each of the candidates is linked from the main election page,

http://aas.org/vote/

 

If you find you’re having difficulties voting, it may be that your registration with DPS has expired.
Please go to the Member Pages (http://members.aas.org) and click the Member Profile link to review
your information. Or ask [email protected]for assistance.

 

Voting is one of your privileges as a DPS member, so please take a moment to vote!

 

Thank you!

 

———————————+

Send submissions to:

Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected]) 

 

To unsubscribe visit http://aas.org/unsubscribe or email [email protected].

To change your address email [email protected].

 

 

—
Anne J. Verbiscer
Research Associate Professor
Department of Astronomy
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4325

Issue 15-30, July 28, 2015

 

+————————————CONTENTS—————————————-+

1. REMINDER: PLEASE VOTE IN THE 2015 DPS ELECTION
2. ABSTRACT DEADLINE FOR 47th DPS MEETING IN NATIONAL HARBOR
3. HARTMANN TRAVEL GRANTS FOR 47th DPS MEETING
4. UPCOMING MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1

REMINDER: PLEASE VOTE IN THE 2015 DPS ELECTION

 

DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING: ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT TO VOTE!

 

Thank you to those who have already voted!

 

The 2015 election for DPS Vice-Chair and Committee is now open, and will close on July 31st 2015.

 

Go to http://aas.org/vote/ 

You will need your AAS member login ID (which defaults to your membership number), 
and your password. If you haven’t registered or renewed your DPS membership recently, 
you are getting this e-mail because we are using large recent DPS lists, but you may actually
not be an active member anymore… So, please check your status now and renew if you haven’t 
done so already at  (http://members.aas.org). This will allow you to vote and benefit from all 
membership advantages.

 

If you have trouble voting on line, the AAS can do a proxy vote and vote on your behalf (send 
an e-mail to [email protected]). You will still get an automated email confirmation and a separate 
manual email, both with who you voted for and a confirmation number.

 

You should vote for one of the two candidates for Vice-Chair:

o Lucy McFadden, Goddard Space Flight Center

o Ralph McNutt, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

 

The elected Vice-Chair will take his/her functions in November 2015 and will become the 
DPS Chair in October 2016.

 

You should also vote for two of the five candidates for DPS Committee: 

o Adrienne Dove, Univ. Central Florida

o Gianrico Filacchione, Institute for Astrophysics and Planetary Science from Space

o Paul Hayne, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

o Carly Howett, Southwest Research Institute

o Joe Spitale, Planetary Science Institute

 

The successful candidates will serve on the Committee for three years after November 2015.

 

The detailed vitae and position statements for each of the candidates is linked from the main 
election page, http://aas.org/vote/

 

If you find you’re having difficulties voting, it may be that your registration with DPS has 
expired. Please go to the Member Pages (http://members.aas.org) and click the Member 
Profile link to review your information. Or ask [email protected]for assistance.

 

Voting is one of your privileges as a DPS member, so please take a moment to vote!

 

Thank you!

 

2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2

ABSTRACT DEADLINE FOR THE 47TH DPS MEETING IN NATIONAL HARBOR

 

National Harbor, MD, 8-13 November 2015 at the Gaylord National Harbor

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47

 

DPS members you are invited to attend the 47th Annual DPS meeting!

 

* Important dates

 

25 August 2015: Regular Abstract deadline, coming up quickly!

 

See http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/abstracts

 

Other important dates:

24 August 2015 DPS 47 Exhibitor Deadline

http://aas.org/dps-47th-meeting/47th-dps-meeting-exhibiting-sponsorship-opportunities

1 September 2015 DPS 47 Early Registration Deadline

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/registration

8 September 2015 DPS 47 Regular Registration Deadline

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/registration

 

And also:

– 24 September 2015: 47th DPS Late Abstract Submission Deadline – 9:00pm ET

– 8 October 2015: 47th DPS Hotel Reservations Deadline

 

3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3

HARTMANN TRAVEL GRANTS FOR 47TH DPS MEETING

A generous contribution from William K. Hartmann, supplemented by member contributions
and matching funds from the DPS Committee, has enabled a limited number of student travel
grants to assist participation by early-career scientists at the annual DPS meeting.

