PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 7, Number 3 (January 20, 2012) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Melissa Lane, Susan Benecchi Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Habitable Worlds Across Space and Time 2. AOGS 2013, Session PS07: Spectropolarimetric Exploration of Planetary Systems and Their Habitability 3. First COSPAR Symposium 4. Second Announcement - The Pluto System on the Eve of Exploration by New Horizons: Perspectives and Predictions 5. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 6. Reull Vallis, Mars, Imaged in 3D and Color by Mars Express HRSC 7. 5th Workshop on Hyperspectral Image and Signal Processing: Evolution in Remote Sensing (WHISPERS) 8. Planetary Astronomers - Note New Categories in Hubble Proposal Call 9. NASA Planetary Science Summer School Applications 10. Stardust Interstellar Dust Now Available 11. Announcement of 2nd International Opportunity for JAXA HAYABUSA Samples 12. The 2012 Draconid Storm Potentially Sampled by NASA ER-2 Aircraft 13. Heliophysics of Solar Systems: Summer School 14. Faculty Job in Planetary Physics and Astrophysics in Toronto 15. 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 HABITABLE WORLDS ACROSS SPACE AND TIME Second Announcement: The 2013 STScI Spring Symposium April 29 - May 2, 2013 Abstract submission deadline: March 15, 2013 On-line registration deadline: March 29, 2013 Within a matter of years, humanity will know for the first time the frequency of terrestrial planets in orbit around other stars. In this four-day symposium, scientists from diverse fields will discuss the formation and long-term evolution of terrestrial bodies throughout the various phases of stellar and Galactic evolution. A particular focus will be in how the specific conditions and challenges for habitability on Earth extend to other bodies in the Solar System and beyond. The existence of these overlooked environments may provide motivation for novel astronomical observations with existing and next generation ground and space-based observatories. Registration for this Symposium is now open and there are a limited number of spots. Please go to: http://www.stsci.edu/institute/conference/habitable-worlds and click on the "Register" link. We also invite contributions in the form of talks and posters, which can be submitted during the registration process or after one has registered. Only a small number of contributed talks are available. 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 AOGS 2013, SESSION PS07: SPECTROPOLARIMETRIC EXPLORATION OF PLANETARY SYSTEMS AND THEIR HABITABILITY Brisbane, Australia 24-28 June 2013 Abstract due: 29 Jan 2013 Spectro-polarimetry is becoming a valuable remote sensing tool to explore our solar system (including earth, planetary atmospheres, satellite, ring systems, comets, asteroids, trans-Neptunian objects, etc.) to understand its formation and evolution. With the increasing diversity of extrasolar planetary systems, it important to understand their formation and evolution and place our solar system in context. This session will include invited and contributed talks on: (i) application of the principles of polarization to remote sensing; and (ii) role of polarization as an independent and complementary remote sensing tool to imaging and spectroscopic techniques; (iii) laboratory measurements and modelling; (iv) instrumentation and missions and (v) astrobiology and habitability. We welcome both polarimetrists and non-polarimetrists (observers, theorists and experimentalists) that study planetary systems to identify the challenges and advances in this growing field. Conveners: Dr. Padma A. Yanamandra-Fisher (Space Science Institute, USA), padmayf@gmail.com Dr. Jeremy Bailey (UNSW, Australia) Dr. Motohide Tamura (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan), motohide.tamura@nao.ac.jp Dr. Sujan Sengupta (Indian Institute of Astrophysic, India) Dr. Ludmilla Kolokolova (University of Maryland, USA), ludmilla@astro.umd.edu Dr. Anny-Chantal Levasseur-Regourd (Univ. P and M Curie, France), chantal.levasseur@aerov.jussieu.fr 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 FIRST COSPAR SYMPOSIUM Bangkok, Thailand 11-15 November 2013 This Symposium is the first of a new series of events initiated by COSPAR which aims to promote space research at a regional level in emerging countries and will be held every two years in a different area of the world. The Symposium will include multidisciplinary and training sessions. This first Symposium will address the theme "Planetary Systems of our Sun and other Stars, and the Future of Space Astronomy". It is open to participants from all regions, but scientists, young professionals and students in the Asian region are particularly encouraged to participate. The Symposium