PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Number 59 (December 6, 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. Planetary Geomorphology "Image of the Month" 2. Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter Available 3. New "Discoveries in Planetary Science" Classroom Powerpoints Available 4. The View from 5 AU: Measuring the Diffuse Sky Brightness from the Outer Solar System 5. 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 PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY "IMAGE OF THE MONTH" The December "Image of the month" is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/dec09image.html This month's topic is "Retrogressive Thaw Slumps on Mars and Earth", contributed by Colman Gallagher. 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 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 MARS EXPLORATION SCIENCE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE Dear Members of the Mars Community, On behalf of Jack Mustard (MEPAG Chair), Dave Beaty, Rich Zurek, and Charles Budney of the Mars Program Science Office, the December 2009 edition of the Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter is available at http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov Regards, Joyce Pulliam 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 NEW "DISCOVERIES IN PLANETARY SCIENCE" CLASSROOM POWERPOINTS AVAILABLE The DPS Education Subcommittee announces the 2nd release of "Discoveries in Planetary Science" Classroom Powerpoints, covering six new topics: - Discovery of a Rocky Exoplanet - Lunar Water - Jupiter Impact Event - Oceans on Enceladus - The TC3 Meteorite - 2012 Doomsday Rumors These are succinct summaries of discoveries too recent to appear in "Intro Astronomy" college textbooks; each set consists of just three slides to be shown: the discovery itself, a basic explanation based on good planetary science, and the "big picture" context. Another page for further information is provided as well. Powerpoints and PDFs can be downloaded from http://dps.aas.org/education/dpsdisc Feedback from the community on how these slide sets are used and received is welcomed, and will be used to improve future releases. Planetary scientists with recent or upcoming results of broad interest are encouraged to submit them for consideration by providing an initial draft using the template provided on the website. For more information, contact Nick Schneider and Dave Brain dpsdisc@aas.org 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 THE VIEW FROM 5 AU: MEASURING THE DIFFUSE SKY BRIGHTNESS FROM THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM March 25-26, 2010 Beckman Center, University of California, Irvine http://www.physics.uci.edu/5AU/ This is a focused workshop to establish the scientific case for conducting cruise-phase observations of the extragalactic background and for imaging the outer interplanetary dust cloud from the unique vantage point of the outer solar system as part of a future planetary mission. Topics will include: Extragalactic Background Galaxy Evolution Models Reionization Oort Cloud, Kuiper Belt and Trans Neptunian Objects Zodiacal Light Models Microlensing and similar applications The Search for Exoplanets Instrument Concepts Priority will be given for talks that can help establish the scientific case for observations from 5 AU, and central questions related to extragalactic science, planetary science, and instrumentation requirements given at the conference website. Posters are encouraged. Participants are invited to contribute to the final workshop summary report that will be delivered to NASA on the scientific need wand the basic outline of an instrument needed for sky brightness measurements from a future planetary mission. Attendance will be limited to approximately 70 participants. There is no registration fee. Registration deadline: January 15, 2010. 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 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS March 25-26, 2010 The View from 5 AU: Measuring the Diffuse Sky Brightness from the Outer Solar System http://www.physics.uci.edu/5AU/ Irvine, CA May 17-21, 2010 Magnetic Fields on Scales form Kiloparsecs to Kilometres: Properties and Origin http://www.oa.uj.edu.pl/mfpo2010/ Cracow, Poland August 23-27, 2010 Detection and Dynamics of Transiting Exoplanets http://www.obs-hp.fr/ohp2010/ Observatoire de Haute-Provence, 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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