 

Application details are at meetings/travel_grant_application.

 

Travel grants are primarily intended for students, but post-doctoral scientists without other
means of support will also be considered. 

 

The due date for applications is August 28, 2015 11:59 PM. 

 

The DPS Leadership is also soliciting additional contributions from members for the Hartmann Fund.
Your tax-deductible gift promotes the careers of our next generation of planetary scientists.
Thanks so much for your generosity.

 

4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4

UPCOMING MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS

 

A) AGU SESSION P031 – THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS CONTROLLING LIFE’S ORIGIN, EVOLUTION, AND END.

 

New insights into Mars’ wet past, the confirmation of a liquid ocean on Ganymede, and the 
ongoing stream of exoplanet discoveries raise the prospect of an ever-wider range of environments 
that could sustain life. This session explores how such environments emerge, are sustained, and 
eventually decline.

Questions of particular interest include: What is Earth’s long-term climatic stability and how 
will it end? How long did habitable conditions persist on Mars and did they ever exist on Venus? 
What habitable environments exist in the outer Solar System and how do they continue to evolve? 
How do the Faint Young Sun Problem, the Runaway Greenhouse, and long-term climate feedbacks 
play out across different planets and outside the Solar System?

We invite case studies and comparisons that use observations, experiments and/or modeling to 
expand our understanding of the habitability of diverse environments in our Solar System and beyond.

 

To submit your abstract, visit:

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm15/preliminaryview.cgi/Session7574

Confirmed speakers:
Jim Kasting (Pennsylvania State University)

Colin Goldblatt (University of Victoria)

Francis MacDonald (Harvard University)

Chris McKay (NASA Ames)

 

Conveners:

Daniel Koll, Jun Yang, and Nathan Baskin (University of Chicago)

 

 

B) NRC CUBESATS SYMPOSIUM

 

The National Research Council Committee on Achieving Science Goals with CubeSats is hosting a
community symposium on September 2-3 at the Beckman Center in Irvine, CA, to explore the 
feasibility of obtaining high-priority science data using CubeSats. The symposium will feature a 
series of panel discussions among scientists and technologists in the areas of Earth science, solar 
and space physics (heliophysics), planetary science, astronomy and astrophysics, as well as technology 
that enables CubeSats, technology development enabled by CubeSats, and industry capabilities. The 
panels will explore science goals, how these goals could be achieved using CubeSats, and the potential
for new science that is enabled by CubeSats. These discussions will be framed by current CubeSat 
technological capabilities and those anticipated in the near future.

 

The Committee is also soliciting posters as critical inputs to the symposium that will be displayed 
at a poster session. Posters should be targeted to one or more of the following: current CubeSat 
missions and science results, CubeSat mission concepts, or technology that enables CubeSat 
science missions. Of particular interest are posters concerning CubeSat-enabled microgravity science.

 

More information, registration instructions, and poster title submission are available here: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/SSB_167274

 

 

———————————+

Send submissions to:

Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected]) 

 

To unsubscribe visit http://aas.org/unsubscribe or email [email protected].

To change your address email [email protected].

 

 

—
Anne J. Verbiscer
Research Associate Professor
Department of Astronomy
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4325

Issue 15-29, July 24, 2015

 

+————————————–CONTENTS————————————–+

1. REMINDER: PLEASE VOTE IN THE 2015 DPS ELECTION
2. ABSTRACT DEADLINE FOR 47th DPS MEETING IN NATIONAL HARBOR
3. IN MEMORIAM: RAUL A. BARAGIOLA (1945-2015)
4. UPCOMING MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1

REMINDER: PLEASE VOTE IN THE 2015 DPS ELECTION

 

DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING: ONLY ONE MORE WEEK LEFT TO VOTE!

 

The 2015 election for DPS Vice-Chair and Committee is now open, and will close on July 31st 2015.

 

Please remember to vote!

