Issue 15-14, March 24, 2015

 

+————————————–CONTENTS————————————–+

1. REMINDER: CALL FOR DPS 2015 PRIZE NOMINATIONS
2. NAIC/NRAO SINGLE DISH & NAASC INTERFEROMETRY SCHOOLS
3. ALMA CYCLE 3 CALL FOR PROPOSALS
4. GERALD A. SOFFEN MEMORIAL FUND TRAVEL GRANTS
5. JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
6. UPCOMING MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1

REMINDER: CALL FOR DPS 2015 PRIZE NOMINATIONS

 

DEADLINE APRIL 15, 2015

 

Every year the DPS recognizes exceptional achievement in our field. It is time to consider nominating a respected
colleague for one of the annual DPS prizes:

 

The Gerard P. Kuiper Prize honors outstanding contributions to the field of planetary science.

The Harold C. Urey Prize recognizes outstanding achievement in planetary research by a young scientist.

The Harold Masursky Award acknowledges outstanding service to planetary science and exploration.

The Carl Sagan Medal recognizes and honors outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the
general public.

The Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award recognizes and stimulates distinguished popular
writing on planetary sciences. 

 

Detailed descriptions of each of the prizes and the criteria for nominees for each can be found at prizes.
The nomination form and instructions can also be retrieved from this website. The completed nomination form and
supporting material should be emailed to [email protected]. 

 

Anyone except current DPS Committee members may submit a nomination. A completed nomination will be retained
and considered by the Prize Subcommittee for three years, or as long as the nominee is eligible, whichever is less.
Past nominees may be re-nominated after the expiration of a prior nomination. A posthumous nomination is allowed
for a limited time after the nominee’s death, except for the Sagan Medal. For specific details, see the URL noted above.

 

The deadline for nominations this year is April 15.

 

Consider for example the Carl Sagan Medal, which recognizes excellence in public communication in planetary science.
Do you have a colleague that excels in reaching out to the public, who has a particularly effective way of communicating
new findings in our field? We want to recognize those efforts that are so important to the health of our field!

 

The Masursky Award recognizes meritorious service to planetary science. Do you have a colleague whose efforts made
a significant difference in the success of an endeavor you’ve been involved in through engineering, managerial,
programmatic or public service activities? Consider nominating that individual!

 

2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2

NAIC/NRAO SINGLE-DISH & NAASC INTERFEROMETRY SCHOOLS

 

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC) are organizing the 8th NAIC-NRAO school on Single-Dish Radio Astronomy in conjunction with, for the first time, a three-day school on interferometry organized by the NRAO North American ALMA Science Center (NAASC). These schools will be held from 5-14 July 2015 at the NRAO research facilities in Green Bank, West Virginia.

 

More information can be found at:

https://science.nrao.edu/science/meetings/2015/summer-schools/

 

3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3

ALMA CYCLE 3 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The ALMA Director, on behalf of the Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) and the partner organizations in East Asia, Europe, and North America, is pleased to announce the ALMA Early Science Cycle 3 Call for Proposals (CfP) for scientific observations that will be scheduled from October 2015 to September 2016. 

 

Deadline: 15:00 UT on April 23, 2015.

 

https://almascience.nrao.edu/proposing/call-for-proposals

 

4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4

GERALD A. SOFFEN MEMORIAL FUND TRAVEL GRANTS

 

The Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Fund is pleased to announce the first 2015 Travel Grant application opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in fields of space science and engineering. 

The Travel Grants, in the amount of $500, enable student recipients  to attend professional meetings to present their research. The Spring 2015 Travel Grant application deadline is April 1, 2015. Jerry Soffen, a biologist by training, led a distinguished career in NASA, including serving as the Project Scientist for Viking and as an architect for the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The Travel Grant continues Jerry’s dedication to educating and involving future generations in space science and engineering pursuits. The electronic application materials and instructions are located on the Soffen Fund website: 

http://SoffenFund.org

Questions regarding the application or application process may be sent to: [email protected]

 

5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5

JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

A) SCIENTIST VI, EXOPLANET AND COMPARATIVE PLANETARY SYSTEMS SCIENCE
Jet Propulsion Laboratory

content/scientist-vi-exoplanet-and-comparative-planetary-systems-science
Application Due Date: June 1, 2015

 
B) SCIENTIST III, EXOPLANET AND COMPARATIVE PLANETARY SYSTEMS SCIENCE
Jet Propulsion Laboratory

content/scientist-iii-exoplanet-and-comparative-planetary-systems-science
Application Due Date: June 1, 2015

 

6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6

UPCOMING MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS

 

A) MAVEN DATA USERS’ WORKSHOP AND PROJECT SCIENCE GROUP MEETING

 

The first MAVEN data are scheduled to be released via the PDS in May 2015. We will hold a
one-day data users’ workshop during the week of 22 June to help new users learn how to access,
utilize, and understand the data. In addition, we want to invite scientists who are using MAVEN
data to interact with the MAVEN science team at our Project Science Group meeting that same
week. Both meetings will be held at LASP in Boulder, Colorado. Specific days that week are still
being worked out. The data workshop is open to anybody who wishes to attend. Participation in
the PSG is open only to researchers who are actively using MAVEN data. No funding is available
to attend either meeting.

To express interest in the data users’ workshop, or to apply to participate in the PSG, please
email [email protected]. Participation must be approved in advance, and we
cannot accept walk-up participants.

 

B) EPSC SESSION GP2/TP11/EX7: AEROSOLS AND CLOUDS IN PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
Dear Colleagues, 

The abstract submission for the European Planetary Science Congress, organized at La Cité de Congrès 27 September – 02 October 2015 in Nantes, France, is open, and the deadline is 29 April 2015. 
 

We invite you to submit abstracts to our (co-organized) session GP2/TP11/EX7 “Aerosols and clouds in planetary atmospheres” organized this year for the first time! 

http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2015/session/19663 

Atmospheric aerosols and cloud particles are found in every atmosphere of the solar system, as well as, in exoplanets. Depending on their size, shape, chemical composition, latent heat, and distribution, their effect on the radiation budget varies drastically and is difficult to predict. When organic, aerosols also carry a strong prebiotic interest reinforced by the presence of heavy atoms such as nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur. 

The aim of the session is to gather presentations on these complex objects for both terrestrial and giant planet atmospheres, including the special case of Titan’s hazy atmosphere. All research aspects from their production and evolution processes, their observation/detection, to their fate and atmospheric impact are welcomed, including laboratory investigations and modeling. 

The ambition of the session is a review effort beginning in our solar system, and which would be valuable to further investigate atmospheric aerosols in exoplanetary systems. 

Spread the word, and see you in Nantes! 

With best regards, 
The conveners 

Nathalie Carrasco, Panayotis Lavvas, Anni Määttänen

 

———————————+

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 15-13, March 17, 2015

 

+————————————CONTENTS—————————————-+

1. REMINDER: CALL FOR DPS 2015 PRIZE NOMINATIONS
2. 2015 NASA PLANETARY SCIENCE SUMMER SCHOOL APPLICATIONS OPEN
3. NOAO 2015B CALL FOR PROPOSALS
4. JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
5. UPCOMING MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1

REMINDER: CALL FOR DPS 2015 PRIZE NOMINATIONS

 

DEADLINE APRIL 15, 2015

 

Every year the DPS recognizes exceptional achievement in our field. It is time to consider nominating a respected
colleague for one of the annual DPS prizes:

 

The Gerard P. Kuiper Prize honors outstanding contributions to the field of planetary science.

The Harold C. Urey Prize recognizes outstanding achievement in planetary research by a young scientist.

The Harold Masursky Award acknowledges outstanding service to planetary science and exploration.

The Carl Sagan Medal recognizes and honors outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the
general public.

The Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award recognizes and stimulates distinguished popular writing
on planetary sciences.  