will feature plenary lectures as well as parallel and poster sessions. A Capacity Building Workshop entitled "Atmospheric Correction of Earth Observation Data for Environmental Monitoring: Theory and Best Practices" will also take place in Bangkok at GISTDA the week before the Symposium from 4 to 8 November 2013 for which participants from the Asian region will be selected by application. For additional information, the detailed program, abstract submission, deadlines and registration: http://www.cospar2013.gistda.or.th cospar2013@gistda.or.th 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 SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT - THE PLUTO SYSTEM ON THE EVE OF EXPLORATION BY NEW HORIZONS: PERSPECTIVES AND PREDICTIONS In July 2015, NASA's New Horizons mission will conduct the first in-situ exploration of the Pluto system in the Kuiper Belt. This scientific conference will take stock of our current knowledge of the Pluto system in advance of the New Horizons flyby, and introduce potential new mission collaborators and those interested in participating in NASA/SMD Pluto system data analysis programs to the details of the scientific investigations planned during the 6-month New Horizons encounter. Both registration and abstract submission are now open for the Pluto-2013 conference at: http://plutoscience.jhuapl.edu Abstracts are solicited on all facets of the Pluto system-including origins, interiors, surfaces, compositions, atmospheres, satellites, plasma, and context in the Kuiper Belt. Meeting Dates: July 22-26 Abstract Deadline: April 15 Early Bird Registration Deadline: May 31 Reception: July 21 The meeting is being held at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, USA. Special issues of both Icarus and JGR-Planets are planned to publish new results and prediction papers in 2014. Join us for this landmark meeting! Alan Stern (Program Committee Chair) Hal Weaver (Local Organizing Committee Chair) [Edited for length.] 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 POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers scientists and engineers unique opportunities to conduct research at NASA Centers. Each NPP fellowship opportunity is designed to advance NASA research in a specific project related to space science, earth science, aeronautics, exploration systems, lunar science, astrobiology, or astrophysics. 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, Lawful Permanent Residents, and foreign nationals eligible for J-1 status as a Research Scholar may apply. Stipends start at $53,500 per year, with supplements for high cost-of-living areas and for certain academic specialties. Financial assistance is available for relocation and health insurance, and $8,000 per year is provided for professional travel. Applications are accepted three times each year: March 1, July 1, and November 1. For further information and to apply, visit: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm Questions may be submitted by e-mail to nasapostdoc@orau.org 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 REULL VALLIS, MARS, IMAGED IN 3D AND COLOR BY MARS EXPRESS HRSC ESA's Mars Express imaged the striking upper part of the Reull Vallis region of Mars with its high-resolution stereo camera in 2012. More at: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Reull_Vallis_a_river _ran_through_it 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 5TH WORKSHOP ON HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGE AND SIGNAL PROCESSING: EVOLUTION IN REMOTE SENSING (WHISPERS) June 25-28, 2013 University of Florida Gainesville, Florida We invite the planetary science community to join colleagues from the terrestrial remote sensing and signal processing communities. This year, we are proposing a special session devoted to techniques in planetary image processing with a data users workshop. The deadline for papers is soon (February 15). These are 4-pages, peer-reviewed prior to acceptance, and published in IEEE Transactions. It is the perfect venue for technically-focused advances. We hope you can join us in Florida. Please contact sylvain.doute@obs.ujf-grenoble.fr or ehlmann@caltech.edu for more information. http://core.ieee-whispers.com/index.php?option=com_content&view =article&id=211&Itemid=55 Imaging spectroscopy in the visible and infrared is a key remote sensing technique for exploring planetary objects in the Solar System. Since 1989, imaging spectrometers have operated at the Moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, asteroids, and outer planet satellites. Continuing technological advances have generated improvements in dimensionality and precision. This special session welcomes all contributions that represent the state-of-the-art in hyperspectral imaging for planetary exploration: sensors (design, calibration), image processing (artifact reduction, atmospheric correction), photometry, physical modeling, spectral unmixing and endmember extraction, and applications (minerals, ices, aerosols, regolith properties, etc.). [Edited for length.] 