 

Go to http://aas.org/vote/ 

You will need your AAS member login ID (which defaults to your membership number), and your password. 
If you haven’t registered or renewed your DPS membership recently, you are getting this e-mail because we 
are using large recent DPS lists, but you may actually not be an active member anymore… So, please check your status now and renew if you haven’t done so already at  (http://members.aas.org). 
This will allow you to vote and benefit from all membership advantages.

 

If you have trouble voting on line, the AAS can do a proxy vote and vote on your behalf (send an e-mail to [email protected]). You will still get an automated email confirmation and a separate manual email, both with who you voted for and a confirmation number.

 

You should vote for one of the two candidates for Vice-Chair:

o Lucy McFadden, Goddard Space Flight Center

o Ralph McNutt, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

 

The elected Vice-Chair will take his/her functions in November 2015 and will become the DPS Chair in October 2016.

 

You should also vote for two of the five candidates for DPS Committee: 

o Adrienne Dove, Univ. Central Florida

o Gianrico Filacchione, Institute for Astrophysics and Planetary Science from Space

o Paul Hayne, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

o Carly Howett, Southwest Research Institute

o Joe Spitale, Planetary Science Institute

 

The successful candidates will serve on the Committee for three years after November 2015.

 

The detailed vitae and position statements for each of the candidates is linked from the main election page,

http://aas.org/vote/

 

If you find you’re having difficulties voting, it may be that your registration with DPS has expired. 
Please go to the Member Pages (http://members.aas.org) and click the Member Profile link to review 
your information. Or ask [email protected]for assistance.

 

It is very important for all of us to participate to these elections, so please take a moment to vote!

 

Thank you!

 

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ABSTRACT DEADLINE FOR THE 47TH DPS MEETING IN NATIONAL HARBOR

 

National Harbor, MD, 8-13 November 2015 at the Gaylord National Harbor

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47

 

DPS members you are invited to attend the 47th Annual DPS meeting!

 

* Important dates

 

25 August 2015: Regular Abstract deadline, coming up quickly now!

 

See http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/abstracts

 

Other important dates:

24 August 2015  DPS 47 Exhibitor Deadline

http://aas.org/dps-47th-meeting/47th-dps-meeting-exhibiting-sponsorship-opportunities

1 September 2015  DPS 47 Early Registration Deadline

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/registration

8 September 2015  DPS 47 Regular Registration Deadline

http://aas.org/meetings/dps47/registration

 

And also:

– 24 September 2015: 47th DPS Late Abstract Submission Deadline – 9:00pm ET

– 8 October 2015: 47th DPS Hotel Reservations Deadline

 

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IN MEMORIAM: RAUL A. BARAGIOLA (1945-2015)

 

A man of diverse interests and avid curiosity, Raúl A. Baragiola, the Alice and Guy Wilson Chair Professor of Materials Science at the University of Virginia, passed away 21 June 2015, only few months after his seventieth birthday. Raúl began his career at the Balseiro Institute in Bariloche, Argentina, studying electron emission from solid materials, later expanding his expertise to ion, electron, and photon interactions with surfaces. His interest in the surface properties of semi-conductors and insulators led him to the field of Space and Planetary Science, where for the last 25 years he studied the interaction of radiation with condensed ices, minerals, and extraterrestrial materials.

 

Born 31 March, 1945, Raul came to the US after working many years at the Centro Atómico in Bariloche, Argentina when concerns about the Argentina’s political stability and the safety of his family lead him to emigrate. He joined Ted Madey’s laboratory at Rutgers in 1988. He settled permanently at the University of Virginia (UVa) to direct the Laboratory for Astrophysics and Surface Physics (LASP) in 1990.

