Volume 4, Number 6
February 2, 2010
PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org
Editor: Melissa Lane
Co-Editors: Nic Richmond, Mark V. Sykes
Email: pen_editor at psi.edu
o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o
1. URGENT! Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) Meeting DELAYED
Due to Snow
2. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month
3. Planetary Radio Announcement
4. Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group - Newsletter Available
5. Mars Express Ionospheric Data Are Available
6. NSLI Director's Seminar Series
7. Tenure-Track Research Position - Lowell Observatory
8. Commissioning Scientist for the Discovery Channel Telescope -
Lowell Observatory
9. [NASA] Planetary Science Subcommittee Telecon PowerPoint Slides
Available (From Feb. 3 Meeting)
10. Venus Lunch-Time Town-Hall Meeting at LPSC, Monday, March 1st
11. Cassini Scientists Pick the Top Highlights of 2009
12. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions
o---------------------------------------------------------------------o
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URGENT! OUTER PLANETS ASSESSMENT GROUP (OPAG) MEETING DELAYED DUE TO
SNOW
The OPAG meeting will be delayed to a 1 pm eastern start time on
Monday, February 8, at the St. Regis Hotel in Washington, DC, due to
the snow storm that blanketed the area Friday and Saturday. An updated
"Snow Agenda" is currently being worked with the speakers and this
revised agenda will be available Monday morning prior to the afternoon
start of the meeting. This agenda will move the EJSM science breakout
sessions to Tuesday, with Monday's agenda covering a variety of
informational presentations. It is hoped that this arrangement will
allow those affected by the blizzard to participate remotely via Webex
on Monday afternoon with the expectation that traffic disruptions
(automobile, metro trains, and air) will be resolved to allow
face-to-face interaction for the EJSM breakouts on Tuesday.
To participate via Webex you must first register at
https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/j.php?ED=123724607&RG=1&UID=0&RT=
MiMxMQ%3D%3D
You will subsequently receive a confirmation email with instructions
for joining the meeting.
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PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY IMAGE OF THE MONTH
The February 'Image of the month' is now available at the IAG's
Planetary Geomorphology web page
http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/feb10image.html
This month's topic is on "Wind abraded ventifacts on Mars and Earth"
Contributed by Julie Laity
Past images and captions are available at http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/
images/index.html
Mary Bourke
Coordinator of the IAG Working Group on Planetary Geomorphology
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PLANETARY RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT
Planetary Radio, a production of the non-profit Planetary Society is
available at
http://planetary.org/radio
It is available via podcast, direct download, 150 local stations,
and Sirius XM.
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MARS EXPLORATION PROGRAM ANALYSIS GROUP - NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE
On behalf of Jack Mustard, the MEPAG Chair, Dave Beaty, Rich Zurek,
and Charles Budney of the Mars Program Science Office, the February
2010 edition of the Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter can be
found on the web at
http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov
Joyce N. Pulliam
Mars Exploration Directorate
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
M/S: 301-340
(818) 393-0444
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MARS EXPRESS IONOSPHERIC DATA ARE AVAILABLE
The Mars Express project has recently made some new data products
publicly available.
Ionospheric total electron content data from the subsurface mode of
the MARSIS instrument.
ftp://psa.esac.esa.int/pub/mirror/MARS-EXPRESS/MARSIS/
Folders MEX-M-MARSIS-5-DDR-SS-TEC-EXT1-V1.0 and
MEX-M-MARSIS-5-DDR-SS-TEC-V1.0
A small selection of neutral temperature/pressure profiles and
ionospheric electron density profiles from the MaRS radio occultation
experiment.
ftp://psa.esac.esa.int/pub/mirror/MARS-EXPRESS/MRS/MEX-M-MRS-5-OCC-
9101-V2.0/
Acknowledgement and data use guidelines are given at:
http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=PSA&page=ftpAccess
Best wishes,
Paul Withers
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NLSI DIRECTOR'S SEMINAR SERIES
The NASA Lunar Science Institute's Director's Seminar Series is a
virtual seminar held the third Tuesday of every month. Lead lunar
scientists discuss the latest in lunar research. To learn more about
the seminar series or to be added to the seminar list, contact:
Delia.L.Santiago@nasa.gov
To learn more about the NASA Lunar Science Institute, visit
http://lunarscience.nasa.gov
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TENURE-TRACK RESEARCH POSITION - LOWELL OBSERVATORY
Lowell Observatory invites applications for one or more tenure-track
research positions in astronomy, astrophysics, or planetary science.