 

Detailed descriptions of each of the prizes and the criteria for nominees for each can be found at prizes.
The nomination form and instructions can also be retrieved from this website. The completed nomination form and
supporting material should be emailed to [email protected]. 

 

Anyone except current DPS Committee members may submit a nomination. A completed nomination will be retained
and considered by the Prize Subcommittee for three years, or as long as the nominee is eligible, whichever is less.
Past nominees may be re-nominated after the expiration of a prior nomination. A posthumous nomination is allowed
for a limited time after the nominee’s death, except for the Sagan Medal. For specific details, see the URL noted above.

 

The deadline for nominations this year is April 15.

 

Consider for example the Carl Sagan Medal, which recognizes excellence in public communication in planetary science.
Do you have a colleague that excels in reaching out to the public, who has a particularly effective way of communicating
new findings in our field? We want to recognize those efforts that are so important to the health of our field!

 

The Masursky Award recognizes meritorious service to planetary science. Do you have a colleague whose efforts made
a significant difference in the success of an endeavor you’ve been involved in through engineering, managerial,
programmatic or public service activities? Consider nominating that individual!

 

2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2

2015 NASA PLANETARY SCIENCE SUMMER SCHOOL APPLICATIONS OPEN

 

NASA is accepting applications from science and engineering post-docs, recent PhDs, and doctoral students for its
27th Annual Planetary Science Summer School, which will be held in one single session in summer 2015
(August 10-14 only) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in  Pasadena, Calif.

During the program and pre-session webinars, student teams will carry out the equivalent of an early mission concept
study, prepare a proposal authorization review presentation, present it to a review board, and receive feedback. By the
end of the session, students will have a clearer understanding of the life cycle of a space mission; relationships between
mission design, cost, and schedule; and the tradeoffs necessary to stay within cost and schedule while preserving the
quality of science.

Applications are due April 10, 2015. Partial financial support is available for a limited number of individuals.
Further information is available at:

http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov

 

3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3

NOAO 2015B CALL FOR PROPOSALS
 

Dear Colleague: 

 

Proposal forms and information for observing time requests for the 2015B semester (August 2015 – January 2016)
are available on the NOAO web page:     

http://ast.noao.edu/observing/proposal-info 

 

Time requests for 2015B may be made for Gemini North and South, Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory
(including SOAR and SMARTS), and Kitt Peak National Observatory (including WIYN).  Public-access time
with the Subaru and AAT telescopes is also available through exchange agreements.  

 

The Call for Proposals is available in HTML at   

http://ast.noao.edu/observing/call-for-proposals-2015b

and as a self-contained, downloadable PDF document at     

http://ast.noao.edu/sites/default/files/cfp2015b.pdf  

 

Observing proposals for all facilities available through NOAO in 2015B are due by
Tuesday evening, 31 March 2015, 11:59pm MST. 

 

NASA and NSF have entered into a Partnership for Exoplanet Research to support community use of the NOAO
share of WIYN telescope time.  Proposals for non-exoplanet research are being accepted in 2015B as well, and
will be eligible for scheduling if there is time available after the approved exoplanet proposals are scheduled.
For more information, see: http://ast.noao.edu/observing/wiyn-exoplanets-2015b  

 

Several new observing resources have become available to the NOAO community. 
Recently added instruments or modes include:

– GRACES, feeding a hi-res CFHT spectrograph from Gemini North  

– GPI, Gemini Planet Imager, at Gemini South   

– DSSI (speckle camera), as a visitor instrument at Gemini North   

– DSSI, also available for exoplanet programs at the WIYN 3.5-m   

– ODI (shared-risk), with new 40×48′ focal plane at the WIYN 3.5-m   

– GradPak and HexPak IFUs, shared-risk at the WIYN 3.5-m   

– KOSMOS Spectrograph, including MOS at the KPNO 4-m   

– COSMOS Spectrograph, including MOS at the CTIO 4-m 

 

Questions about the proposal form or the proposal process may be directed to [email protected].
Questions specific to an observing run may be sent to the site, either [email protected] or [email protected].
Gemini related questions may be sent directly to the NOAO System Science Center Instrument Scientist
listed at http://www.noao.edu/ngsc/noaosupport.html or to [email protected].

 

The NOAO Observing Proposal Team

 

4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4

JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
 

A) POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT IN PLANETARY SCIENCE: TITAN’S ATMOSPHERE

University of Bristol 

content/postdoctoral-research-assistant-planetary-science-titan’s-atmosphere

Application Due Date: April 13, 2015

 

B) DIRECTOR, NASA ASTROBIOLOGY INSTITUTE (NAI) 

NASA seeks a new Director for the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI). The ideal candidate will be an internationally recognized scientist with proven experience in leading or managing large interdisciplinary research programs or projects, possessed with a vision for leading the Institute into the future. Applicants for this position should have a broad scientific perspective on astrobiology, experience in conducting interdisciplinary scientific research, and demonstrated skills needed to harness the strengths of disparate research communities towards a greater goal. S/he should understand how to grow a research endeavor and respond to changing budget climates while focusing on maximizing the scientific return on NASA’s investments in astrobiology. S/he should have experience in leading a diverse staff ranging from established scientists to support personnel, resource planning, and executing budgets and schedules. S/he should be comfortable with modern information technologies and distributed research teams. NASA is particularly interested in applicants who will find ways to infuse astrobiology into NASA flight missions.

Interested individuals should apply directly to USAJobs at:

http://www.usajobs.gov 

by May 1, 2015. In the keyword search box, type vacancy number “AR15S0001”. 
Select “Director, NASA Astrobiology Institute”, then click “Apply Online”.

 

C) POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN ADVANCED CURATION METHODS FOR PLANETARY MATERIALS

University of Alberta 

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/planetary_news/2015/03/12/job-opportunity-postdoctoral-position-in-advanced-curation-methods-for-planetary-materials/

 

D) TWO TENURE-TRACK ASSISTANT PROFESSOR POSITIONS IN PHYSICS AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY 

http://www.coas.howard.edu/physics&astronomy/news&events.html

 

5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5

UPCOMING MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS

 

A) IAU GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Honolulu, Hawaii

August 3-14, 2015

 

http://astronomy2015.org/abstracts

Abstracts Due March 18, 2015

 

B) PLANETARY SYSTEMS : A SYNERGISTIC VIEW

“Planetary Systems: A Synergistic View,” will be held 19-25 July 2015 in the beautiful coastal town of Quy Nhon, Vietnam.

This unique conference will bring together exoplanet and solar system researchers to examine the connections between detailed knowledge of our solar system and the characterization of exoplanet composition, formation and evolution.

Full conference details can be found on the conference website at:

http://rencontresduvietnam.org/conferences/2015/planetary-systems/ 

An important goal of the conference is to improve the quality of science education and scientific research in Vietnam, by helping local students and scientists make contact with the international science community through attending lectures and sharing ideas with their overseas high-level counterparts. This is a unique opportunity to accelerate the growth of the scientific enterprise in the emerging country of Vietnam, and is one of a broad array of activities including lectures, workshops, and symposia conducted by the International Center for Interdisciplinary Science Education (ICISE) headquartered in Quy Nhon.

Vietnam is an outstanding destination to visit for its natural beauty, history, cuisine and culturally rich and exciting cities, along with extensive air connections to neighboring attractions in SE Asia such as Angkor in Cambodia. Travel to and accommodation in Vietnam are economical compared to many other worldwide destinations.

Join us for a stimulating conference and the opportunity to be a part of the process of fostering science Vietnam! Abstracts on planetary and exoplanet topics are welcome with a submission deadline of  20 March 2015.

We look forward to seeing you in Quy Nhon.

Best regards,

Jonathan Lunine

Chair, Science Organizing Committee

C) EARLY E-ELT SCIENCE : SPECTROSCOPY WITH HARMONI

29th June – 3rd July 2015 at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Oxford UK.

