PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Number 44 (September 20, 2009) 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. Small Missions to the Moon - First Joint USA/UK/Canada Workshop on Lunar Science and Engineering 2. [NASA] Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity Notice (SALMON) - Proposal Due Date Change 3. Northern Arizona University Department of Physics and Astronomy Postdoctoral Opportunity 4. Workshop on Observations of Vesta and Ceres Enhancing Scientific Return from NASA's Dawn Mission 5. Workshop at DPS - Women in Astronomy: Professional Development 6. Venus Exploration and Analysis Group (VEXAG) Meeting - Update at DPS 7. Venus Exploration and Analysis Group (VEXAG) Meeting #7 8. UCF Winter School 2010: Exoplanets for Planetary Scientists 9. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions o---------------------------------------------------------------------o 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 SMALL MISSIONS TO THE MOON - FIRST JOINT USA/UK/CANADA WORKSHOP ON LUNAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING September 21-22, 2009 Toronto, Canada This workshop will be to debate, discuss and plan science and engineering priorities in support of USA/UK/Canada joint small missions to the moon proposed by scientists from the three countries. PIs from University of Hawaii, University of Surrey and York University formed and organized a mission white paper that identifies high-level science issues, mission priorities and engineering challenges for small missions to the moon. The first workshop will help with the next task of prioritizing the science issues and refining the mission overview and system design. The science and engineering linkage between Moon and Mars will also be debated and discussed. The workshop will commence with three presentations on the white paper mentioned above, followed by several long question and discussion periods. Details about the workshop can be found at: http://www.yorku.ca/esse Prof. Yunlong Lin yunlong@yorku.ca 416-736-5731 [Editor's Note: text has been reduced for length] 2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2 [NASA] STAND ALONE MISSIONS OF OPPORTUNITY NOTICE (SALMON) - PROPOSAL DUE DATE CHANGE NASA Announcement of Opportunity NNH08ZDA009O, "Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity Notice (SALMON)," is amended to establish a new proposal due date for proposals submitted in response to Program Element Appendix (PEA) H3: Small Complete Missions of Opportunity in Astrobiology and Fundamental Space Biology. This PEA has been extensively modified from the previously released version and the new version replaces the old version in its entirety. On or about September 30, 2009, Amendment No. 3 to the NASA Announcement of Opportunity "Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity Notice (SALMON)" (NNH08ZDA009O) will be posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ Sselect "Solicitations" then "Open Solicitations" then "NNH08ZDA009O". Technical or scientific questions concerning Small Complete Missions in Astrobiology may be addressed to Dr. Catharine A. Conley Planetary Science Division Science Mission Directorate NASA Headquarters Washington, DC 20546-0001 202-358-3912 Cassie.Conley@nasa.gov Technical or scientific questions concerning Small Complete Missions in Fundamental Space Biology may be addressed to Dr. David L. Tomko Advanced Capabilities Division Exploration Systems Mission Directorate NASA Headquarters Washington, DC 20546-0001 202-358-2211 dtomko@nasa.gov [Editor's Note: text has been reduced for length] 3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3 NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY POSTDOCTORAL OPPORTUNITY The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Northern Arizona University (NAU) seeks an outstanding postdoctoral scholar to work with Professor David Trilling in studies of small bodies in the Solar System (in particular of the Kuiper Belt.) Candidates should have a Ph.D. in astronomy, physics, planetary science, or related field. Desired skills include familiarity with optical and/or infrared observations, large observational datasets, and/or the Kuiper Belt and Kuiper Belt Objects. The successful candidate will work on projects with Professor Trilling and will also lead independent research projects. NAU has full competitive access to all University of Arizona Observatories facilities, including the 6.5-meter MMT and Magellan telescopes, the 2x8.4-meter LBT telescopes, and numerous smaller telescopes. The appointment is expected to be two years with a third year possible. NAU offers an excellent benefits package to postdoctoral scholars. Flagstaff is a beautiful town of 60,000 people nestled at the base of the San Francisco Peaks in northern Arizona and features four seasons of outdoor activities. The Department of Physics and Astronomy is a small, friendly group. To apply, please visit the NAU HR web page http://hr.nau.edu/m/content/view/797/550/ and search for position #558129. [Editor's Note: text has been reduced for length] 4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4 WORKSHOP ON OBSERVATIONS OF VESTA AND CERES ENHANCING SCIENTIFIC RETURN FROM NASA'S DAWN MISSION http://www.astro.umd.edu/~mcfadden/DPS09_Vesta_Ceres_Wrkshp/ WHEN: OCT 4 2009 9AM - 5PM WHERE: AAS-DPS meeting El Conquistador Hotel Fajardo, Puerto Rico Room: Palmas AB PURPOSE: Plan telescopic observations supporting 2011-2012 orbit of Vesta and Ceres in 2015. Mission briefing appropriate for