Over the next several years, Lowell expects to expand its scientific
and engineering staff to maximize the scientific potential of the
4.2-meter Discovery Channel Telescope. We seek individuals with
demonstrated records of research accomplishment and clear evidence or
potential for obtaining independent grant support. A Ph.D. in
astronomy, planetary science, or a closely related field is required.
All areas of astronomical and planetary research will be considered.
Individuals with background and interest in instrument development are
encouraged to apply. Applications from candidates at all career levels
will be considered. For more information about the DCT and Lowell
facilities, see
http://www.lowell.edu
To apply, send a curriculum vitae with biography, letter of application
outlining your research interests and plans, and the names and
addresses of three individuals who have agreed to serve as professional
references by email to:
humanresources@lowell.edu
or by direct mail to:
Human Resources
Lowell Observatory
1400 W. Mars Hill Rd.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001-4499
Closing date for applications is 15 March 2010.
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COMMISSIONING SCIENTIST FOR THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL TELESCOPE -
LOWELL OBSERVATORY
Lowell Observatory invites applications for a Commissioning Scientist
for the 4.2-meter Discovery Channel Telescope. Candidates should be
an active research astronomer with a PhD and a proven track record of
obtaining external funding, and with broad experience in the operation
of large telescopes and astronomical instrumentation. Working with
Lowell engineering and instrument staff, the Commissioning Scientist
will oversee the DCT commissioning process from first light to full
science operations, including setting priorities for integration and
commissioning of telescope pointing, open- and closed-loop performance
of the active optics system, telescope subsystems, and first light
instrumentation. For more information about the position and the DCT
and Lowell facilities, see
http://www.lowell.edu
To apply, send a curriculum vitae with biography, letter of application
outlining your research interests and plans, and the names and
addresses of three individuals who have agreed to serve as professional
references by email to:
humanresources@lowell.edu
or by direct mail to:
Human Resources
Lowell Observatory
1400 W. Mars Hill Rd.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001-4499
Closing date for applications is 31 March 2010.
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[NASA] PLANETARY SCIENCE SUBCOMMITTEE TELECON POWERPOINT SLIDES
AVAILABLE (FROM FEB. 3 MEETING)
The powerpoint presentations from the PSS telecon on February 3 are
now available at:
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/pss/
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VENUS LUNCH-TIME TOWN-HALL MEETING AT LPSC, MONDAY, MARCH 1ST
You're invited to participate in a Venus Town-Hall Meeting at LPSC on
Monday, March 1, 2010 between 11:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the
Montgomery Ballroom, Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention
Center, Woodlands, Texas. This will provide for an update on Venus
related inputs to the Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey, status of the
current Venus missions and upcoming events.
The next full-day VEXAG meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 2,
2010 at University of Wisconsin, Madison with an emphasis on
technologies and instrumentation needed for Venus exploration. This
VEXAG meeting will be held in conjunction with the VEXAG sponsored
"International Conference on Venus Our Closest Earth-like Planet: From
Surface to Thermosphere - How does it work?", at the University of
Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin on Monday-Wednesday - August 30 to
September 1, 2010. For further details and indicating an interest in
attending please visit the VEXAG website at
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/
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CASSINI SCIENTISTS PICK THE TOP HIGHLIGHTS OF 2009
From the view of the rings at equinox, to the first visible-light
images of the northern polar hexagon in almost thirty years, the
scientific bounty from the Cassini mission continues to grow.
1. Saturn's Rings at Equinox
2. Sea Glint from Titan's Kraken Mare
3. Discovery of Sodium in Enceladus E Ring
4. Saturn Auroral Science
5. Discovery of Ammonia from Enceladus
6. Hydrocarbon Rains over the South Polar Region of Titan
7. Shrinkage of Ontario Lacus on Titan
8. Modulation Periods of Saturn's Kilometric Radiation in the
Northern and Southern Hemispheres of Saturn
9. Thunderstorms on Saturn and Carbon Soot
10. Saturn's Northern Polar Hexagon in the Visible
See details at:
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/cassinifeatures/feature20100203
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PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS
June 28 - July 2, 2010
Electromagnetic and Light Scattering XII
http://www.helsinki.fi/els
Helsinki, Finland
July 31 - August 4, 2010
122nd Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
http://www.astrosociety.org/events/meeting.html
Boulder, CO
October 25-29, 2010
7th International Conference on the Inspiration of Astronomical
Phenomena
http://www.insapvii.org/
Bath, United Kingdom
[Editor Note: If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or
workshop that you think your colleagues should be aware of, please
send the date, title, URL and location to pen_editor at psi.edu.]
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