PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 10, Number 28 (July 3, 2016) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Susan Benecchi Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Karen R. Stockstill-Cahill Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. In Memoriam: Edgard G. Yanovitskij (1937 - 2016) 2. In Memoriam: Gerald J. Wasserburg (1927-2016) 3. JWST Solar System Workshop 4. Open positions in the Uni Bern's Planetary Imaging Group 5. Dust, Atmospheres, and Plasmas (DAP) 2017 6. AGU 2016 Session P030: The Early Mars Environment - Warm and Wet, Cold and Wet, or Cold and Icy? 7. AGU 2016 Session P033: Titan - Constraining an Ocean World 8. AGU 2016 Session SH009: ICME and Energetic Particle Interactions in the Heliosphere and at Solar System Bodies 9. Faculty Position at West Virginia Wesleyan 10. Lunar Workshops 2016 Call for Abstracts 11. Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Awards 2016 12. MAPS Special Issue: "Issues in Crater Studies" 13. Job Announcement: Research Geologist 14. Odyssey Data Release 56 15. Planetary Geomorphology 'Image of the Month' 16. OPAG 2016 Summer Meeting - Information Circular 17. 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 IN MEMORIAM: EDGARD G. YANOVITSKIJ (1937 - 2016) The Ukrainian scientific community is sad to announce the passing of Professor Edgard G. Yanovitskij on 23 June 2016. Dr. Yanovitskij spent his entire professional life as a leading researcher at the Main Astronomical Observatory of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences in Kyiv. As a prominent member of the famous Soviet school of radiative transfer founded by Academicians Viktor Ambartsumian and Viktor Sobolev, he had devoted most of his exemplary career to the study of radiative energy transport in planetary atmospheres and analyses of spectrophotometric observations of planets. His most profound accomplishments include the general analysis of principles of invariance, the analytical theory of radiative transfer in vertically inhomogeneous atmospheres, and the development of extremely efficient and numerically accurate computer solvers of the radiative transfer equation. His seminal contributions were summarized in the monograph on "Light Scattering in Inhomogeneous Atmospheres" published by Springer. For many years, Dr. Yanovitskij served as an Editorial Board Member for the "Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer" and "Kinematics and Physics of Celestial Bodies." His research accomplishments were celebrated by numerous professional awards, including the National Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology. Professor Yanovitsky will always be remembered as an outstanding scientist and an exceptional human being. 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 IN MEMORIAM: GERALD J. WASSERBURG (1927-2016) Gerald J. Wasserburg was an American geologist. At the time of his death, he was the John D. MacArthur Professor of Geology and Geophysics, Emeritus, at the California Institute of Technology. Wasserburg was deeply involved in the Apollo program with the returned lunar samples. He pioneered the precise measurement of ultra-small samples under strict clean room conditions with minimal contamination. He was also the co-inventor of the Lunatic Spectrometer (the first fully digital, mass spectrometer with computer controlled magnetic field scanning and rapid switching) and founder of the "Lunatic Asylum" research laboratory at Caltech, which specialized in high-precision, high-sensitivity isotopic analyses of meteorites and lunar samples. He and his co-workers were major contributors to establishing a chronology for the Moon and proposed the hypothesis of the late heavy bombardment (LHB) of the whole inner solar system. Wasserburg's research led to a better understanding of the origins and history of the solar system and its component bodies and the precursor stellar sources contributing to the solar system. This research established a timescale for the development of the early solar system, including the processes of nucleosynthesis and the formation and evolution of the planets, the Moon, and the meteorites. The complete tribute can be found at: https://dps.aas.org/news/gerald-j.-wasserburg-1927-2016 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 JWST SOLAR SYSTEM WORKSHOP Exploring the infrared Solar System with the James Webb Space Telescope 31 Aug to 2 Sept 2016 The aim of this workshop is to encourage and inform Solar System scientists about the use of the James Webb Space Telescope for infrared observations of Solar System targets. The workshop will be a mixture of scientific presentations and practical sessions including the use of the JWST Astronomy Planning Tool and Exposure Time Calculator. Registration is now open for the workshop, from 31 August to 2 September in London (at the Royal Astronomical Society) at: https://jwst-workshop.eventbrite.co.uk Speakers include: Michele Dougherty (Imperial College London) Leigh Fletcher (Leicester) Stefanie Milam (GSFC) Thomas Mueller (MPE) John Stansberry (STScI) Gillian Wright (UKATC) JWST is a joint mission between NASA, ESA and CSA. 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 OPEN POSITIONS IN THE UNI BERN'S PLANETARY IMAGING GROUP The University of Bern's Planetary Imaging Group has a post-doctoral vacancy for Mars and/or cometary research in connection to surface ices. There are also possibilities at PhD level and in addition a position for persons with experience in visualization techniques for imaging data. Further details at: http://pig.space.unibe.ch/open-positions.html Nicolas Thomas 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 DUST, ATMOSPHERES, AND PLASMAS (DAP) 2017 The Dust, Atmosphere and Plasma environment of the Moon and Small Bodies (DAP-2017) workshop will be a forum: (i) to discuss our current understanding of the surface environment of the Moon, the moons of Mars, and asteroids, (ii) to share new results from past and ongoing missions to airless bodies and comets, and (iii) to describe expectations for planned upcoming missions to airless bodies and comets. Location: Boulder Host: LASP Date: January 11-13 It 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 landed on surfaces. The invited Speakers are: Dan Britt: Surface Properties of Asteroids Jim Burch: Rosetta Results on Cometary Plasmas Jasper Halekas: Plasma Environment of the Moon Vicky Hamilton: Osiris Rex Sascha Kempf: Europa Dust Environment Mark Showalter: Search for the dust torus around Mars Jamey Szalay: Dust Environment of the Moon Alexander Zakharov: Mars, Phobos, Deimos Dust environment We plan to have numerous contributed talks and encourage your submission(s). The abstract submission deadline: September 15, 2016. Please visit: http://impact.colorado.edu/dap_meeting.html The organizers: Alan Stern and Mihaly Horanyi [Edited for length.] 