 

At UVa, Raúl started working on electronic sputtering from condensed gases and water ice in close collaboration with R. E. Johnson (UVa) and Walter Brown (AT & T Bell Laboratory), but he soon initiated key experiments designed to explore the complexities of sputtering of water ice. He had notable success in studying water ice photodesorption induced by Lyman-alpha light and its implications for interstellar ices. Subsequent efforts in a similar vein included investigating the existence of condensed O2 on Ganymede, measuring the sputtering yield of various ices, and characterizing the physical and chemical effects of radiations on laboratory analogs of planetary ices, while making laboratory data available to guide interpretation of astronomical spectra. In collaboration with R. W. Carlson (JPL), results from ion irradiation of water ice were used to explain the infrared signature of hydrogen peroxide on the surface of Europa. Raúl made numerous other significant research contributions towards understanding of the properties of planetary and interstellar water ice and the effects of radiation on these extraterrestrial surfaces. Recent ongoing research centered on laboratory astrochemistry, focusing on the synthesis, destruction and sputtering of plethora of condensed ices which include H2, CO, CO2, CH4, NH3, O2, O3, H2O2 and more complex species by ion and UV irradiation.

 

In collaboration with Lucy McFadden (NASA-Goddard) to understand the sulfur deficit on the surface of the Eros during NEAR’s encounter, Raul initiated research focused on the effects of space weathering on airless bodies. The combined in situ ability to measure reflectance, surface chemistry, and sputtered species due to solar-wind type ion irradiation was a hallmark feature of Raúl’s laboratory. In particular, Raúl was interested in the formation of Fe nano-particles and the effects of Earth’s atmosphere on ion bombarded silicates and minerals. With the discovery of water on the lunar surface, Raúl investigated formation for -OH species by solar wind proton irradiation of silicate minerals. Recent experiments characterizing electron emission from lunar soils echoed his early work on electron-induced secondary electron measurements.

 

Raúl was a prominent member in the Planetary Science and the Laboratory Astrophysics community and a frequent, vocal participant at DPS, AGU, and LPSC conferences. He was a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) and the Institute of Physics (London), receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Committee on Atomic Collisions in Solids and a NASA Achievement Award for his work on the Cassini mission. He served as a science member on the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) team, collaborating with D. T. Young at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). Over the course of his career, Raúl published ~ 200 refereed scientific articles and book chapters, contributed to more than 140 conferences presentations and 80 invited lectures, advised more than 40 students and post-doctoral researchers on multiple continents, and collaborated with more research groups than is possible to name. His scientific legacy endures through them.

 

He leaves behind his dear wife of 46 years, Beatriz; three children: Verena, Valeria, and Pablo; his three precious grandchildren: Maya, Ella, and Leo who were the pride and joy of his later life; and his family of students and post-docs. All of whom will greatly miss Raul’s ability to simplify deeply complex problems, as well as his passion for life, philosophy, and wicked sense of humor.

————————————-

Catherine Dukes – Research Scientist – Laboratory for Astrophysics and Surface Physics – UVa

Ujjwal Raut – Research Scientist – Laboratory for Astrophysics and Surface Physics – UVa    

 

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UPCOMING MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS

 

A) AGU SESSION 8234 – MERCURY AFTER MESSENGER

 

We are pleased to announce a session on Mercury at the 2015 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, CA, December 14–18, 2015.

NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft completed more than four years of orbital operations at Mercury in 
April 2015. The mission returned unprecedented measurements of Mercury’s surface, interior, exosphere, 
and magnetosphere that collectively have revolutionized our understanding of the innermost planet. This session will highlight results from the most recent, highest-resolution observations returned by 
MESSENGER, as well as results from analysis of the six years of flyby and orbital data from this 
highly successful mission, to understand Mercury’s geological evolution, the planet’s geophysical 
and geochemical characteristics, and the interaction of the planet’s exosphere and magnetosphere with 
the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field. We also welcome contributed papers on complementary
ground-based observations, laboratory measurements, theoretical developments relevant to planetary 
processes at Mercury, and future mission opportunities.

Please consider submitting an abstract for this session. For more information,visit: 
https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm15/preliminaryview.cgi/Session8234.

 

The submission deadline is August 5, 2015.

 

Conveners:

Paul Byrne (Lunar and Planetary Institute)

Larry Nittler (Carnegie Institution of Washington)

Sean Solomon (Columbia University)

 

We look forward to seeing you in San Francisco.

