PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 10, Number 11 (March 6, 2016) 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. Workshop: Dust, Atmosphere and Plasma Environment of the Moon and Small Bodies (DAP-2017) 2. Open Planetary Astronomy Position 3. Linking Exoplanet and Disk Compositions 4. [NASA] PDS - GRAIL Release 6 5. Planetary Geomorphology 'Image of the Month' 6. LPSC - RPS Peripheral Session 7. Travel Grant Announcement 8. [NASA] PDS - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Data Release 36 9. Observation Campaign of KBO Target for Proposed New Horizons Flyby 10. Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter: March 2016 11. [NASA] ROSES-2016 Planetary Science Program Overview Clarified 12. Comets 2016 - First Announcement 13. LPSC: MarsSI User Workshop 14. 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 WORKSHOP: DUST, ATMOSPHERE AND PLASMA ENVIRONMENT OF THE MOON AND SMALL BODIES (DAP-2017) The Dust, Atmosphere and Plasma environment of the Moon and Small Bodies (DAP-2017) workshop will be held Jan 11-13, 2017 in Boulder, Colorado, to discuss our current understanding of the surface environment of the Moon, the moons of Mars: Phobos and Deimos, and asteroids, to share new results from past and ongoing missions, and to describe expectations for planned upcoming missions. The workshop will be focused on the open science questions, the status and future of our supporting modeling and laboratory experimental capabilities, the definition of the required measurements and instrument capabilities for future investigations from orbit, or to be deployed on the surface. More information is available at: http://impact.colorado.edu/dap_meeting.html as is a form to express your interest and to join the workshop mailing list. 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 OPEN PLANETARY ASTRONOMY POSITION The Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology invites applicants for a tenure track assistant professor position in the Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory (DIRS). We are seeking candidates whose research expertise and knowledge in the remote sensing field will complement the existing and well-established expertise within DIRS in passive and active electro-optical systems, data exploitation, modeling and simulation, and environmental applications. Areas of complementary expertise of interest include, but are not limited to, unmanned aerial systems, synthetic aperture radar, and deep learning. Individuals working in the field of planetary remote sensing will be considered. The successful candidate will be expected to advise graduate students, teach graduate level remote sensing courses and undergraduate courses relevant to imaging science, and develop an externally funded research program. More information on the activities of the DIRS group can be found at: http://www.cis.rit.edu/remote-sensing/about Apply online at: http://careers.rit.edu/faculty Go to Search openings link then use Keyword 2245BR. Contact the search committee with questions on the position at vodacek@cis.rit.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable candidate is found. RIT does not discriminate. 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 LINKING EXOPLANET AND DISK COMPOSITIONS Workshop at the Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore MD, USA Dates: September 12-14, 2016 This workshop will gather scientists working on the compositional characterization of planets and planet-forming regions in protoplanetary disks. Recent and upcoming advancements make it timely to have a round-table conversation among the communities involved, to join forces in tackling our most compelling questions on the origins of exoplanet diversity. Do exoplanet compositions retain the imprint of large-scale disk processes? Do disks include compositional trends that imprint planets? What do we learn in this context from observations of Solar System bodies? And what can we test with observations of disks and exoplanets in the near future? We intend to identify long-lasting and observable links between exoplanet and disk compositions, to help the community in shaping ongoing modeling efforts as well as the essential parameter space to cover with existing and upcoming observatories for exoplanet and disk characterization. Abstract submission will begin on March 26, 2016 through the link provided below: http://www.cvent.com/d/ffqwn1 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 - GRAIL RELEASE 6 The Planetary Data System announces the release of a new degree and order 1500 lunar spherical harmonic gravitational field model, GL1500E, which includes data from the GRAIL primary and extended missions. The data may be accessed here: http://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/grail/ For information about this release, please visit: http://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-20160229.shtml To access the latest PDS Data Releases, please visit: http://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-Release.shtml All available PDS data may be downloaded from: http://pds.nasa.gov The PDS Team pds_operator@jpl.nasa.gov (818)393-7165 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 GEOMORPHOLOGY 'IMAGE OF THE MONTH' The March 'Image of the Month' is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page: http://planetarygeomorphology.wordpress.com/ This month's topic is "An esker still physically associated with its parent glacier in Phlegra Montes, Mars". Contributed by Colman Gallagher, University College Dublin. Remember you can now follow IAG Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/PlanetaryGeomorphology or Twitter @PlanetGeomorpho Susan Conway (Chair, IAG Planetary Geomorphology working group) 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 LPSC - RPS PERIPHERAL SESSION LPSC Community Dialogue: Usage of Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (MMRTGs) for Future Potential Missions Wednesday, March 23, 12:00 to 1:15 p.m., LPSC, Grogan's Mill This Radioisotope Power System (RPS) peripheral session will provide an overview of the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) system being offered within the New Frontiers-4 Announcement of Opportunity, as well as discuss how to obtain additional information necessary for detailed mission planning. Both DOE and NASA RPS representatives will share information and engage in dialog. For more information, visit: http://RPS.nasa.gov or the RPS booth at LPSC. 