PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 9, Number 42 (October 18, 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. Lowell Observatory: Tenure-Track or Tenured Astronomer 2. [NASA] PDS - Odyssey Data Release 53, Part 2 3. [NASA] SBAG 14 Meeting Announcements 4. [NASA] Three-Day Training Course on Planetary Protection 5. Open Source Release of the VICAR Image Processing System 6. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 7. Planetary Science Nuggets Website 8. NAIF Job Opening 9. Two Assistant Professors in Astronomy, University of Connecticut 10. [NASA] PDS - Dawn Ceres Initial Data Release 11. 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 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. 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] PDS - ODYSSEY DATA RELEASE 52, PART 2 The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce the completion of Odyssey Data, Release 53, following the delivery of NS and HEND data from the instrument: GRS The gamma sensor component no longer returns data. To access the above data, please visit the following link: http://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-20151012.shtml To access the latest PDS Data Releases, please visit the following link: http://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-Release.shtml All available PDS data may be found at: http://pds.nasa.gov/tools/data-search/ For further information, see the PDS Home Page: http://pds.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] SBAG 14 MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS The SBAG 14 meeting is scheduled for January 27-29, 2016, in Monrovia, CA. Logistical details are being finalized for the venue and hotel arrangements. However, the SBAG 14 meeting is in the NASA Conference Tracking System and available for sign up. ** If you typically use the NASA Conference Tracking System for your travel, or have a different travel authorization processes for your institution, please follow those usual procedures. ** 1) Draft Agenda A draft agenda for the SBAG 14 meeting is now posted online. 2) Early Career Travel Support The deadline is October 21, 2015. See this page for more details and please pass this opportunity on to appropriate individuals: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/meetings/ Nancy Chabot SBAG Chair Nancy.Chabot@jhuapl.edu 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] THREE-DAY TRAINING COURSE ON PLANETARY PROTECTION Course: "Planetary Protection: Policies and Practices" Dates: February 2-4, 2016 Location: Kennedy Space Center, Florida We cordially invite all interested parties to participate in the upcoming course on Planetary Protection Policies and Practices, which is designed to familiarize current and future practitioners with NASA, ESA, and COSPAR planetary protection programs. The course provides an overview of applicable policies, practices and procedures necessary to implement a successful planetary protection program, emphasizing integration of managerial, administrative, and laboratory activities. It is supported by the NASA Planetary Protection Officer. Go to: http://planetaryprotection.nasa.gov/course Enrollment: 14 participants Application: contact tasalb@msn.com 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 OPEN SOURCE RELEASE OF THE VICAR IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM The VICAR image processing system is now available in Open Source form: http://www-mipl.jpl.nasa.gov/vicar_open.html VICAR is an image processing system developed and used by the Multimission Image Processing Lab at JPL. With origins in 1966, it is quite possibly the oldest continuously used image processing system in the world. VICAR was developed for use with JPL's planetary missions, from Surveyor up to the present day. The majority of JPL's planetary missions that have cameras use VICAR in some way, up to and including the current Mars landers/rovers (MER, MSL, InSight, Mars 2020). The VICAR format is compatible with both PDS 3 and PDS 4. Many missions have supplied data to PDS 3 in VICAR format, with detached or attached PDS labels: MSL, MER, Phoenix, Cassini, Galileo, Voyager, Magellan, MEX (HRSC), and many older missions. InSight and Mars 2020 will supply VICAR images with detached labels to PDS 4. Questions: vicar_help@jpl.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 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/18314 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 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 SCIENCE NUGGETS WEBSITE We want to bring your attention to a new website where you can find the collection of NASA SMD Planetary Science Nuggets for 2015 and 2014: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/nuggets/ Planetary Science Nuggets are PowerPoint slides that have been provided to NASA's SMD Planetary Science Division by members of the scientific community to highlight important science results or mission activities. A subset of these submissions are selected by the Planetary Science Division to be presented to SMD leadership and potentially NASA leadership, OSTP, and the White House. The collection on this website represents those selected nuggets and will be updated as new nuggets are accepted. On the website, you will also find a Powerpoint Presentation by Jim Green on how to prepare nuggets: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/meetings/aug2015/presentations /day-1/2_green.pdf Green encourages anyone in the planetary science community to submit nuggets. The nugget coordinator at JPL is Lindsay Hays (Lindsay.E.Hays@jpl.nasa.gov); mission nuggets should be communicated through the mission program scientist; and R&A science nuggets should be communicated through the Headquarters program scientist who funded the work. 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 NAIF JOB OPENING NASA's Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility (NAIF) is contemplating hiring a permanent, full-time staff member to work on the full spectrum of tasks associated with the "SPICE" observation geometry system that supports planetary missions. To find out more about NAIF, SPICE and the possible new position, go to: http://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/naif/possiblenewhire.pdf 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 TWO ASSISTANT PROFESSORS IN ASTRONOMY, UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT The Department of Physics at the University of Connecticut invites applications for two full-time tenure-track faculty positions in astronomy at the rank of Assistant Professor. Researchers in all subfields of astronomy are encouraged to apply, especially those applicants whose research programs take advantage of new resources and facilities such as LSST, JWST, Gemini, and ALMA. Go to: http://www.phys.uconn.edu/ 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 [NASA] PDS - DAWN CERES INITIAL DATA RELEASE The NASA Planetary Data System is pleased to announce the availability of Dawn Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (VIR) and Framing Camera 2 (FC2) data from the Approach and RC3 phases of the Ceres encounter, along with some data from the Survey phase. The data sets now available include: - VIR VIS and IR raw (L1a) data from Ceres Approach and RC3 - VIR VIS and IR calibrated (L1b) data from Ceres Approach and RC3 - VIR VIS raw (L1a) data from Ceres Survey - FC2 raw (L1a) data from Ceres Approach and RC3 - FC2 updated calibration volume including calibration files from Vesta-Ceres cruise These data sets have been certified and released with minor liens as of Oct. 16, 2015. To access these data sets, use the following links. VIR Ceres data: http://sbn.psi.edu/pds/resource/dwncvir.html FC2 Ceres data: http://sbn.psi.edu/pds/resource/dwncfc2.html 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS February 22-25, 2016 2016 Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS-2016) http://anstd.ans.org/nets-2016/ Huntsville, AL [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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