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 AGU 2016 SESSION P030: THE EARLY MARS ENVIRONMENT - WARM AND WET, COLD AND WET, OR COLD AND ICY? We invite contributions to a session focused on the environment of early Mars, at the 2016 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, CA, December 12-16. Geological, geochemical and mineralogical evidence indicative of flowing and ponding liquid water on the surface of ancient Mars appears abundantly across most of the Martian landscape. However, the presence of liquid water on the surface of early Mars is difficult to reconcile with the reduced solar luminosity at 3.8 Ga and before, unless greenhouse warming is considered. But the scarcity of carbonate rocks on the martian surface and the absence of evidence for vigorous recycling of volatiles cause many researchers to regard warming mechanisms as speculative. This leaves still open the question of how the observed fluvial features could have formed. We invite contributions from climate modeling, geomorphology, geochemistry and mineralogy that address the question of whether early Mars climate was "warm and wet", "cold and wet" or "cold and icy". This session will focus on both sharing new results from different perspectives and fostering communication among the community. For more information, visit: https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm16/preliminaryview.cgi/Session13359 Submission deadline: August 5, 2016. Conveners: Alberto G. Fairen, Stephen M. Clifford and James F. Kasting 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 AGU 2016 SESSION P033: TITAN - CONSTRAINING AN OCEAN WORLD San Francisco 12-16th December 2016 We welcome submission of abstracts via the AGU portal at: https://fallmeeting.agu.org/2016/abstract-submissions/ The joint NASA/ESA Cassini mission has established Titan as a prime location for investigating the limits of life. Cassini has studied Titan's interior, seasonal changes on its surface and atmosphere, and the atmosphere's interaction with an energetic magnetosphere. Cassini finds surface-atmosphere interactions producing erosional features similar to Earth's, including dunes, mountains, rivers, alluvial deposits, and features suggesting recent cryovolcanism. There is also evidence for a salty ocean interior and accumulations of liquid hydrocarbons are evident on its surface. The atmosphere's interaction with the magnetosphere produces a continuous supply of new organic material. The inclusion of Titan as a target for exploration by missions under NASA's New Frontiers program highlights broad solar system community interest in this scientifically rich moon. This session will explore new results that intend to provide a comprehensive and integrated understanding of Titan's interior, surface, and atmosphere, along with the atmosphere's interaction with the Saturn's energetic environment. Deadline for abstracts: Wednesday, 3 August 23:59 EDT. Conveners: Robert M. Nelson (PSI), Rosaly Lopes (JPL), Conor A Nixon (NASA GFSC), Joseph H Westlake (JHU APL) 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 AGU 2016 SESSION SH009: ICME AND ENERGETIC PARTICLE INTERACTIONS IN THE HELIOSPHERE AND AT SOLAR SYSTEM BODIES We invite contributions to the special session SH009, at the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, December 12-16. The session is cross-listed with Planetary Sciences and SPA-Magnetospheric Physics. Simultaneous measurement of radiation, plasma, and magnetic fields at multiple locations (e.g., the Moon, Mars, comets) has ushered in an era where it is possible to study energetic solar events as they propagate through the Solar System. The effects of the same energetic solar events on different types of bodies can also be compared and contrasted. The publicly available analysis tools at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center facilitate these studies by helping identify conjunctions or magnetic connections between observing locations. This session aims to tie together topics on interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) and energetic particle propagation and evolution in the heliosphere, along with resulting effects on Solar System bodies; such as those relating to space weathering of the surface and subsurface, as well as changes to magnetospheres, ionospheres, or exospheres. To submit an abstract (Deadline August 3rd, 2016): https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm16/preliminaryview.cgi/Session13423 Conveners: Reka Winslow, Timothy Stubbs, Jingnan Guo, Thomas Knight 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 FACULTY POSITION AT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN The Physics Department at West Virginia Wesleyan College (https://www.wvwc.edu/dptphysics) is seeking a geophysicist or planetary geophysicist to fill a full-time faculty position. The College is primarily an undergraduate institution, with 1500 students, and is best known for its strong liberal arts and science programs. There are 100 undergraduate physics majors in a department that emphasizes applied physics. Nearby are excellent astrophysics scientists and facilities at West Virginia University and at Green Bank Observatory. WV Wesleyan is a member of the NASA-West Virginia Space Grant Consortium and has faculty and students working on NASA-related research. The College seeks a diverse faculty and would welcome individuals with ties to national research organizations who have particular interest in good teaching and working with undergraduate students in small groups. Start-up research funds are available. Applications and letters of inquiry may be sent to Dr. G. Albert Popson, Physics Chair, at: popson@wvwc.