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 TRAVEL GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT The Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Fund is pleased to announce the first 2016 Travel Grant application opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in fields of space science and engineering. The Travel Grants, in the amount of $500, enable student recipients to attend professional meetings to present their research. The Spring 2016 Travel Grant application deadline is April 1, 2016. Jerry Soffen, a biologist by training, led a distinguished career in NASA, including serving as the Project Scientist for Viking and as an architect for the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The Travel Grant continues Jerry's dedication to educating and involving future generations in space science and engineering pursuits. The electronic application materials and instructions are located on the Soffen Fund website: http://SoffenFund.org Questions regarding the application or application process may be sent to: info@SoffenFund.org 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 [NASA] PDS - MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER DATA RELEASE 36 The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce a new delivery of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) data for the following instruments: CRISM CTX HiRISE MARCI MCS RSS SHARAD* SPICE *SHARAD data in this release includes only derived data. In general, MRO Release 36 includes data collected from May 9, 2015, through August 8, 2015. The release includes HiRISE data from November 02, 2015 to January 25, 2016. To access the above data: http://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-20160301.shtml To access the latest PDS Data Releases: 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/ The PDS Team pds_operator@jpl.nasa.gov (818) 393-7165 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 OBSERVATION CAMPAIGN OF KBO TARGET FOR PROPOSED NEW HORIZONS FLYBY Having completed its successful flyby of the Pluto system, the New Horizons spacecraft is on a trajectory to encounter Kuiper Belt Object 2014 MU69. Pending NASA approval for an extended mission, New Horizons will also take advantage of being an observing platform in the outer solar system to observe a select number of other KBOs having favorable geometries for resolved or high signal-to-noise measurements. Earth-based observations can support these pending New Horizons measurements through calibrated photometry at low phase angle (Earth), which will be complementary to the higher phase angle data from the spacecraft. In particular for objects having the potential for resolved imaging from the spacecraft, knowledge of the rotational phase at the time of the New Horizons observations can help constrain the overall shape of these distant objects. An Earth-based campaign website in support of the pending science from the New Horizons extended mission is under construction at: http://www.boulder.swri.edu/nh-support-obs/kbo Available there now is a table listing the pending targets having the highest priority for supporting observations. Register on that page to indicate interest. 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 MARS EXPLORATION SCIENCE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER: MARCH 2016 To the Mars Community, On behalf of Jeff Johnson (MEPAG Chair), Lisa Pratt (past MEPAG Chair), Dave Beaty, Rich Zurek, and Serina Diniega of the Mars Program Science Office, the March 2016 edition of the Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter can be found on the web at: http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov Please send your Mars community announcements and calendar items for inclusion in the newsletter to Meredith at Meredith.A.Cosby@jpl.nasa.gov. 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 [NASA] ROSES-2016 PLANETARY SCIENCE PROGRAM OVERVIEW CLARIFIED In C.1 the Planetary Science Research Program Overview Section 3.5.2 on Data Archiving in the Planetary Data System (PDS) contained contradictory language, in one place indicating that proposers "should" and in another case that proposers "must" communicate with and obtain a letter from a PDS Discipline Node. The text has been clarified to indicate that "Proposals must demonstrate an understanding of the work involved in preparing data for the PDS" but that inclusion of a letter from Planetary Data System Discipline Nodes is not mandatory. New text is bold and deleted text is struck through. 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 COMETS 2016 - FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT An international conference on cometary science entitled "Comets: A new vision after Rosetta/Philae" will be held November 14-18, 2016, at the Abattoirs Museum in Toulouse, France. The conference is principally organized by the teams involved in the Rosetta mission, the European Space Agency (ESA), the French Space Agency (CNES) and the Institute of Research in Astrophysics and Planetology (IRAP). Toulouse is famous for its aeronautics and space industry, its gastronomy and its history dating back to the Roman empire. A general press conference on the Rosetta mission will be organized at CNES on Monday morning. The 46th Rosetta Science Working Team technical session will be held on Wednesday. A convivial dinner is scheduled on Tuesday night. Optional mid-conference visits will be organized on Wednesday and Thursday. Additional details about the program, will be included in the second and third announcements. One goal of this meeting is to generate a comprehensive global understanding of comets that will serve as an important resource for future studies. Reports on the discussions of the conference will be published at a later time. Send us your indication of interest and sign up to receive updates from the SOC and LOC at: http://www.comets2016toulouse.com [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 LPSC: MARSSI USER WORKSHOP When: Wednesday 03/23/2016 12:00-13:15 Where: Room Shenandoah MarsSI (Acronym of MARS System of information) is a web Geographic Information System application which allows the managing and processing of Martian orbital data. From this application, the users are able to easily and rapidly select observations, to process raw data via proposed automatic pipelines and to get back final products which can be visualized under Geographic Information Systems like ARCGIS and QGIS. Also, MarsSI proposes automatic stereo- restitution pipelines to produce Digital Terrain Models (DTM) from CTX and HIRISE stereo pairs. This application is part of the ERC project e-Mars founding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013) (ERC Grant Agreement No. 280168). This tool is also part of Portail of Planetary Surfaces (PSUP) founded by the french national research agency (CNRS). Important information: - The contact is Cathy Quantin-Nataf (cathy.quantin@univ-lyon1.fr) - MarsSI website can be found at: https://emars.univ-lyon1.fr - To get an account, please send an email to loic.lozach@univ-lyon1.fr - Tutorials (e.g., available observations, proposed processing pipelines) can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAn2ZPUPJ6g-ZaJkiOhue7A [Edited for length.] 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html September 12-14, 2016 Linking Exoplanet and Disk Compositions http://www.cvent.com/d/ffqwn1 Baltimore, MD November 14-18, 2016 Comets 2016 http://www.comets2016toulouse.com Toulouse, France January 11-13, 2017 Dust, Atmosphere and Plasma environment of the Moon and Small Bodies (DAP-2017) http://impact.colorado.edu/dap_meeting.html Boulder, CO [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.php, 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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