PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 9, Number 33 (August 16, 2015) 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. Memoriam: Ernst K. Zinner, 1937-2015 2. Re-Calibrated Elemental Composition Data from Curiosity/ChemCam 3. OPAG Meeting Coming Up 4. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 5. International Observe the Moon Night 2015 6. Lowell Observatory: Tenure-Track or Tenured Astronomer 7. 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 MEMORIAM: ERNST K. ZINNER, 1937-2015 Ernst K. Zinner, research professor in physics and earth and planetary sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, passed away on July 30, 2015 at the age of 78 years. He had been fighting for almost 20 years an unusually aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma called Mantle Cell Lymphoma. The full obituary can be found here: https://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/zinnerobit.aspx 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 RE-CALIBRATED ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION DATA FROM CURIOSITY/CHEMCAM ChemCam on Curiosity provides a large and varied geochemical dataset available for the planetary community that includes elemental compositions from more than 6,000 individual points on over 1,000 geological targets along the rover's traverse. The ChemCam team has recently completed a new calibration model that provides significantly more accurate results for the major element abundances. While the previous calibration model provided good results for fine-grained sedimentary targets near the average Mars composition, the new calibration increases the accuracy overall and provides significant improvements to mineral end-members, particularly silica-rich observations such as those of plagioclase. The re-calibrated ChemCam data are now available on the Planetary Data System server at: http://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/msl/msl-m-chemcam-libs-4_5-rdr-v1 /mslccm_1xxx/data/moc/ 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 OPAG MEETING COMING UP Our next OPAG meeting is fast approaching: 24-26 August at JHU/APL. The final agenda is posted on the OPAG homepage - please note that we have made some changes. In particular, our R&A town hall will start at 10 AM EDT rather than 9 AM on August 24. The meeting will now begin with our Science Nugget workshop. We have a new page on the OPAG website to post science nuggets. Collections of the Cassini nuggets for 2013 and 2014 are posted there. Registration is still open - the link is on the OPAG homepage: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/ This site includes all logistical information. Please go to the OPAG website and register to post on our OPAG discussion board. I'd like to use this to record ideas throughout the meeting. Go to the menu tab titled "OPAG Discussion Board." This will be a place for us all to post our thoughts and especially our vision for the future. Please use it to say what you think!! Right now the over-arching science themes part of our new science goals document is under construction - we are considering "Explore Ocean Worlds and Ice Giants." Sincerely, Candy Hansen OPAG Chair 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 POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) provides opportunities for scientists and engineers to conduct research largely of their own choosing, yet compatible with the research opportunities posted on the NPP Web site. Selected by a competitive peer-review process, NPP Fellows complete one- to three-year Fellowship appointments that advance NASA's missions in Earth science, heliophysics, astrophysics, planetary science, astrobiology, space bioscience, aeronautics and engineering, human exploration and operations, and space technology. An example of one of the research opportunities in planetary science is: https://apps.orau.gov/NPDoc/Catalog/17614 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. The latest NPP Newsletter: http://bit.ly/1UA7aHs For further information and to apply, visit: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm Questions: nasapostdoc@orau.org 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 INTERNATIONAL OBSERVE THE MOON NIGHT 2015 International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN) is an annual worldwide celebration of lunar science and exploration. One day each year, everyone on Earth is invited to unite and observe and learn about the Moon and its connection to planetary science, and share personal and community connections we all have to the Moon. InOMN 2015 is just over a month away: September 19, 2015. We invite you to be a part of it, by hosting or participating in an InOMN event. Check out the InOMN website for a map of registered events, to register a new event, and for InOMN resources, including a guide that walks you through planning an InOMN event of any size, advertising materials, suggested activities, and InOMN Moon map, evaluation materials, and more. http://observethemoonnight.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 LOWELL OBSERVATORY: TENURE-TRACK OR TENURED ASTRONOMER Lowell Observatory invites applications for one or more tenure-track or tenured research positions in astronomy or planetary science. We invite applicants at any career level who can build on current strengths or open new areas for Lowell. A Ph.D. in astronomy, planetary science, or a related field is required, as is an outstanding record of research and demonstrated ability or potential to obtain external research funding. Candidates are invited to describe how they would make use of our observational facilities, but we will give equal consideration to all research areas. The start date for this position is flexible but desired by Fall 2016. Additional position details can be found at: https://lowell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Tenure-track- Astronomer.pdf To apply: Send applications electronically to: humanresources@lowell.edu Applications should include: (1) a cover letter and CV, (2) a research plan of 3 pages or less, and (3) names and mail/email addresses of three individuals who have agreed to serve as references. Do not ask for reference letters to be sent in advance. Applications must be received by November 1, 2015 for full consideration. Lowell Observatory is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. 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 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html March 14-18, 2016 50th ESLAB Symposium "From Giotto to Rosetta" http://www.congrexprojects.com/2016-events/16a07 Leiden, The Netherlands [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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