This workshop will explore some of the first science that will emerge from the European Extremely Large Telescope (E‐ELT) in the next decade. With a 39m diameter primary mirror, E‐ELT will be the largest visible and infrared telescope in the world, and its science will be transformational. The primary spectroscopic capability of E-ELT at first light will be provided by the HARMONI instrument, a visible and near-infrared integral field spectrograph that will be capable of working close to the diffraction limit of the telescope (when fed by adaptive optics) or in natural seeing mode.

The meeting will bring together experts spanning a wide range of observational programmes, from planetary science to cosmology.

Abstract submission deadline for talks – 27th March

Early registration payment deadline – 24th April

Please visit the conference web site http://harmoni2015.physics.ox.ac.uk 
for further information on the draft programme, key dates and local information.
For any queries about the workshop, please email [email protected]

D) 2nd PLANETARY DATA WORKSHOP

 

June 8 – 11, 2015, Flagstaff, Arizona

If you have questions about how to find, download, process or visualize planetary data, this workshop is for you.
Our goals are to bring together planetary scientists, data providers, data archivists, and software and technology
experts to exchange ideas on current capabilities and needs for improved and new tools that can be used to address current needs in planetary research and data analysis.

Possible topics include:
– Availability of planetary data
– Trends in data storage and rapid access
– Current and new analysis and visualization tools
– Demos, hands-on training and how-to guides for working with planetary data
– PDS4 news and training for data providers and users

Details are also available at:  http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/planetdata2015/planetdata20151st.shtml

Abstracts are due on March 31, 2015.  We welcome your participation!

E) THE FUTURE OF PLANETARY RADIO ASTRONOMY WITH SINGLE-DISH TELESCOPES

June 9-10, 2015

NRAO, Green Bank, West Virginia

https://science.nrao.edu/science/meetings/2015/planetary-radio-astronomy-future/

Radar studies of near-earth asteroids, mapping of planet and lunar surfaces, chemical compositions of comets, asteroids, and planetary atmospheres, and origins of solar systems, are just some of the exciting topics currently being studied through the use of large single-dish telescopes. This workshop will bring together researchers to discuss how the large single-dish telescopes such as the GBT and Arecibo can best contribute to future research in these and other topics, including new and improved capabilities and instrumentation.

The intimate setting of the Green Bank Observatory fosters highly interactive meetings. Attendance will be limited to roughly 30 participants, and we aim to provide plenty of time for discussions. We expect the agenda to evolve as we hear from potential participants. There will be no registration fee, and meals and local housing will be provided without charge. Weather permitting, workshop participants will be treated to a tour of the 100-meter diameter Green Bank Telescope.

Scientific Organizing Committee
Lance Benner (JPL)
Don Campbell (Cornell)
Alyson Ford (NRAO)
Frank Ghigo (NRAO)
Amy Lovell (Agnes Scott College)
Mike Nolan (Arecibo)

Local Organizing Committee
Alyson Ford
Frank Ghigo
Christine Plumley
Jessica Taylor

———————————+

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 15-12, March 13, 2015

 

Special Issue: LPSC EVENTS

 

+—————————————–CONTENTS———————————–+

1. DPS-SPONSORED WOMEN IN PLANETARY SCIENCE EVENT AT LPSC
2. LRO DATA USERS WORKSHOP
3. SCIENTIST AND SCIENCE EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP: COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR AUDIENCE
4. NASA HEADQUARTERS BRIEFING
5. THE 2016 NASA BUDGET: THE PLANETARY COMMUNITY’S RESPONSE AND NEXT STEPS
6. ANALYSIS/ASSESSMENT GROUP TOWN HALLS
7. CONDUCTING PLANETARY SCIENCE FROM STRATOSPHERIC BALLOON PLATFORMS

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1

DPS-SPONSORED WOMEN IN PLANETARY SCIENCE EVENT AT LPSC

Announcing the Annual Susan Niebur Women in Planetary Science Networking Event at LPSC

This event is open to all interested persons, and we will spend most of the time discussing professional development topics (see link below for more info).  Light refreshments will be served thanks to generous support from the 
Division for Planetary Sciences!   
When: Wednesday, March 18th, 2015; 6:00 to ~7:30 pm
Where: Montgomery Ballrooms A-C (in Conference Venue – Woodlands Waterway Marriott, Houston, TX)

Sign-up and more info:  http://bit.ly/WIPS_2015

 

2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2

LRO DATA USERS WORKSHOP

 

Sunday, March 15, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Shenandoah

This community workshop is being held to educate and inform potential users of LRO data. Over the past 5+ years,
the LRO mission has delivered over 570 Tb of data to NASA’s Planetary Data System. That amazing data volume
contains many higher level products, in addition to the raw and calibrated data, from each of the seven instrument
teams. Attendees are strongly encouraged to RSVP by e-mail to Noah Petro. Presentation materials will also be
posted on the PDS website as well as the LRO Data website.

 

3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3———3

SCIENTIST AND SCIENCE EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
 

Sunday, March 15, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, College Park

Experts in communicating with the public and press will present techniques for successfully engaging a variety of audiences in different formats, including press releases, classroom presentations, and public talks. Following interactive presentations, participants will work with experts to apply their knowledge to their own communications products and presentations. Those wishing to attend the communications workshop in the morning as well as the Higher Education Faculty Workshop in the afternoon are welcome to do so! Registration is free and required in order to attend; please register now! A 90-minute lunch break will be provided for lunch on your own. For additional information, please contact Christine Shupla.

 

4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4———4

NASA HEADQUARTERS BRIEFING

Monday, March 16, 5:30 p.m., Waterway Ballrooms 4/5

Representatives from the Planetary Sciences Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate will address the community. Current plans include speakers Jim Green, David Schurr, and Jonathan Rall.

 
5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5
THE 2016 NASA BUDGET:  THE PLANETARY COMMUNITY’S RESPONSE AND NEXT STEPS 

 

Tuesday, March 17, 12:00 to 1:15 p.m, Montgomery Ballroom

You’ve heard NASA’s official position on the 2016 budget request, now hear the response from the professional
societies that represent you in Washington, DC. This lunch session will cover the details of the budget, the
community response, and what to expect in the coming year. An extended Q&A session will follow to provide
frank answers to your questions and concerns about the 2016 budget. Scientists at any stage in their career are
strongly encouraged to attend.

 

6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6———6

ANALYSIS/ASSESSMENT GROUP TOWN HALLS

 

• LUNAR EXPLORATION ANALYSIS GROUP (LEAG)

Wednesday, March 18 12:00 to 1:15 pm, Waterway Ballroom 6

• OUTER PLANETS ASSESSMENT GROUP (OPAG)

Wednesday, March 18 12:00 to 1:15 pm, Waterway Ballroom 1

• VENUS EXPLORATION ANALYSIS GROUP (VEXAG)

Thursday, March 19 12:00 to 1:15 pm, Waterway Ballroom 1

• CARTOGRAPHY RESEARCH ANALYSIS GROUP (CRAG)

Thursday, March 19 12:00 to 1:15 pm, Waterway Ballroom 6

 

7———7———7———7———7———7———7———7———7———7

CONDUCTING PLANETARY SCIENCE FROM STRATOSPHERIC BALLOON PLATFORMS

Wednesday, March 18, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Waterway Ballroom 1

We will discuss scientific ballooning for conducting planetary science to better understand how these platforms
could serve the community and to help the planetary science community better understand the characteristics of
this potential capability.