those interested in proposing for Dawn Participating Scientist Opportunity. Please notify Lucy McFadden if you will attend; space is limited. Lucy McFadden mcfadden@astro.umd.edu 5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5 WORKSHOP AT DPS - WOMEN IN ASTRONOMY: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT October 7, 2009 Wednesday, **** 12:30-2:00 PM **** Room: Culebra The purpose of this workshop is to solicit ideas and information from the community in preparation for a proposal to the DPS Committee for the Formation of a Professional Development. Such a committee might tackle topics like applying for postdocs, tenure-track jobs, how to give talks, write proposals, etc. The workshop program will include a review of online resources for professional development and a brain storming session regarding the needs of the community. All are welcome, but pre-registration is required for this event due to space limitations. Lunch will be provided. Please contact Dr. Rachel Mastrapa to pre-register. Rachel.M.Mastrapa@nasa.gov 6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6 VENUS EXPLORATION AND ANALYSIS GROUP (VEXAG) MEETING - UPDATE AT DPS You're invited to participate in a VEXAG update, which will be held at 4:00-6:00 PM on Sunday, October 4th in Las Croabas A room at the DPS Meeting (El Conquistador Hotel, Fajardo, Puerto Rico). This will provide a discussion of VEXAG inputs, including white papers, to the Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey, and other upcoming events. Tommy Thompson, Sue Smearkar, Sanjay Limaye 7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7 VENUS EXPLORATION AND ANALYSIS GROUP (VEXAG) MEETING #7 October 28-29, 2009 Irvine, California Venus Exploration and Analysis Group (VEXAG) meeting #7 will be mid-day, Wednesday, October 28th, through Thursday, October 29th, at the Marriott Irvine, 18000 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, California, 92612. A block of rooms will be available from Tuesday through Thursday nights under the block code VEXAG. This VEXAG Meeting follows the second Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey Inner Planets Panel meeting, which will be in Irvine on Monday mid-day to Wednesday mid-day. The theme for this VEXAG meeting will be discussion of future missions to Venus being proposed or conceived as well as some discussion of the Venus White papers which have been submitted for the Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey. Student participation is encouraged. For further details and RSVPing, please visit the VEXAG website http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/ Tommy Thompson, Sue Smearkar, Sanjay Limaye 8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA CAMPUS WINTER SCHOOL 2010: EXOPLANETS FOR PLANETARY SCIENTISTS 6-8 January 2010 Orlando, Florida, USA This warm winter workshop will bring together experts in exoplanet observation and planetary theory, delivering both the latest research results and school-style talks on applying planetary science to exoplanetary problems. Registration and abstract submission are now open and the website contains information about lodging, transportation, travel grants for students, and who is going. Please see http://planets.ucf.edu/winterschool2010 We hope you will join us! Prof. Joseph Harrington Program Chair Dr. Csaba Palotai Local Arrangements Chair and the UCF Planetary Sciences Group Department of Physics University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida 32816-2385 USA 9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS September 21-22, 2009 Small Missions to the Moon - First Joint USA/UK/Canada Workshop on Lunar Science and Engineering http://www.yorku.ca/esse Toronto, Canada October 12-16, 2009 Detectors for Astronomy http://www.eso.org/sci/meetings/dfa2009/index.html Garching, Germany October 28-29, 2009 Venus Exploration and Analysis Group (VEXAG) Meeting #7 http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/ Irvine, CA December 5-15, 2009 Workshop on Asteroid 2008 TC3 http://asima.seti.org/2008TC3/workshop2008TC3.html Khartoum, Sudan April 13-16, 2010 JWST and the ELTs: An Ideal Combination http://www.eso.org/sci/meetings/jwstelt2010/ Garching, Germany April 17-28, 2010 High Spatial Resolution in Astronomy: the VLTI Training School http://www.european-interferometry.eu/training/2010 Porquerolles Island, France April 26 - May 1, 2010 17th Young Scientists' Conference on Astronomy and Space Physics http://ysc.kiev.ua/ Kyiv, Ukraine May 24-28, 2010 Meteoroids 2010 - An International Conference on Minor Bodies in the Solar System http://www.cora.nwra.com/Meteoroids2010/ Breckenridge, CO September 20-22, 2010 Journees 2010 - Systemes de reference spatio-temporels:New Challenges for Reference Systems and Numerical Standards in Astronomy http://syrte.obspm.fr/journees2010/ Paris, France [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.] *********************************************************************** * * The Planetary Exploration Newsletter is issued approximately weekly. * Current and back issues are available at * * http://planetarynews.org * * To subscribe, go to http://planetarynews.org/pen_subscribe.html * * To unsubscribe, go to http://planetarynews.org/pen_unsubscribe.html * * Please send all replies and submissions to pen_editor at psi.edu. * Announcements and other messages should be brief with links to URLs * for extended information, including detailed descriptions for job * announcements. 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