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 PLANETARY ASTRONOMERS - NOTE NEW CATEGORIES IN HUBBLE PROPOSAL CALL NASA and STScI are pleased to announce the Cycle 21 Call for Proposals for Hubble Space Telescope Observations and funding for Archival Research and Theoretical Research programs. Solar System astronomers may be interested to learn that Cycle 21 features a new category of medium proposals (35-74 orbits), and the threshold for Large programs has been dropped to >75 orbits. Over the past 20 cycles, Solar System science has been allocated ~5% of the total observing time, or over 3200 orbits. However, only one large GO proposal for Solar System observations has been submitted since Servicing Mission 4; that proposal was awarded time in Cycle 17 (GO 11644). The planetary community is encouraged to take advantage of the new opportunities. Further information about the Hubble Cycle 21 call is available electronically from the STScI Announcement Web Page: http://www.stsci.edu/hst/proposing/docs/cycle21announce More information specifically for Solar System astronomers interested in Hubble can be found at in a presentation by John Clarke: http://www.stsci.edu/jwst/science/dps12-clarke-hst-go.pdf Questions can be addressed to the STScI Help Desk at: help@stsci.edu 410-338-1082 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 NASA PLANETARY SCIENCE SUMMER SCHOOL APPLICATIONS NASA is accepting applications from science and engineering post-docs, recent PhDs, and doctoral students for its 25th Annual Planetary Science Summer School, which will hold two separate sessions this summer (July 29-August 2 and August 12-16) 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 5, 2013. Partial financial support is available for a limited number of individuals. Further information is available at: http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 STARDUST INTERSTELLAR DUST NOW AVAILABLE The Stardust Curator announces the availability of samples from the Stardust Interstellar Dust Collector for general allocation to qualified Stardust Investigators. Samples from both the aerogel and aluminum foil collectors are available. Because these samples present unprecedented challenges in sample preparation and analysis, it is recommended that investigators thoroughly familiarize themselves with the collection before submitting a sample request. Preprints of the reports of the Stardust Interstellar Preliminary Examination (ISPE), currently in review at MAPS, are available to qualified Stardust Investigators on request from the Curator. Because interstellar dust particles in the collection appear to be extremely rare, extensive and rigorous demonstration of techniques using analogs will be a prerequisite for analyses of interstellar dust candidates. Sample requests, following the format outlined on the Stardust Curatorial website, may be submitted to: Mike Zolensky, Stardust Curator michael.e.zolensky@nasa.gov +1-281-483-5128 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 ANNOUNCEMENT OF 2ND INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR JAXA HAYABUSA SAMPLES JAXA has announced that they are now accepting proposals for HAYABUSA samples. The proposed investigation must address science questions that can be answered by analyzing the particles obtained from the surface of asteroid Itokawa. Participation is open to all researchers who have demonstrated the ability to usefully handle and analyze 20 to 50 micrometer diameter particles. This 2nd International AO follows the Initial Analysis performed by preselected teams (partial results of which were published in Science magazine in August 2011) and the 1st International AO issued in January 2012. All proposals will be subjected to peer review handled by the Implementation Committee for the 2nd HAYABUSA AO. See the HAYABUSA Investigators Guidebook for more information. Proposals are due by 9 March 2013, 1500UT (2400JST:Japan Standard Time). Please see this website for complete information: http://hayabusaao.isas.jaxa.jp/ 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 THE 2012 DRACONID STORM POTENTIALLY SAMPLED BY NASA ER-2 AIRCRAFT NASA JSC's Cosmic Dust Collection Program has made special attempts to collect dust from particular meteor showers and asteroid families when flights can be planned well in advance, and very occasionally on short notice. Radar measurements obtained by the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar during the 2012 Draconid shower indicated a meteor storm occurred with a