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 LUNAR WORKSHOPS 2016 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS The Lunar Workshops 2016 will hold its annual workshop from September 26th through October 2, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. This event will include our Lunar Surface Applications Workshop, LunarCubes Workshop, and a weekend hackathon, Hack the Moon. We invite you to submit an abstract in research, project or theoretical/conceptual format to be considered for presentation at this conference: Abstracts welcome in the following areas: Lunar Landers Lunar Rovers Lunar Surface Science Google Lunar XPrize Updates Lunar Cubes Satellite Communication Cislunar Science CubeQuest Embedded Software VR and AR Visualization Submit your abstract today at: www.lunarcubes.com or www.lsaworkshops.com Abstracts must be submitted by August 31, 2016 for consideration in the Lunar Workshop 2016 event. Questions? Please call Faith at 321-626-2778 or 888-874-0560. 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR) AWARDS 2016 To be presented on 1 August during the 41st COSPAR Scientific Assembly 30 July - 7 August 2016 Istanbul, Turkey The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) has both National Scientific Institutions and International Scientific Unions as members. Moreover, approximately 9000 scientists actively engaged in space research are COSPAR Associates. Companies and organizations interested in supporting COSPAR activities may also become Associated Supporters of the Committee. A complete list of award recipients may be found at: https://cosparhq.cnes.fr/content/award-citations Further information on COSPAR is available at: https://cosparhq.cnes.fr/ or from the Secretariat cospar@cosparhq.cnes.fr [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 MAPS SPECIAL ISSUE: "ISSUES IN CRATER STUDIES" The Meteoritics & Planetary Science journal (MAPS) has begun to accept submissions for our Special Issue about the state of crater population studies. Both new research or techniques into crater population studies and review-style papers are solicited. To submit to this special issue, follow the normal submission steps for MAPS, and on Step 5, select the button to indicate "Yes" this is for a special issue, and then select "Issues in Crater Studies" from the drop-down list of special issues further down the page. Submissions to this issue are expected to close on September 1, 2016. If you plan to submit to this issue, please let Stuart Robbins (stuart@boulder.swri.edu) know. Please also feel free to contact him with any questions you may have. 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: RESEARCH GEOLOGIST The Center for Earth and Planetary Studies at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is advertising for a Research Geologist. The USAJOBS links for applicants to this position are provided below. Please share this message to anyone who may be interested. https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/443132700 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/443130700 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 ODYSSEY DATA RELEASE 56 The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce a new delivery of Odyssey Data, Release 56, for the following instruments: * GRS * THEMIS * RADIO SCIENCE (Releases 166-167) * SPICE The gamma sensor component of the GRS instrument suite no longer returns data. The HEND and neutron spectrometer components continue to operate. To access the above data, please visit the following link: https://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-20160701.shtml To access the latest PDS Data Releases, please visit: https://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-Release.shtml All available PDS data may be found at: https://pds.nasa.gov/tools/data-search/ For further information, see the PDS Home Page: https://pds.nasa.gov/ The PDS Team pds_operator@jpl.nasa.gov (818) 393-7165 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY 'IMAGE OF THE MONTH' The July 'Image of the Month' is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page: http://planetarygeomorphology.wordpress.com/ This month's topic is "Debris-Covered Glaciers on Earth and Mars". Contributed by David P. Mayer, Department of Geophysical Science, the University of Chicago, USA. You can 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) 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 OPAG 2016 SUMMER MEETING - INFORMATION CIRCULAR We cordially invite you to attend a face-to-face meeting of the Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG), scheduled for 2 days, August 11–12, 2016, in Flagstaff, AZ. We will also introduce 6 new members of the OPAG steering committee: Kunio Sayanagi, Carol Paty, Terry Hurford, Jeff Bowman, Amanda Hendrix, Scott Edgington Given the full schedule, the meeting will start at 8:00 AM each day. For registration and accommodation information see: http://www.cvent.com/d/3vqnfc or http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/ The meeting is open to all members of the planetary science community, including our international colleagues. Poster presentations on technology developments: If you want to present a Technology poster, particularly if relevant to Ocean Worlds or Ice Giants, please send title and authors to Pat Beauchamp, pbeaucha@jpl.nasa.gov and prepare a 1-2 slide 'advertisement' for the poster. We will also broadcast the meeting via Adobe Connect or WebEx for those who cannot attend in person. We look forward to seeing you in Flagstaff! [Edited for length.] 17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html October 25-27, 2016 8th International Workshop on Planetary, Solar and Heliospheric Radio Emissions (PRE VIII) http://pre8.oeaw.ac.at Graz, Austria [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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