PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 5, Number 42 (September 18, 2011) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Susan Benecchi Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Melissa Lane Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. ExoClimes 2012: The Diversity of Planetary Atmospheres 2. Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) Uranus Working Group 3. [NASA] PDS Releases EPOXI(DIXI) Mission Data 4. [NASA] PDS Releases Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Data Release 7 5. [NASA] PDS Releases More Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Data 6. [NASA] Concepts for the Next NASA X-ray Astronomy Mission 7. Postdoctoral Researcher in Petrology of Planetary Materials 8. Postdoctoral Researchers in Lunar Science 9. The NASA Postdoctoral Program 10. Student Travel Grants for GSA Meeting 11. Call for Proposals for the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) 12. 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 EXOCLIMES 2012: THE DIVERSITY OF PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES Jan 16-20, 2012 Aspen Center for Physics (Aspen, CO) exoclimes.org Exoplanetary atmospheres have recently become accessible to observations. What observations are possible in the foreseeable future? And how will they constrain the climate on other worlds? Our goal is to bring together Earth, Solar System and Exoplanet researchers to discuss a variety of aspects of climate science. Confirmed Speakers: Fran Bagenal (U of Colorado) - planetary magnetic fields Christiane Helling (St. Andrews) - atmospheric dust David Catling (U of Washington) - the history of Earth's atmosphere Adrian Lenardic (Rice U) - geodynamics Mark Marley (NASA Ames) - clouds John Marshall (MIT) - ocean dynamics Ray Pierrehumbert (U of Chicago) - climate system modeling Tapio Schneider (Caltech) - terrestrial planet atmospheric dynamics Adam Showman (U of Arizona) - giant planet atmospheric dynamics Remi Soummer (STScI) - direct imaging observations To register, please go to: https://db.aspenphys.org/fmi/iwp/cgi?-db=ACP&-loadframes For more in formation contact Nick Cowan: n-cowan@northwestern.edu 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 OUTER PLANETS ASSESSMENT GROUP (OPAG) URANUS WORKING GROUP We will be meeting October 17 and 18 in Pasadena, just prior to the full OPAG meeting. Please see: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/ for hotel and location information. Note that hotel reservations should be made as soon as possible to obtain the group rate. Our charter is to assess and coordinate Earth-based observing campaigns to best address Uranus science questions. Note that "Uranus science" includes all aspects of the uranian system, including the planet, rings, satellites, and magnetosphere. Purely theoretical efforts are relevant, as they guide or allow interpretation of observations. To receive e-mail announcements about the Uranus Working Group, or if you have any questions, please contact Mark.Hofstadter@jpl.nasa.gov 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 [NASA] PDS RELEASES EPOXI(DIXI) MISSION DATA The NASA Planetary Data System is pleased to announce release of the EPOXI mission data acquired during the comet 103P/Hartley 2 flyby (DIXI phase of the mission). The delivery includes raw and calibrated images and spectra from the High Resolution Instrument (HRI), images from the Medium-Resolution Instrument (MRI), and ancillary data. The data are available through the PDS Small Bodies Node. To see and download the data as well as mission and instrument information, go to: http://pdssbn.astro.umd.edu/data_sb/missions/epoxi/ 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 [NASA] PDS RELEASES LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER DATA RELEASE 7 The NASA Planetary Data System is pleased to announce a new delivery of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) data for the following instruments: CRaTER, DLRE, LAMP, LEND, LOLA and LROC. There are no Mini-RF data with this release. In general, LRO Release 7 includes data collected between March 15 and June 14, 2011. To access the above data, please visit the following link: http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-20110915.html PDS offers two services for searching the LRO archives: The Planetary Image Atlas at the Imaging Node allows selection of LRO data by specific search criteria. http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov/search/lro/ The Lunar Orbital Data Explorer at the Geosciences Node allows searching and downloading of LRO data and other lunar orbital data sets (Clementine and Lunar Prospector). http://ode.rsl.wustl.edu/moon/ LRO SPICE ancillary data may be obtained here: http://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/naif/data_archived.html 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 [NASA] PDS RELEASES MORE LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER DATA The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Release 7 for the Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) experiment. This release