peak at Lo = 195.622 or 16:38 (±5 min) UT on Oct 8, 2012, of total duration ~2 hours (thank you Peter Brown). Draconids, originating from comet Giacobini-Zinner, have one of the slowest atmospheric entry velocities (23 km/s), and thus offer significant possibilities of successful dust capture in the stratosphere. Large and small area cosmic dust collectors (LACs and SACs) L2094, L2095, L2096, L2097, U2153 and U2154, were flown from October 15th to 17th, 2012 on NASA ER2 aircraft. Flight time accumulated by date was: Oct 15th - 7.8hrs, Oct 16th - 7.3hrs, Oct 17th - 8.1hrs. All collectors were received at JSC in late October 2012, particles are now being removed, and a subset is receiving routine preliminary characterization. These samples will be available for allocation to qualified investigators. More information go to: http://curator.jsc.nasa.gov/dust/index.cfm [Edited for length.] 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 HELIOPHYSICS OF SOLAR SYSTEMS: SUMMER SCHOOL 12-19 July 2013 Boulder, CO Deadline: 1 March We seek students and undergraduate level teachers for a unique professional experience. All will learn about the exciting science of heliophysics that reaches from the Earth's troposphere to the depths of the Sun, and from the formation of the solar system to the distant future. A goal of the Summer School is for the group of teachers to develop materials from the course that can be applied in undergraduate classes. Go to: http://www.vsp.ucar.edu/Heliophysics/ Student Application Requirements: * Currently enrolled as a graduate student, or first/second year as postdoc. * Major in physics with an emphasis on astrophysics, geophysics, plasma physics, and space physics, or experienced in at least one of these areas. * Pursuing a career in heliophysics or astrophysics. Teacher Application Requirements: * At least three years of teaching experience. (Already having a connection with heliophysics is not a requirement.) * Currently teaching physics (preferably electricity & magnetism), astronomy/planetary science, or Earth sciences at undergraduate level. * Willingness to provide feedback on lectures and supporting materials. Fran Bagenal, University of Colorado Jan Sojka, Utah State University Karel Schrijver, Lockheed Martin 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 FACULTY JOB IN PLANETARY PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS IN TORONTO The University of Toronto - Scarborough is looking to fill a faculty position in an effort to grow Planetary Physics & Astrophysics in Toronto. Applicants working in all areas of planetary astrophysics will be considered and are encouraged to apply, to the extent that their research connects to planetary materials, interpreted in a broad sense, as described in the job description below. The successful candidate will be joining a growing faculty group in Planetary Physics & Astrophysics at Toronto-Scarborough, including P. Artymowicz, J. Lowman, D. Valencia and (pending various approvals) K. Menou. In addition, the successful candidate, like the other faculty members listed above, will be cross-appointed at the graduate level with a relevant department at the University of Toronto (downtown campus), where he/she will join other faculty members working in Planetary Physics & Astrophysics, including J.Graham, R. Jayawardhana, N. Murray, S. Stanley, Y. Wu, and others. The deadline for applications is January 31st. Details can be found at: http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~physsci/docs/Physics%20ad%20planetary% 20materials%20confirmed%20ad.pdf For more information contact: D. Valencia (dianav@mit.edu) or K. Menou (kristen@astro.columbia.edu) 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17 18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18 19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19 20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html June 24-28, 2013 10th Annual Meeting of the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) http://www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2013/public.asp?page=home.htm Brisbane, Australia June 25-28, 2013 5th Workshop on Hyperspectral Image and Signal Processing: Evolution in Remote Sensing http://www.ieee-whispers.com/ Gainesville, FL November 4-8, 2013 Second Kepler Science Conference http://kepler.arc.nasa.gov/Science/keplerconference Moffett Field, CA November 11-15, 2013 First COSPAR Symposium - Planetary Systems of our Sun and other Stars, and the Future of Space Astronomy http://www.cospar2013.gistda.or.th Bangkok, Thailand September 10-12, 2014 Planet Formation and Evolution 2014 http://www1.astrophysik.uni-kiel.de/~kiel2014/main/ Kiel, Germany [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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