 

———————————+

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 15-11, March 10, 2015

 

+—————————–CONTENTS——————————–+

1. CALL FOR DPS 2015 PRIZE NOMINATIONS
2. 2015B NASA IRTF CALL FOR PROPOSALS
3. FAMELAB USA SEASON 3 ONLINE COMPETITION
4. JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
5. UPCOMING MEETINGS

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1

CALL FOR DPS 2015 PRIZE NOMINATIONS

 

DEADLINE APRIL 15, 2015

 

Every year the DPS recognizes exceptional achievement in our field. It is time to consider nominating a respected
colleague for one of the annual DPS prizes:

 

The Gerard P. Kuiper Prize honors outstanding contributions to the field of planetary science.

The Harold C. Urey Prize recognizes outstanding achievement in planetary research by a young scientist.

The Harold Masursky Award acknowledges outstanding service to planetary science and exploration.

The Carl Sagan Medal recognizes and honors outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the
general public.

The Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award recognizes and stimulates distinguished popular writing
on planetary sciences. 

 

Detailed descriptions of each of the prizes and the criteria for nominees for each can be found at prizes.
The nomination form and instructions can also be retrieved from this website. The completed nomination form and
supporting material should be emailed to [email protected]. 

 

Anyone except current DPS Committee members may submit a nomination. A completed nomination will be retained and
considered by the Prize Subcommittee for three years, or as long as the nominee is eligible, whichever is less. Past
nominees may be re-nominated after the expiration of a prior nomination. A posthumous nomination is allowed for a
limited time after the nominee’s death, except for the Sagan Medal. For specific details, see the URL noted above.

 

The deadline for nominations this year is April 15.

 

Consider for example the Carl Sagan Medal, which recognizes excellence in public communication in planetary science.
Do you have a colleague that excels in reaching out to the public, who has a particularly effective way of communicating
new findings in our field? We want to recognize those efforts that are so important to the health of our field!

 

The Masursky Award recognizes meritorious service to planetary science. Do you have a colleague whose efforts made a
significant difference in the success of an endeavor you’ve been involved in through engineering, managerial,
programmatic or public service activities? Consider nominating that individual!

 

2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2

2015B NASA IRTF CALL FOR PROPOSALS 

 

The due date for the 2015B semester (August 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016) is Wednesday, April 1, 2015. See our online submission formhttp://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/observing/applicationForms.php, which is available for proposal submission from 12:00AM on March 1, 2015 until the deadline. Available instruments include: (1) SpeX, a 1 – 5 micron cross-dispersed medium-resolution spectrograph (up to R=2,500) and imager; (2) CSHELL, a 1-5 micron high-resolution spectrograph (up to R=40,000); (3) MORIS, a 512×512 pixel Andor CCD camera (60″x60″ field-of-view) mounted at the side-facing window of the SpeX cryostat that can be used simultaneously with SpeX; and (4) PI-instruments including a low-resolution 3-14 micron spectrograph and a 8-25 micron high-resolution spectrograph. Information on available instruments and performance can be found at: http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/Facility.

Please see http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/observing/callForProposals.php for the full text.

 

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FAMELAB USA SEASON 3 ONLINE COMPETITION
 

Calling all early career scientists!  Passionate about science?  Love to communicate… or want to learn how?  Have you wanted to join FameLab but couldn’t make any of the in-person heats?  THIS is your chance… join us for the FameLab USA Season 3 Online Competition!  Submit a YouTube video of your 3-minute, PowerPoint-free presentation by March 16, and join our live, online event on March 18 to receive direct feedback from the judges.  Information on how to join and prepare your video can be found at http://famelab-eeb.arc.nasa.gov/competitions/season3-online2015/, and/or email Daniella Scalice of the NASA Astrobiology Program with any questions at [email protected].   

 

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JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

ASTRONOMY COORDINATOR
University of Tennessee – Knoxville

content/astronomy-coordinator

Application Due Date: May 1, 2015

5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5

UPCOMING MEETINGS

 

A) 11th LOW-COST PLANETARY MISSION (LCPM-11) CONFERENCE

Dear colleague, 

 

Let me again draw your attention to the 11th Low Cost Planetary Missions Conference (LCPM-11) that we have the
pleasure of hosting this June in Berlin. Due to the continued interest we have extended the abstract deadline to
March 16th. 

 

We like to draw your particular interest to session 1. We are talking to the leading space agencies and can already
announce that NASA, ESA and Jaxa will be presenting their low cost mission plans. 

 

If you encounter any problems during abstract submission and registration, do not hesitate to contact Barbara Stracke
at [email protected] 

 

The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) LCPM-11 will be held on June 9th – 11th , 2015 in Berlin, Germany,
at the Archenhold Sternwarte located in one of the largest parks in the city.
The meeting website is http://www.dlr.de/LCPM11. You are invited to submit your abstract and register for the meeting
through this website.

 

We will convene in the Einstein Saal, the venue where Albert Einstein gave his first public lecture on the theory of
relativity in Berlin. There will be an icebreaker on June 8th 2015 at the Archenhold Sternwarte
. A social event will be held with reception and dinner in the historic Berlin
Museum of Natural History on June 10th 2015. 

 

The co-chairs, Tilman Spohn, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, and Gregg Vane,
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Solar System Exploration Directorate, will work with the program committee
and soon announce the preliminary program.

 

Thank you,

Tilman Spohn (DLR)

 

B) 6TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF GEODESY AND GEOPHYSICS (IUGG)

June 22- July 2, 2015

http://www.iugg2015prague.com/

Prague, Czech Republic 

 

C) EUROPEAN PLANETARY SCIENCE CONGRESS 2015

27 September – 02 October, 2015

www.epsc2015.eu/

Nantes, France

 

D) 6th PLANETARY CRATER CONSORTIUM MEETING

The 6th Planetary Crater Consortium meeting will be held August 12-14, 2015, at the US Geological Survey in Flagstaff, AZ. The Planetary Crater Consortium is open to planetary scientists interested in any aspect of impact cratering on solar system bodies, including observational, theoretical, experimental, and numerical studies. The meeting is a combination of invited talks, contributed talks, and open discussion. Abstract deadline is Monday, August 3, 2015. For more information, see www.planetarycraterconsortium.nau.edu/ or contact Nadine Barlow ([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 15-10, March 3, 2015

 

+—————————–CONTENTS———————————————–+

1. PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A HARLOW SHAPLEY VISITING LECTURER!
2. ANNOUNCING A NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO COMET SCIENCE
3. EPDS PRE-PROPOSAL WORKSHOP IN TUCSON, MARCH 17-18
4. OPAG ANNOUNCEMENT
5. STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS FOR UPCOMING MARS-RELEVANT WORKSHOPS
6. 2015B NASA KECK CALL FOR PROPOSALS

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

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PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A HARLOW SHAPLEY VISITING LECTURER!  

 

The AAS Harlow Shapley Visiting Lectureship Program
 
is a gem in the crown of the Society¹s education efforts. Its purpose is to bring the excitement
of modern astronomy and astrophysics to North American colleges and universities of all types
through a 2- to 3-day visit by a professional astronomer. The AAS is particularly interested in
reaching out to institutions that do not offer degrees in astronomy, as well as to community colleges
and minority-serving institutions. The AAS pays the lecturer¹s travel expenses regardless of the
type of institution where the Shapley Lecture will be given. Institutions are requested to pay a
nominal $300 contribution in support of the Shapley Lectureship fund. However, this contribution
can be reduced or eliminated depending on the needs of the institution, and the AAS generally
waives the contribution for community colleges and minority-serving institutions.  

 

The program would greatly benefit from a greater representation of Planetary Scientists!  