 

B) AGU SESSION P005 – ENCELADUS: A DECADE’S OBSERVANCE OF A HABITABLE WORLD 

 

Session Description:  This year marks the 10th anniversary of the discovery of the geysering south polar
terrain of Saturn’s small icy moon, Enceladus, and ten years of routine observing and studying its activity
from the Cassini spacecraft. Over the course of the last decade, it has become increasingly clear that
Enceladus’ geysers erupt from a large, long-lived, sub-ice-shell liquid water reservoir, chemically suitable
for the sustenance of biological processes and directly accessible to sampling and analysis. And by the time
this session is convened, two of the last 3 close, targeted flybys that Cassini will make of Enceladus will
have been completed and the data available for presentation. 

 

In this session, we will focus on the most recent observational, theoretical and modeling results on the
chemistry, state and dynamics of Enceladus’ geysers, the moon’s thermal and interior state, geologic
activity, as well as its astrobiological potential. 

 

To submit abstracts to this session, visit: 
https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm15/preliminaryview.cgi/Session7905  

 

Primary Convener:  Christopher P McKay, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, United States
Convener: Carolyn Porco, Space Science Institute, Boulder, CO, United States

 

———————————+

Send submissions to:

Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected]) 

 

To unsubscribe visit http://aas.org/unsubscribe or email [email protected].

To change your address email [email protected].

 

 

—
Anne J. Verbiscer
Research Associate Professor
Department of Astronomy
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4325

Issue 15-27, July 16, 2015

 

+—————————————CONTENTS————————————-+

1. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR: ANOTHER VICTORY FOR PLANETARY EXPLORATION
2. REMINDER: PLEASE VOTE IN THE 2015 DPS ELECTION
3. IN MEMORIAM: CLAUDIA J. ALEXANDER (1959-2015)
4. GRAVITY AND WORKING GROUPS FOR EUROPA SCIENCE TEAM
5. SPITZER CYCLE 12 CALL FOR PROPOSALS
6. JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
7. UPCOMING MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR: ANOTHER VICTORY FOR 

PLANETARY EXPLORATION

 

On July 14, 2015, exactly 50 years after Mariner IV’s exploration of Mars, the New Horizons spacecraft 
flew by dwarf planet Pluto, sending back detailed images of an active and unique world, the first Kuiper 
Belt Object closely observed in its native habitat. This historic event completes the first reconnaissance 
of the Solar System and our initial view of the “Third Zone” of icy bodies beyond Neptune. The DPS 
sends its congratulations to the entire New Horizons Team.

 

I have never seen the level of interest in science from the public exhibited by this flyby, illustrating again 
how much support we have. Please seize this moment by talking about this event, and by giving public 
talks on the mission and on planetary sciences in general. The White House has also set up a web site to 
send your congratulations to the New Horizons Team, which includes many DPS members:

 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/webform/send-note-congratulations-new-horizons-mission-team

 

Bonnie J. Buratti

DPS Chair

 

2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2

REMINDER: PLEASE VOTE IN THE 2015 DPS ELECTION

 

DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING: ONLY TWO MORE WEEKS!

 

The 2015 election for DPS Vice-Chair and Committee is now open, and will close on July 31st 2015. 

 

Please remember to vote! 

 

Go to http://aas.org/vote/ 

You will need your AAS member login ID (which defaults to your membership number), and your 
password. If you haven’t registered or renewed your DPS membership recently, you are getting this 
e-mail because we are using large recent DPS lists, but you may actually not be an active member 
anymore… So, please check your status now and renew if you haven’t done so already at 

(http://members.aas.org). This will allow you to vote and benefit from all membership advantages.

 

If you have trouble voting on line, the AAS can do a proxy vote and vote on your behalf (send an 
e-mail to [email protected]). You will still get an automated email confirmation and a separate manual 
email, both with who you voted for and a confirmation number. 

 

You should vote for one of the two candidates for Vice-Chair: 

o Lucy McFadden, Goddard Space Flight Center

o Ralph McNutt, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

 

The elected Vice-Chair will take his/her functions in November 2015 
and will become the DPS Chair in October 2016.