contains 1163 EDR and 1136 RDR Data Products with all images acquired from March 15, 2011 through June 14, 2011. Data volume for this release is approximately 324 GB. The released data can be found on the PDS Imaging Node website at URL: http://img.pds.nasa.gov/volumes/lro.html#LRO Data search and access tools are available thru the Imaging Node's Planetary Image Atlas, URL: http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov/search/ In addition, the above data may be accessed: http://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-20110915.shtml To access the latest PDS Data Releases, please visit: http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-Release.html 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 [NASA] CONCEPTS FOR THE NEXT NASA X-RAY ASTRONOMY MISSION Solicitation number: NNH11ZDA018L Release Date: September 13, 2011 Response Date: October 28, 2011 NASA is seeking information that can be used to develop concepts that meet some or all of the scientific objectives of the International X ray Observatory (IXO). Information being sought includes relevant mission concepts, instrument concepts, enabling technologies, or any aspect of flight, ground or launch systems architecture. Through this Request for Information (RFI), NASA is seeking information relevant to an X-ray astronomy mission concept or mission concepts that will satisfy some or all the scientific objectives listed in Table 1. The RFI also requests standalone instrument concepts as well as relevant key enabling technologies for such missions or instruments. Mission concepts should range in cost from ~ $300M to $2,000M in FY12 dollars. The full text of the Dear Colleague Letter is posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ select "Solicitations" then "Open Solicitations" then "NNH11ZDA018L" For further information, please contact: Jean Cottam, PCOS Chief Scientist jean.cottam@nasa.gov NASA HQ PCOS program officers: Jaya Bajpayee, PCOS Program Executive jaya.bajpayee-1@nasa.gov Rita Sambruna, PCOS Program Scientist rita.m.sambruna@nasa.gov PCOS Program Information: http://pcos.gsfc.nasa.gov/ [Edited for length.] 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 POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER IN PETROLOGY OF PLANETARY MATERIALS The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), part of the Universities Space Research Association, invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in the petrology of planetary materials. The successful candidate will work with Dr. Allan Treiman in NASA- funded efforts, focusing on planetary crusts and magmas, and their volatiles constituents; target materials include lunar highlands rocks, Martian meteorites, and terrestrial analogs. These efforts focus on planetary samples, starting with analyses by optical microscopy and electron microprobe; other instruments are available at nearby Johnson Space Center or with external collaborators. The candidate will be encouraged to design and conduct their own research in planetary science, propose for external funding, participate in grant review panels and analysis groups, and become involved with spacecraft missions. The successful candidate will have a recent Ph.D. in petrology or geochemistry; experience with planetary materials is helpful, but not required. The position would be for two years, with possible extension to a third year. Review of candidates will begin on November 15, 2011, with a hiring decision as soon as possible thereafter. Further information can be found on our website: http://www.lpi.usra.edu. The Universities Space Research Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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 POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS IN LUNAR SCIENCE The Universities Space Research Association's Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) invites applications for lunar science and exploration postdoctoral fellowships. Opportunities include: Lunar Surface Geology and Remote Sensing - Using new LRO data; integrating it with existing lunar data to evaluate processes associated with impact cratering and/or planetary differentiation. Experience with orbital remote sensing methods, photometry of lunar materials, and photogeology of lunar or lunar-like terrains preferred. Experimental and/or Analytical Petrology and Geochemistry - Using Apollo and lunar meteorite samples (or synthetic analogues) to evaluate processes associated with impact cratering and/or planetary differentiation. Experience with electron and ion microprobes, and/or LA-ICPMS techniques preferred. Modeling of Impact Cratering Processes - Using hydrocodes and relevant analytical techniques to evaluate different cratering processes on the Moon, to model specific crater or basin-forming events, and potentially guide future exploration scenarios. The successful candidate will be a member of the new LPI-JSC Center for Lunar Science and Exploration (http://www.lpi.usra.edu/nlsi/), one of the core teams within the NASA Lunar Science Institute. Further information, including submission requirements are found at: http://www.lpi.usra.edu Questions regarding science involved in the position, contact Dr. David Kring (kring@lpi.usra.edu). The Universities Space Research Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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 THE NASA POSTDOCTORAL PROGRAM The next deadline to apply for a NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) fellowship is November 1, 2011. These competitive one- to three-year appointments advance NASA's missions in space science, earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, lunar science, and astrobiology. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in hand before beginning the fellowship, but may apply while completing the degree requirements. U. S. citizens and foreign nationals who hold Lawful Permanent Resident status or who are eligible for J-1 status as a Research Scholar may apply. An H-1B Visa status is not acceptable because the NPP is not an employment program. Stipend rates for Postdoctoral Fellows start at $50,000 per year, with moderate supplements for high cost-of-living areas and for certain academic specialties. Funds are available for relocation expenses, up to a specified limit, and health insurance is available through the program. Fellows also receive $8,000 per appointment year to support travel to conferences, meetings, and other activities that directly support their research. Applications for the NASA Postdoctoral Program are accepted: March 1, July 1, and November 1. For further information and to apply online, visit: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm For questions regarding this opportunity e-mail nasapostdoc@orau.org 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS FOR GSA MEETING The Planetary Geology Division (PGD) of the Geological Society of America is offering two travel grants of $500 each to help defray costs for PGD student members who are traveling to the 2011 GSA Annual Meeting in Denver to present first-authored papers. Applicants for student travel awards must: - Be first author and presenter of a paper (or poster) - Be a Student Member of both GSA and the Planetary Geology Division. - Be registered for the meeting before applying for a travel grant. - Submit a completed Travel Grant Application, current CV, and a short justification (~300-500 words) for why travel funding is needed. If you are a co-convener of a session, also give that session's title. To join or to renew your membership see: http://www.geosociety.org/members/ To register see: http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2011/reg.htm A student may only receive one GSA travel grant per meeting. You will be notified of your application status in early October. Checks will be presented at the meeting, following your talk or poster. The application deadline has been extended to September 24th, 2011. The application form can be requested from, and submitted to Bob Anderson, robert.c.anderson@jpl.nasa.gov. For more info see: http://rock.geosociety.org/pgd/awards.html#_travel 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE NASA INFRARED TELESCOPE FACILITY (IRTF) Deadline: 03 October 2011 for the 2012A semester (Feb 1-July 31, 2012) 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) MIRSI, a 8 to 25 micron camera and low-resolution spectrometer (R=100 to 200). (4) NSFCAM2, a 2048x2048 pixel, 1-5 micron camera with a 0.04 "/pixel scale (82"x82" field-of-view) and a circular variable filter. (5) MORIS, a 512x512 pixel Andor CCD camera mounted at the side-facing, dichroic-fed window of the SpeX cryostat (60"x60" field-of-view); MORIS can be used simultaneously with SpeX. (6) PI-instruments including a low-resolution 3-14 micron spectrograph and high-resolution spectrographs for 8-25 microns. Remote observing is available with SpeX, NSFCAM2, CSHELL, MORIS and MIRSI. Information on available instruments can be found at: http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/Facility/ The online application form and information about instrumentation scheduling details can be found at: http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/observing/callForProposals.php Questions, please contact William Walters, walters@ifa.hawaii.edu [Edited for length.] 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS October 17-18, 2011 NASA Outer Planets Assessment Group Uranus Workshop http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/ Pasadena, CA October 19-20, 2011 NASA Outer Planets Assessment Group Meeting http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/ Pasadena, CA January 4-7, 2012 National Radio Science Meeting http://www.nrsmboulder.org/ Boulder, CO Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html [Editor Note: If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or workshop of which your colleagues should be aware, 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, or * send a request to pen_editor at psi.edu * * To unsubscribe, send an email to pen_editor at psi.edu * * 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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