 

More information and how to apply:

http://aas.org/posts/opportunity/2015/01/please-consider-becoming-harlow-shapley-visiting-lecturer

 

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ANNOUNCING A NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO COMET SCIENCE 

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

You are invited to read, subscribe to, and participate in the Cometary Science Newsletter (CSN),
dedicated to sharing and furthering cometary science.  Contributions are invited from the astronomical
and planetary science communities, including abstracts of papers accepted for publication in refereed
journals, thesis abstracts, conference announcements, job announcements, or other relevant and brief
scientific communications.  Relevant topics include observational, theoretical, and laboratory work
concerning comets, but also may include studies of associated phenomena, such as Centaurs,
asteroid-comet transition objects, and debris disks.  The first CSN issue is planned for 1 April 2015,
with monthly issues expected thereafter.  For more information, and to read a sample issue online,
visit the CSN homepage at:  http://www.cometarysciencenews.org/ 

 

Sincerely, Mike Kelley,

CSN Editor University of Maryland

 

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EPDS PRE-PROPOSAL WORKSHOP IN TUCSON, MARCH 17-18

 

To aid prospective proposers interested in responding to the NASA solicitation for an 
Extreme Precision Doppler Spectrometer Instrument, NOAO, NASA and the NSF are
hosting a pre-proposal workshop in Tucson, March 17 and 18.

 

Information about the workshop, the call for instrument proposals and supporting documentation can be found at

Exoplanet Exploration: Extreme Precision Doppler Spectrometer

 

Lori Allen,

NOAO

 

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OPAG ANNOUNCEMENT

The presentations from the Feb 19-20 OPAG meeting at NASA Ames have been posted on the OPAG website: 

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/

There will be an OPAG townhall at LPSC on Wednesday, March 18, at noon,  in Waterway 1-3.

To receive OPAG newsletters with more information please indicate your interest at:  

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/opag.cfm

 

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STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS FOR UPCOMING MARS-RELEVANT WORKSHOPS

Student travel grants are available for the Fourth International Planetary Dunes Workshop: 

http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/dunes2015/

 

and the Workshop on Issues in Crater Studies and the Dating of Planetary Surfaces: 

http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/craterstats2015/

both to be held May 19-22. An application must be submitted by March 5 (same as the abstract deadline) to be considered for this funding. These opportunities are open to undergraduate and graduate students with Mars-related research interests, who are US citizens or legal 
residents. Information and the applications are posted on the MEPAG site: 

http://mepag.nasa.gov/student.cfm?expand=student 

Questions should be directed to Serina Diniega ([email protected]).

 

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2015B NASA KECK CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Due date Thursday, March 19, 2015

NASA is soliciting proposals to use the Keck Telescopes for the 2015B observing semester (Aug. 1, 2015 – Jan. 31, 2016)

NASA intends the use of the Keck telescopes to be highly strategic in support of on-going space missions and/or high priority, long-term science goals.   

Proposals are sought in the following discipline areas: (1) investigations in support of EXOPLANET EXPLORATION science goals and missions; (2) investigations of our own SOLAR SYSTEM; (3) investigations in support of COSMIC ORIGINS science goals and missions; and (4) investigations in support of PHYSICS OF THE COSMOS science goals andmissions.  Direct mission support proposals in any of these scientific areas are also encouraged.

The proposal process is being handled by the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI) at Caltech and all proposals are due on 19  March 2015 at 4 pm PDT.  

Complete proposal call information:  http://nexsci.caltech.edu/missions/KeckSolicitation/index.shtml 

Online Proposal Submission page: https://cat.ipac.caltech.edu/nasakeck/proposal.php

Questions: [email protected]

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

Issue 15-09, February 24, 2015

 

+—————————————–CONTENTS———————————–+

1. WORKSHOP ON ISSUES IN CRATER STUDIES AND THE DATING OF PLANETARY SURFACES
2. ABSCICON 2015 SESSION: GETTING INTO PLANETS : INTERIOR PLANETARY PROCESSES, LIFE, AND HABITABILITY
3. BARRINGER STUDENT GRANTS
4. GEMINI NORTH FAST TURNAROUND: CALL FOR NEW PROPOSALS
5. JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

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WORKSHOP ON ISSUES IN CRATER STUDIES AND THE DATING OF PLANETARY SURFACES

 

This is a free-registration workshop in Laurel, Maryland, from May 19 through May 22 (3.5 days).  Numerous
science questions exist that are informed by impact crater populations, but the plethora of new data in the past
several decades indicates we need to reexamine what the best practices are in understanding and analyzing craters,
crater populations, and how they evolve. The purpose of this workshop is to improve our understanding of the
crater population and how craters are analyzed, and to better understand the proper statistical tools when using
craters as tracers for various geologic, geophysical, and dynamical processes such as deriving surface ages.
Plenary speakers will include Drs. Harry Hiesinger, Bill Hartmann, and Clark Chapman. 

 

Workshop Website: http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/craterstats2015/

Abstract Deadline:  March 05

MEPAG Student Stipend Application Deadline:  March 05

Program and Abstracts Posted:  April 03

Registration Deadline:  May 05

 

Conveners:

Stuart Robbins, Catherine Plesko

 

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ABSCICON 2015 SESSION : GETTING INTO PLANETS : INTERIOR PLANETARY PROCESSES, LIFE, AND HABITABILITY

Please join us for the session on “Getting into Planets:  Interior Planetary Processes, Life, and Habitability” at the upcoming AbSciCon meeting this summer, June 15-19 in Chicago, Illinois. This session invites interdisciplinary presentations that explore the links between planets’ diverse chemical compositions, interior processes, life, and the habitability of their surfaces — on Earth, in our solar system, and on exoplanets.

Abstract submission is now open (deadline March 4), and details, as well as a list of other session topics, are available at the AbSciCon website (http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2015/).

 
Theme:  How to Build a Habitable Planet 
Session:  Getting into Planets:  Interior Planetary Processes, Life, and Habitability
Topic Short Title (listed on abstract submission form):  Getting Into Planets

Organizers:  Steve Desch (Arizona State University), [email protected]; Vlada Stamenkovic (MIT), [email protected]

Summary:  Habitability of a planet is defined in terms of factors on its surface. However, the habitability of a
planet depends not just on whether the planet is in the Goldilocks zone or started with some bulk composition;
habitability is sensitive to how chemicals are moved to and around the planet’s surface, and on many planetary
interior processes. The availability of bioessential elements is one factor that in turn depends not just on the
planet’s bulk chemical composition, but also on its geochemical cycles, the creation of continental land that can
be weathered, the chemical and physical communication between the surface and mantle via outgassing, the
tectonic mode, possibly magnetic fields, and other interior processes. On the other hand, life itself might shape
such interior processes by mediating crustal properties and geochemical cycles, and therefore also impacts
surface habitability. We invite interdisciplinary presentations that explore the links between planets’ diverse
chemical compositions, interior processes, life, and the habitability of their surfaces — on Earth, in our solar
system, and on exoplanets. 

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BARRINGER STUDENT GRANT

Graduate students and postdocs,

This year’s application deadline for grants from the Barringer Family Fund for Meteorite Impact Research is April 3, 2015. This program provides 3 to 5 competitive grants each year in the range of $2,500 to $5,000 USD for support of field research at known or suspected impact sites worldwide. Grant funds may be used to assist with travel and subsistence costs, as well as laboratory and computer analysis of research samples and findings. Masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral students enrolled in formal university programs are eligible. For additional details and an application, please go to:

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/science/kring/Awards/Barringer_Fund/

David A. Kring, Ph.D
[email protected]

 

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GEMINI NORTH FAST TURNAROUND PROGRAM: CALL FOR NEW PROPOSALS

Gemini North is accepting proposals for the Fast Turnaround (FT) pilot program. For more details go to:

http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/observing-gemini/observing-modes/fast-turnaround/call-for-proposals

Deadline: 23:59 Hawaiian Standard Time (HST) February 28, 2015 

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JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES
 

A) POST-DOCTORAL TEACHING ASSOCIATE IN MINERALOGY

 

      University of Tennessee Knoxville

      For details go to: content/mineralogy-teaching-post-doc

      Application Due Date: 1 April 2015

  

B) ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, NOAO SYSTEM SCIENCE & DATA CENTER

 

     Tucson, Arizona

     https://rn11.ultipro.com/spa1004B/JobBoard/JobDetails.aspx?__ID=*B45F8F4E26C8E8DD

     Application Due Date: 3 April 2015

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

Issue 15-08, February 17, 2015

 

+—————————–CONTENTS——————————–+

1. OPAG MEETING WEBEX INSTRUCTIONS
2. IAU SYMPOSIUM 318 “ASTEROIDS: NEW OBSERVATIONS, NEW MODELS”
3. ABSCICON 2015 SESSION: TITAN’S ORGANIC CHEMISTRY AND INSIGHTS INTO HABITABILITY
4. AOGS SINGAPORE 2015
5. SIGN UP FOR SMD SPEAKER’S BUREAU

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1

OPAG MEETING WEBEX INSTRUCTIONS

 

The Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) meeting will take place 19-20 February 2015 at NASA Ames Research Center.
Participation via webex instructions are below.