 

You should also vote for two of the five candidates for DPS Committee: 

o Adrienne Dove, Univ. Central Florida

o Gianrico Filacchione, Institute for Astrophysics and Planetary Science from Space

o Paul Hayne, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

o Carly Howett, Southwest Research Institute

o Joe Spitale, Planetary Science Institute 

 

The successful candidates will serve on the Committee for three years after November 2015.

 

The detailed vitae and position statements for each of the candidates is linked from the main election page,

http://aas.org/vote/

 

If you find you’re having difficulties voting, it may be that your registration with DPS has expired. 
Please go to the Member Pages (http://members.aas.org) and click the Member Profile link to review
your information. Or ask [email protected]for assistance.

 

It is very important for all of us to participate to these elections, so please take a moment to vote!

 

Thank you!

 

3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3

IN MEMORIAM: CLAUDIA J. ALEXANDER (1959-2015)

 

Claudia J. Alexander (1959–2015), Ph.D. was a research scientist specializing in geophysics 
and planetary science. She has worked for the United States Geological Survey and the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. As member of the technical staff at the Jet 
Propulsion Laboratory, she was the last project manager of NASA’s Galileo mission to Jupiter 
and until the time of her passing had served as project scientist of NASA’s role in the European 
led Rosetta mission to study comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Claudia was the 17th African 
American woman to get a PhD in physics or astronomy (http://www.aawip.com/physics-astro-only-list.html)
and the winner was several awards, including the Emerald Honor for Women of Color in 
Research & Engineering by Career Communications Group, Inc.at the National Women of Color 
Research Sciences and Technology Conference. She was also very active in education and outreach, 
and a mentor to several younger scientists. Our condolences go out to her family, co-workers and friends 
at this time.

 

4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4

GRAVITY AND RADIATION WORKING GROUPS FOR THE EUROPA SCIENCE TEAM

 

Introduction

 

NASA recently selected the science payload for the Europa Multiple Flyby mission and approved 
the mission to begin formulation. As part of the formulation effort, NASA seeks to form science 
working groups to provide guidance on using engineering subsystems and/or elements of the 
selected science instrumentation to conduct additional high priority science.

 

To that end, NASA is seeking individuals to serve on two working groups for gravity science 
and radiation science. The gravity and radiation groups will work with the project and the Europa 
science team to determine how engineering subsystems (specifically, the communications subsystem 
and the radiation monitoring subsystem), the selected instruments, and the overall mission architecture 
can be utilized under their existing and evolving designs to conduct investigations on the interior 
structure of Europa and the radiation environment present at the moon, respectively. Interested persons 
should send a curriculum vitae and a cover letter to Dr. Curt Niebur, the Europa Program Scientist 
([email protected]) by July 27, 2015.

 

These two groups will join the Europa science team for the remainder of Phase A (approximately one 
year). Travel expenses to participate will be provided by NASA up to an appropriate level and consistent 
with regulation and policy. Near the end of Phase A, these working groups will be disbanded and NASA 
will competitively select permanent science team members in these areas. Members of the working 
groups will be eligible to compete for these permanent positions.

 

Gravity Science Working Group Charter

 

The Gravity Science Working Group (GSWG) will define and recommend to the science team science 
investigations related to understanding the response of the satellite to gravity, specifically, but not 
limited to, understanding the tidal distortion of Europa, its internal structure, precession, and moments
of inertia. Carefully delineated measurement and mission requirements supporting these investigations 
will be defined by the GSWG, discussed with the full Europa science team and the project, and integrated 
with the mission’s science. The GSWG will consider the capabilities of the selected science instruments,
the communications subsystem, the tour, and other mission elements to evaluate, in a detailed manner, 
their ability (or inability) to meet the measurement and mission requirements necessary to support the 
defined gravity science investigation(s). The GSWG will consult with the Europa project office and the 
Europa science team to consider adjustments to mission elements that will enable the mission to meet 
the requirements for gravity science investigation(s), as needed. NASA appointees to the GSWG will 
serve as members of the Europa mission science team for the duration of their appointment only.