A new agenda is posted at http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/

Topic: OPAG Workshop 
Date: Every 1 day, from Thursday, February 19, 2015 to Friday, February 20, 2015 
Time: 8:00 am, Eastern Standard Time (New York, GMT-05:00) 
Meeting Number: 998 203 995 
Meeting Password: Ames2015! 
——————————————————- 
To join the online meeting (Now from mobile devices!) 
——————————————————- 
1. Go to https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/j.php?MTID=mdf15748fb1d35eadccf2fb035a763e40 
2. If requested, enter your name and email address. 
3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: Ames2015! 
4. Click “Join”. 
5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen. 

To view in other time zones or languages, please click the link: 
https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/j.php?MTID=m9b5c633769102a3fa6648e1c07bc3a7a 

——————————————————- 
To join the audio conference only 
——————————————————- 
USA Toll Free #: 
1-844-467-4685 

Participant Passcode #: 
8828089295

——————————————————- 
For assistance 
——————————————————- 
1. Go to https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/mc 
2. On the left navigation bar, click “Support”. 

You can contact me at: 
[email protected] 
1-202.479.9030 

To update this meeting to your calendar program (for example Microsoft Outlook), click this link: 
https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/j.php?MTID=me11c20bd719d4e7a7a767091a7075319 

WebEx will automatically setup Meeting Manager for Windows the first time you join a meeting. To save time, you can setup prior to the meeting by clicking this link: 
https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/meetingcenter/mcsetup.php 

The playback of UCF (Universal Communications Format) rich media files requires appropriate players. To view this type of rich media files in the meeting, please check whether you have the players installed on your computer by going tohttps://nasa.webex.com/nasa/systemdiagnosis.php. 

http://www.webex.com

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This WebEx service includes a feature that allows audio and any documents and other materials exchanged or viewed during the session to be recorded. By joining this session, you automatically consent to such recordings. If you do not consent to the recording, discuss your concerns with the meeting host prior to the start of the recording or do not join the session. Please note that any such recordings may be subject to discovery in the event of litigation.

2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2———2

IAU SYMPOSIUM 318 “ASTEROIDS : NEW OBSERVATIONS, NEW MODELS”

Please join us for IAUS 318, to be held August 3-7, 2015 in Honolulu, Hawaii, in conjunction with the IAU XXIX General Assembly.
We invite abstracts for both oral and poster contributions. Registration and abstract submission information, as well as the list of invited speakers,
is available at the symposium website:

http://astronomy2015.org/symposium_318 

 

Topics include

* Solar system & main belt evolution

* Asteroid population models 

* Collisions and cratering 

* Dynamical evolution – Asteroid Families, Binary Systems

* Physical Properties – Rotation, Porosity & Shape 

* Activated Asteroids/Main Belt Comets 

* Main-belt connections – Meteorites, NEAs, Comets, Trojans 

* Near-Earth Asteroids & Impact Hazard 

* Surveying and Exploration 

* Data-processing challenges  

 

Key Dates 

Abstracts deadline:       March 18, 2015 11:59pm UTC 

Travel grant application: April 1, 2015 

Regular Registration:     May 28, 2015 

 

On behalf of the Scientific Organizing Committee, 

Steven Chesley, Alessandro Morbidelli, Robert Jedicke

Co-Chairs, IAUS 318

 

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ABSCICON 2015 SESSION: TITAN’S ORGANIC CHEMISTRY AND INSIGHTS INTO HABITABILITY

A session entitled “Titan’s Organic Chemistry and Insights Into Habitability” is being organized by Conor Nixon, Morgan Cable and Martin Cordiner at this year’s Astrobiology Science Conference, to be held in Chicago, Illinois, on June 15–19, 2015. The session will combine recent results from observational, theoretical and laboratory studies of Titan’s organic chemistry, with an emphasis on topics relating to the formation and evolution of molecules relevant to the chemistry of life. The Abstract Deadline for talks and posters will be Wednesday, March 4th 2015, and we invite all those interested in Titan’s chemistry to attend.

The overall theme for AbSciCon2015 is “Habitability, Habitable Worlds, and Life.” More information, including how to register and submit abstracts, may be found at the following URL: http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2015/about/purpose/

 

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AOGS, SINGAPORE, 2 – 7 AUGUST 2015

http://www.asiaoceania.org/society/index.asp

Abstracts due 18 February 2015

PS03: Polarimetry of Planetary Systems:Observations, Theory and Models

Polarimetry is a currently enjoying a rejuvenation in various astronomical applications. As a complementary techinque to imaging and spectroscopy, polarization allows the investigation of scatttering properties of variety of media ranging from planetary atmospheres, comets, small bodies (planetary satellites, asteroids, Kuiper Belt objects, etc.) to detection and characterization of exoplanets, brown dwarfs, star and planet forming regions; characterization of magnetic fields and search for optically active molecules in a search for habitability elsewhere than our earth. We invite contributions from observers, modellers, laboratory measurements, instrument designers and missions. We anticipate half to one day of presentations including oral and poster contributions.

Conveners: 

Dr. Padma A Yanamandra-Fisher (Space Science Institute, United States), [email protected]
Dr. Ludmilla Kolokolova (University of Maryland, United States), [email protected] 
Dr. Shashikiran Ganesh (Physical Research Laboratory, India), [email protected]
Dr. Lucyna Chudczer (University of New South Wales, Australia), [email protected]
Dr. Vijay Natraj (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States), [email protected]
Dr. Jun Takahashi (University of Hyogo, Japan), [email protected]
Prof. Motohide Tamura (The University of Tokyo, Japan), [email protected]
 

PS04: Comets, Asteroids and Other Small Bodies of the Solar System: From 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko to Chariklo

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. Missions such as ESA/Rosetta, ESA/Gaia, NASA/OSIRIS-Rex, JAXA/Hyabusa-2, NASA/Dawn and NASA/New Horizons, to study asteroids, comets, dwarf planets and TNOs are poised to provide new information on SSSBs.   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, including Rosetta/67P, C/SidingSpring, C/2014 Q1, C/2012 K1, Chariklo, Ceres, Vesta.. We anticipate a half-day to a full day session.

Conveners:

Dr. Padma A Yanamandra-Fisher (Space Science Institute, United States), [email protected]
Dr. Ludmilla Kolokolova (University of Maryland, United States), [email protected]
Dr. Shashikiran Ganesh (Physical Research Laboratory, India), [email protected]
Dr. Joo Hyeon Kim (Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Korea, South), [email protected]
Dr. Jian-Yang Li (Planetary Science Institute, United States), [email protected]
Dr. Anny-Chantal Levasseur-Tegourf (Univ. of P and M Curie, France), [email protected] 

5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5

SIGN UP FOR SMD SPEAKER’S BUREAU

The NASA Science Mission Directorate Scientist Speaker’s Bureau is available for requests and for additional entries by scientists! 

 

Educators (formal and informal) are invited to pull up a list of potential speakers through this online system athttp://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/speaker/request/, which requires the presentation’s location, the style (in person or online), the type and size of the audience, and the topic.  The search request can be repeated with changes to the topic as needed.  Once a scientist has been selected by the requestor, an email is sent directly to that scientist, inviting him or her to respond to the request directly and to discuss any logistics.

 

Astronomers, planetary scientists, heliophysicists, and Earth scientists – please sign up today! The entry form is very short; just fill in your contact info, area of research and topics you are comfortable discussing, audiences and audience sizes you are comfortable addressing, and travel / virtual presentation preferences. Join the NASA SMD Speaker’s Bureau today at http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/speaker!

 

For more information, please contact [email protected].

 

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

Issue 15-07, February 10, 2015

 

+—————————–CONTENTS——————————–+

1. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR: THE 2016 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST
2. FOCUS MEETING “DYNAMICAL PROBLEMS IN EXTRASOLAR PLANETS SCIENCE” FM1 AT IAU-GA
3. LPSC LODGING RATES APPROVED BY NASA
4. JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1———1

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR : THE 2016 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST

 

The President’s 2016 budget request raises NASA’s overall budget by 2.7%, but it cuts the Planetary Science Program from the $1.44 level of FY 2015 to $1.36 billion. Implementation of the Planetary Science Decadal Study program “Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013 – 2022” requires a yearly budget of $1.5 billion.

Some highlights:

A Europa Mission finally received a new start and is funded as a line-item at $30 million, although the level may not be enough to meet a 2020-2022 launch.  Mars 2020 and the NEO program also received increased funding.

Discovery is funded at a level to support a 2-year cadence, as recommended in the Decadal Report.

Funding is not sufficient for a 5-year cadence for the New Frontiers program, as recommended by the Decadal. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and MER Opportunity are also slated for deletion in FY2016.

Research received an uptick, but we’re concerned that the recent Solar Systems Workings program announced only “selectable” proposals rather than selections.

The President’s budget request is the start of the fiscal process and bargaining that goes on in Congress.  The DPS leadership under the guidance of our Federal Relations Subcommittee (FRS) and its Chair Makenzie Lystrup will be working with the leadership of AAS, AGU, GSA, and the Planetary Society to educate Congress about the balanced program set forth in the Decadal study. This program lays out a balanced plan that encompasses the continued leadership of the US in space and on the Earth to benefit our nation and the world.

The FRS has Hill visits planned at the end of February to discuss the budget with the relevant congressional committees.

Bonnie Buratti,

DPS Chair

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FOCUS MEETING “DYNAMICAL PROBLEMS IN EXTRASOLAR PLANETS SCIENCE” FM1 AT NEXT IAU-GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HONOLULU, AUG 12-14, 2015 

Topics: 

• Dynamical evolution of planetary systems, 
• Origin of “hot” planets, origin of large eccentricities and orbital obliquities, 
• tidal and resonant effects

Invited Speakers

• C. Mordasini (MPA Heidelberg): Formation Models and Links to Subsequent Evolutions
• A. Crida (OCA): Migration Theories
• K. Batygin (Caltech): Mean Motion Resonances
• C. Van Laheroven (University of Arizona): Orbital Secular Evolution
• H. Sclichting (MIT): Dynamics of Compact Planetary Systems
• D. Nesvorny (SWRI): Transity Time Variations
• J. Winn (MIT): Orbital Obliquities
• C. Beague (University of Cordoba): Planet Instabilities
• S. Naoz (SAO): Dynamical Effects of Stellar Companions

For more information, please visit:
http://astronomy2015.org/focus_meeting_1

The Organising Committee: Alessandro Morbidelli, Alain Levavalier des Etains, Jacques Laskar, Nader Haghighipour

 

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LPSC LODGING RATES APPROVED BY NASA

LPSC participants staying in The Woodlands area, who are not staying at the conference hotel, are authorized to spend up to $250/night, excluding taxes, on their hotel. The federal per diem rate for this area is $132/night excluding taxes, hence the authorization requirement. Go to:
 

http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/letters-from-sara/2015/2/2/approval-exceed-gsa-lodging-lpsc-2015/

 

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JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

A) FACULTY POSITION IN ENGINEERING PHYSICS

content/faculty-position-engineering-physics

B) POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH SCIENTIST : PLANETARY CLIMATE MODELING

content/postdoctoral-research-scientist-planetary-climate-modeling

 

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

Issue 15-06, February 3, 2015

 

+—————————–CONTENTS——————————–+

1. ABSCICON 2015: FINDING HABITABLE WORLDS AND LIFE BEYOND THE SOLAR SYSTEM
2. FOCUS MEETING “HIGHLIGHTS IN THE EXPLORATION ON SMALL WORLDS” FM9 AT IAU-GA
3. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: LOW-COST PLANETARY MISSIONS CONFERENCE
4. NASA SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR REVIEW PANELS
5. 26th IUGG GENERAL ASSEMBLY
6. NESSF DEADLINE EXTENDED

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

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ABSCICON 2015: FINDING HABITABLE WORLDS AND LIFE BEYOND THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Please join us for the session on “Finding Habitable Worlds and Life Beyond the Solar System” at the upcoming AbSciCon meeting this summer, June 15-19 in Chicago, Illinois. This session invites contributions on the science and technology requirements for the next generation of observatories that will undertake the search for life beyond the solar system. 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, telescope architecture, and instrument capabilities on the yield of potentially inhabited exoplanets.

Abstract submission is now open (deadline March 4), and details, as well as a list of other session topics, are available at the AbSciCon website (http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2015/).

Theme: Habitability of Exoplanets
Session Title: Finding Habitable Worlds and Life Beyond the Solar System
Summary:  What could the near future hold for detecting habitable, and eventually inhabited, extrasolar planets?  This session will focus on the science and technology requirements for the next generation of observatories that will undertake the search for life beyond the solar system.  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, telescope architecture, and instrument capabilities on the yield of potentially inhabited exoplanets. This session will also be an opportunity to discuss longer term, visionary ideas for finding Earth 2.0 and even technological civilizations — potentially answering the question “Are we alone?”  We encourage abstracts on space- and groundbased facilities and on concepts that can discover potentially habitable worlds around other stars (such as MEarth, Kepler, TESS, and PLATO), as well as characterize them spectrally and temporally (such as groundbased ELTs, JWST, WFIRST, Exo-C, Exo-S, and ATLAST) and search for signs of intelligent life (such as the SKA).  The session will review current perspectives on these topics, consider some even bolder ideas, and imagine where we could be in one, two, or three decades. This session is co-organized by Victoria Meadows (University of Washington), Avi Mandell (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), Franck Marchis (SETI Institute), and Margaret Turnbull (Global Science Institute).

 

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FOCUS MEETING “HIGHLIGHTS IN THE EXPLORATION ON SMALL WORLDS” FM9 AT NEXT IAU-GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HONOLULU, AUG 11-13, 2015 

Rationale 
   This focus meeting will highlight results obtained from various ongoing space missions to small Solar System bodies (Rosetta, Dawn, New Horizons, Cassini-Huygens, HERSCHEL, Gaia, …), as well as recent achievements obtained from other space facilities, including past space missions, ground-based telescopes, and geochemical analyses. The meeting aims at discussing aspects of the Solar System formation and evolution,through studies on  the complex and rich evolution of the diverse small bodies of the Solar system. The meeting will also address the cosmo-chemistry and physical properties across the continuum of small bodies (asteroids, comets, planetary satellites, dwarf planets, main-belt comets), with the objective to better understand their interrelations in the context of planetary formation. 