 

Radiation Working Group Charter

 

NASA appointees to the Radiation Science Working Group (RSWG) will define and recommend to 
the science team science investigations related to understanding the Europa radiation environment. 
Some members of the RSWG will join the existing Radiation Advisory Board created by the Europa 
project. As members of the RSWG, appointees will seek to define the science measurement capabilities
provided by, and the broad science investigations enabled by, the mission’s Radiation Monitoring 
Subsystem (RMS). The primary purpose of the RMS remains to monitor and preserve the health and 
safety of the spacecraft and the mission; the potential science enabled by the RMS will not be a driver 
for the subsystem design. In addition to serving on the RSWG, NASA appointees will also serve as 
members of the Europa mission science team for the duration of their appointment only.

 

Point of Contact

 

Dr. Curt Niebur

Program Scientist Europa Clipper Formulation

Science Mission Directorate 

NASA Headquarters 

300 E Street, SW 

Washington, DC 20546 

Tel (202) 358-0390

E-mail: [email protected]

 

5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5

SPITZER CYCLE 12 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

 

Dear Planetary Community,

 

On behalf of NASA and the Spitzer Space Telescope Project, the

Spitzer Science Center (SSC) at Caltech is pleased to announce

the release of the Cycle-12 Call for Proposals (CP). Both the NASA 

Astrophysics and the Planetary Science Divisions are providing

support for Spitzer operations.  The Cycle-12 CP solicits ~1,000 hours 

of General Observer (GO) and Snapshot proposals. Innovative investigations 

with scientific high risk/gain are particularly encouraged. The Director plans

to select up to 250 hours of high risk/gain programs.    

 

The maximum proposal size for Cycle-12 is 100 hours and 

Cycle-12 programs will execute in the December 2015 – September 2016 timeframe.  

 

Priority in the selection of Cycle-12 will be given to programs that highlight

 

— Astro2010 science themes

— Planetary science programs observing targets in our Solar System.

•                — Investigations that concentrate on developing the scientific landscape that JWST will explore, 
or will help maximize the JWST scientific return.

 

All programmatic and technical information for Cycle-12 is available electronically from 

the Proposal Kit section of the Spitzer Science Center website at

 

http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/warmmission/propkit/

 

Joint HST or Chandra observations can be proposed as part of a

Spitzer Cycle-12 proposal.

 

Proposal Deadline:  11 September 2015, 4:00 PM PDT

 

All proposals must be submitted electronically using Spot, the

SSC proposal planning and submission software.  Spot is available

from the SSC proposal kit website and a new version is expected

to be available in late July. The required Cycle-12 proposal templates 

are available now at theProposal Kit website.  The proposal submission

system will open by August 1.

 

Any questions should be addressed to the Spitzer Helpdesk at

 

[email protected]

 

Spitzer Science User Support

 

6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6

JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
 

A) PLANETARY SCIENTIST AT ESTEC

 

http://www.esa.int/hr/PDF/ESA-VN-ESTEC-2015-011,REV.1.pdf 

 

Applicants should have a PhD or equivalent degree in the field of planetary geosciences
with a strong background in geology, geophysics and geochemistry. They should have substantial
experience in processing and interpreting planetary mission data from a range of instruments such
as visible and multi-spectral imagers, radars, etc. but also from the instruments typically found in
landed missions. A research background in areas such as comparative planetary evolution, terrestrial
or planetary sedimentology and volcanology, surface/atmospheric interactions and astrobiology would
be an advantage. Expertise in instrument development, operations and calibration would be an asset. 

 

Deadline 21 July 2015

 

B) POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE AT UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ANN ARBOR

 

Opening exists for a postdoctoral position in planetary science at the University of Michigan. 
Highly qualified senior scientists may be considered also. The research focus will be on atmospheric 
processes and the origin and evolution of planetary volatiles. The work involves preparation for, 
analysis and interpretation of the data from the microwave radiometer (MWR) investigation on the 
Juno Jupiter Polar Orbiter and the ongoing sample analysis at Mars (SAM) investigation on the 
Curiosity Rover, Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). Many of the required software tools and numerical 
codes are in place, and others can be developed as needed. Frequent interactions with the MWR, SAM 
and the larger Juno and MSL science teams are an integral part of the job. 