Sessions 
   Recent results and news will be presented by key speakers and additional contributions (oral and posters) distributed over the following sessions : 
   -highlights from space missions 
   -chemical and physical properties of small worlds 
   -hotspots of the triennium 
   -the asteroid-comet continuum 
   -the ISM/Solar System connection 
   -future missions will be covered by the poster session 

Some confirmed invited speakers 
Claudia Alexander (USA),  C. Russel (USA), A. Mainzer (USA), T. Müller (DE), N. Peixinho (CI), N. Biver (FR), K. Stephan (DE), N. Pinilla-Alonso (USA), Z. Martins (UK), M. Cordiner (USA), K. Battams (USA), J. Borovič ka (CZ), A. Morbidelli (FR), H. Hsieh (TW), B. Carry (FR), C. Engrand (FR), K. Oberg (USA), K. Altwegg (CH), E. Wirstroem (SW), J. Castillo-Rogez (USA), 

For more information: http://astronomy2015.org/focus_meeting_9 

There is room for contributed talks as well as posters. Contributors are invited to submit abstractathttp://astronomy2015.org/abstracts  (deadline March, 18) 

Grant applications are encouraged, in particular for young participants (PhD. and post-docs), before April 1st, 2015 
http://www.iau.org/science/grants_prizes/iau_grants/ga_events/ga_application_form/ 

The Organising Committee 
D. Bockelé-Morvan, Paola Casetti, D. Hestroffer

 

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CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: 11th IAA LOW-COST PLANETARY MISSIONS CONFERENCE

 

LCPM-11, June 9-11, 2015, Berlin, Germany.

The organizers of LCPM-11 call your attention to a key date: Abstract submittal deadline is March 2, 2015.  Please see the URL below for details.

http://www.dlr.de/pf/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-9912/

Also, please note that NASA employees and contractors must enter their forecast into the NASA Conference Tracking System as soon as possible.

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NASA SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR REVIEW PANELS

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate is seeking subject matter experts to serve as mail-in and/or panel meeting reviewers of research proposals in Earth and Space science.

We have posted new volunteer reviewer forms for ROSES 2014 Habitable Worlds, and Astrophysics Research and Analysis calls and the Earth and Space Science graduate student fellowship programs.

To volunteer just fill out the forms at http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/volunteer-review-panels/

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26TH IUGG GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 
http://www.iugg2015prague.com/
 
The 26th General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) will be held in Prague, Czech Republic, from the 22nd of June to the 2nd of July 2015, at the Prague Congress Center.
 
Online registration is now open and until June 15, 2015 (early deadline is April 10, 2015). Abstract submission deadline is February 8, 2015.
 
Please consider submitting an abstract to the IAMAS/ICPAE-related symposia, as follows:
 
– M08 Comparative Planetary Atmospheres within and beyond the Solar System
Convener: Feng Tian (Beijing, China)
Co-conveners: Sanjay Limaye (Madison, USA), Leigh Fletcher (Oxford, U.K.), Darrell Strobel (Baltimore, USA), Athena Coustenis (Paris, France)
 
Description
Topics include all aspects and characteristics of atmospheres from terrestrial worlds to giant planets; the evolutionary paths of various atmospheres, especially exoplanets thought to be habitable. Planetary origins both in our solar system and in exoplanetary systems will also be featured. Contributions should focus on the comparative aspect of these research topics, and broader relevance to atmospheric sciences.
 
– M09 Solar System Exploration of Atmospheres with Ground-Based and Space-Based Platforms
Convener: Sanjay Limaye (Madison, USA)
Co-conveners: Ralf Greve (Tokyo, Japan), Leigh Fletcher (Oxford, U.K.), Darrell Strobel (Baltimore, USA)
 
Description
Topics include recent contributions from missions and space-based observatories including, but not limited to, atmospheric composition and chemistry; density and thermal structure; dynamics and energetics; clouds, aerosols and haze. Themes include climate and seasonal variations, surface atmosphere interactions, “hydrological” cycles, atmospheric escape and evolution.

Warm Regards,
The ICPAE Bureau

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NASA EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE FELLOWSHIP (NESSF) DEADLINE EXTENDED

Due to the severe winter weather conditions experienced in parts of the country and the resultant power outages and other hardship conditions, the proposal submission deadline for the subject program is being extended to 11:59 p.m. on February 6, 2015.

So that all proposers may prepare high-quality, responsive proposals, this change will allow additional proposal preparation time for proposers who may have been impacted by these conditions. Accordingly, the target date for announcing the selection results is amended to May 22, 2015.

For further information about the NESSF Program, please contact: Program Administrator for NESSF Earth Science Research – Claire Macaulay at (202) 358-0151 or by E-mail at [email protected].

Program Administrator for NESSF Heliophysics Research, Planetary Science Research, and Astrophysics Research – Dolores Holland at (2302) 358-0734 or by E-mail at [email protected]

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

Issue 15-05, January 27, 2015

 

+—————————–CONTENTS——————————–+

1. IN MEMORIAM: ARVYDAS J. KLIORE (1935-2014)
2. VOLUNTEER FOR AAS CONGRESSIONAL VISITS DAY
3. JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

+——————————————————————————————–+

 

 

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IN MEMORIAM: ARVYDAS J. KLIORE (1935-2014)

 

It is with great sadness that we report the loss of our colleague, Dr. Arvydas Kliore, who died suddenly on December 7, 2014 of natural causes. Arv was born in Lithuania and immigrated to the United States in 1949. He joined the engineering staff at JPL in 1962, where he had a distinguished career for over half a century with numerous publications and awards. A JPL Senior Research Scientist for more than 25 years, he was a pioneer in planetary radio science, especially in the study of planetary atmospheres and ionospheres, beginning with the first NASA planetary mission. Arv was a principalinvestigator or team member on every Mariner mission, on Pioneer 10/11, and on Pioneer Venus, and he served as Deputy Team Leader for the Galileo Radio Propagation Science Team. Most recently, he was a member of the Cassini Radio Science Team from 1990, serving as team leader for more than 20 years. Over his career, Arv attended nearly every DPS meeting in its 47-year history, a testament to his remarkable level of dedication and commitment to the community of planetary scientists.

 

Arv set high standards for scientific achievement, generosity, modesty, personal integrity, and an infectious enthusiasm for life. Those of us who had the privilege of working with him for decades have benefited from his wisdom, fairness, sense of perspective grounded in long experience, and unstinting loyalty and support. We miss him greatly, and will carry his memory and many contributions with us.

 

– Dick French, on behalf of the Cassini Radio Science Team

 

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VOLUNTEER FOR AAS CONGRESSIONAL VISITS DAY

 

Each year the AAS brings members to Washington, DC, for Congressional Visits Day (CVD). This event, organized by the Science-Engineering-Technology Working Group (SETWG), gathers scientists, engineers, researchers, educators, and technology executives in the nation’s capital to raise visibility and support for science, engineering, and technology. This year CVD will be held Tuesday-Wednesday, 17-18 March 2015, with both days requiring full-day commitments, about 8 am to 6 pm. Business attire is required. The AAS will cover the majority of travel expenses for volunteers selected to participate, as our budget allows. Sign-ups are open now through 5:00 pm EST on Tuesday, 3 February 2015.

Volunteers will travel to Washington, DC, to participate in an all-day seminar on how to communicate effectively with policymakers, followed by a full day of meetings with Capitol Hill and/or White House staff. The pre-briefings will cover both astronomy-specific and more general science-policy issues, with the latter organized by SETWG. During the two weeks prior to your time in Washington, we will also have a series of informational pre-briefings via the Web and/or teleconference.

We aim to select at least 15 volunteers who balance the program by location, career stage, and experience. We especially encourage graduate students to volunteer. Selected members will be notified by 10 February 2015.

To sign up, please use our Congressional Visits Day 2015 Sign-Up Form. Note that you’ll need to sign in to aas.org using your AAS username and password to submit the form.

 

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JOBS/POSITIONS OPPORTUNITIES

 

Research Scientist/Senior Research Scientist

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), San Antonio, TX

 

content/research-scientistsr.-research-scientist