The position will be initially for one year, with a good possibility of extension for one or more years,
 subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds. Salary and benefits are competitive. 
Send application with current CV, names of three references and proposed starting date to Sushil 
Atreya at [email protected]. All documents should be combined into a single pdf with your name.

 

7———7———7———7———7———7———7———7———7———7

UPCOMING MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS

 

A) AGU SESSION P020 – PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES

AND THEIR EVOLUTION

 

To understand the nature, the spatial and temporal variabilities, the 
governing physical processes, and the evolution of planetary 
atmospheres in and outside our solar system are important contents of 
planetary sciences and strong driving force of planet exploration/ 
observations. While the long-term evolution of the Earth is 
constrained by geological and geochemical data, the evolution of other 
planetary bodies must be reconstructed from planetary mission data and 
astronomical observations. The discoveries of exoplanets greatly 
expand the interests of the scientific community on planetary 
atmospheres and provide a new opportunity for interdisciplinary 
collaborations between geoscientists, astronomers, and planetary 
scientists. The session welcomes both observational and theoretical 
studies relevant to current physical states of planetary atmospheres 
(including the Earth) and their evolution. 

Deadline to submit an abstract: 5 August 2015, 11:59 P.M. EDT 

To submit abstracts to this session, visit: 
https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm15/preliminaryview.cgi/Session8694 

Conveners: 
Feng Tian, Tsinghua University 
David Brain, University of Colorado at Boulder 
Michael H. Wong, University of California at Berkeley

 

B) AGU SESSION P003 – DIRECT IMAGING OF HABITABLE EXOPLANETS: 

PROGRESS AND FUTURE  

 

This session consists in a discussion on the potential of new and future facilities and 
modeling efforts designed to detect, image and characterize habitable exoplanets, studying 
their formation, evolution and also the existence of possible biospheres.  Topics to be  
covered in this session include signs of exoplanet habitability and global biosignatures  
that can be sought with upcoming instrumentation; instrument requirements and  
technologies to detect these markers; strategies for target selection and prioritization; 
and impacts of planetary system properties, ground-based and space telescope  architectures, 
and impacts of instrument capabilities on the yield of potentially  inhabited exoplanets.  
Deadline to submit an abstract: 5 August 2015, 11:59 P.M. EDT  To submit abstracts to 
this session, visit: 

 

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm15/preliminaryview.cgi/Session8592  

 

Conveners:   Franck Marchis, SETI Institute Mountain View, Mountain View, CA, United States 
Ramses M Ramirez, Cornell University, Astronomy, Ithaca, NY, United States 
David Black, SETI Institute Mountain View, Mountain View, CA, United States

 

C) AGU SESSION P029 – SOLAR SYSTEM SMALL BODIES:

RELICS OF FORMATION AND NEW WORLDS TO EXPLORE

 

The composition and physical properties of Small Solar System Bodies (SSSBs), remnants of  the
formation of planets, are key to better understand our solar system. Increased  knowledge of their
surface properties and their potential as resources are also necessary  to prepare for robotic and
human exploration. Hints about the internal structure and composition of SSSBs have been acquired
recently  thanks to flyby/rendezvous data from space missions, study of complex multiple asteroid 
systems, or close encounter between asteroids. This session welcomes abstracts on the  remarkable
results bringing information on the internal structure and composition of SSSBs based on space and
ground-based data, numerical models, AS WELL AS instrument/mission  concepts in the prospect
of future exploration.  Deadline to submit an abstract: 5 August 2015, 11:59 P.M. EDT  To submit
abstracts to this session, visit:

 

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm15/preliminaryview.cgi/Session7984 

 

Franck Marchis, SETI Institute Mountain View, Mountain View, CA, United States
Padma A Yanamandra-Fisher, Space Science Institute Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Cucamonga,  CA,
United States
Julie C Castillo, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, United States

 

———————————+

Send submissions to:

Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected]) 

 

To unsubscribe visit http://aas.org/unsubscribe or email [email protected].

To change your address email [email protected].

 

 

—
Anne J. Verbiscer
Research Associate Professor
Department of Astronomy
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4325