PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 11, Number 47 (November 12, 2017) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Karen R. Stockstill-Cahill Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Elisabeth Adams Email: pen_editor@psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. WEB-EX and Program for VEXAG Annual Meeting #15, November 14-16 2. Science Enabled by a Deep Space Gateway 3. 2018 Call for Nominations to the Executive Committee of the ExoPAG 4. SBAG Early-Career Travel Support 5. Planetary-Themed Sessions and Fieldtrip at 2018 GSA Southeastern Sectional Meeting 6. ELS Letter of Intent to Participate 7. New Mini-TES Data in Analyst's Notebook 8. Postdoctoral Position in Exoplanet Atmospheres 9. G. K. Gilbert Award Nominations Due Soon 10. AGU Panel Discussion: Planetary Bodies in the Ultraviolet 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 WEB-EX AND PROGRAM FOR VEXAG ANNUAL MEETING #15, NOVEMBER 14-16 Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) Meeting #15 will be held on Tuesday-Thursday, November 14-16, 2016 at the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), Laurel Maryland, hosted by Noam Izenberg. The Program and other information is posted on the LPI VEXAG Web-Site: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/meetings/vexag-15/ November 14, 2017 (Tuesday) - NASA and Mission Report (AM) and Venus Mission and Instrument Studies (PM) November 15, 2017 (Wednesday) - Venus Science and Technology Reports (AM) and NASA Reports, Mission and Technology Studies (PM) November 16, 2017 (Thursday) - Workshops, Data Sets, and Tools (AM), Adjourn at mid-day. WEB-EX Dial in: (240)228-1000 (Washington, DC) (443)778-1000 (Baltimore, MD) (844)275-9323 (Toll Free) Password for all 3 days: VEXAG17 Day 1: Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 8:00 pm (10 hrs), Eastern Standard Time Meeting number and Access Code: 990 886 895 Day 2: Wednesday, November 15, 2017, 8:00 pm (10 hrs), Eastern Standard Time Meeting number and Access Code:994 172 685 Day 3: Thursday, November 16, 2017, 8:00 am (4 hrs), Eastern Standard Time (Meeting number and Access Code: 998 579 076 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 SCIENCE ENABLED BY A DEEP SPACE GATEWAY NASA is sponsoring a three-day workshop to actively engage the scientific community in the early stages of determining the ways in which the deep space gateway concept could be used to facilitate science. This workshop will be held February 27-March 1, 2018, in the Denver area. The final location will be announced at a later date. The intent of the workshop is to provide an open forum for the presentation, discussion, and consideration of various concepts, options, capabilities, and innovations to advance scientific discovery from cislunar space. Attendance will be by invitation only based on submitted abstracts. It is expected that some science investigations may require the attention of a crew while other investigations may simply use the gateway as infrastructure supplying power, communications, etc. The goal is to have parallel sessions covering Heliophysics, Earth Science, Astrophysics, Fundamental Physics, Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences, and Space Biology. Scientists from these communities will discuss how the presence of the deep space gateway can enable high-quality science. Abstracts no longer than 2 pages are requested should be submitted to through the workshop web page by Dec. 15, 2017: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/deepspace2018/ 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 2018 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE EXOPAG https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/exopag/overview/ In the coming months, NASA anticipates making three new appointments to the Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG) Executive Committee (EC), to replace current members who have completed their term of service on the ExoPAG EC. New appointments will be for a period of 3 years. The ExoPAG is an open, interdisciplinary forum that provides a conduit for community input into NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program (ExEP), and for conducting analyses in support of ExEP science objectives and their implications for planning and prioritization of Program activities. Together, the ExoPAG EC is responsible for capturing and organizing community input, overseeing analyses, reporting findings and inputs to the Astrophysics Subcommittee, and keeping the scientific community apprised of ongoing activities and opportunities within NASA's ExEP. Detailed information about the structure and function of the ExoPAG and call for nominations for the Executive Committee of the ExoPAG can be found at: http://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exopag Nominations from individuals at academic institutions - university, college, or non-NASA research laboratory - are strongly encouraged. Self-nominations are welcome and nominations of early-career scientists are especially encouraged. Nominations should be submitted via email to Martin Still (Martin.Still@nasa.gov) by January 19, 2018. [Edited for length] 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 SBAG EARLY-CAREER TRAVEL SUPPORT We are planning to offer limited U.S. travel support for early career scientists to participate in the SBAG 18 meeting, to be held at the NASA Ames Research Center on January 17-19, 2018. Interested undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, and other early career scientists (within 3 years of PhD/MS/BS) should submit a 2-page letter plus a CV to SBAG Early Career Secretary Angela Stickle (angela.stickle@jhuapl.edu) and Hannah Susorney (hsusorney@eoas.ubc.ca) by COB (5 pm Eastern) November 22, 2017. This should include a demonstration of financial need and an explanation of how the applicant's work relates to the purposes of the SBAG. The letter and CV should be combined into a single PDF document. Recipients of travel support will be expected to give a short presentation of their SBAG-relevant work at the SBAG 18 meeting. We are providing time on the agenda for early-career scientists and engineers present at the meeting to introduce themselves and their research to the community. This will include lightning talks with the possibility of a small poster session to showcase your work. If you are interested in participating, please contact the early-career secretary (Angela.Stickle@jhuapl.edu) ASAP. 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-THEMED SESSIONS AND FIELDTRIP AT 2018 GSA SOUTHEASTERN SECTIONAL MEETING The 2018 Southeastern Sectional meeting of the Geological Society of America includes two planetary-themed sessions, multiple post-meeting fieldtrips, and opportunities for students and early career professionals. The section meeting will be held April 12th and 13th, in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. The University of Tennessee's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences looks forward to hosting all. Conference information, including abstraction submission, registration, activities, may be found at the conference website: https://www.geosociety.org/se-mtg Planetary-themed sessions: T14. Geologic Mapping from the Appalachians to the Planets T15. Planetary Surface Processes Post-meeting planetary-themed field trip: Revisiting the Flynn Creek Impact Structure, Jackson County Tennessee Abstracts are due January 16th, 2018 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 ELS LETTER OF INTENT TO PARTICIPATE We are pleased to announce that the 6th European Lunar Symposium (ELS) will be held in Toulouse, France May 13-16, 2018. This meeting, organized in partnership with NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI), will cover current advances and prospects in lunar science and exploration in Europe and elsewhere. Building upon successful previous ELS meetings and acknowledging a growing interest in lunar science exploration worldwide, we anticipate a larger number of participants for ELS 2018. In order to make necessary logistical arrangements, we would like your help (before abstract submission and registration dates are announced) in letting us know before December 1st 2017 about your firm intention to attend ELS 2018. Please visit the following url to submit your response: http://tinyurl.com/ycank8s2 Patrick Pinet (patrick.pinet@irap.omp.eu) and Mahesh Anand (mahesh.anand@open.ac.uk) (On behalf of the ELS Organizers) 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 NEW MINI-TES DATA IN ANALYST'S NOTEBOOK Following the release to the Planetary Data System of mirror-dust-corrected Mini-TES spectra from the Spirit rover, these data are now available through the PDS Analyst's Notebook site: https://an.rsl.wustl.edu/mera/merxbrowser/an3.aspx As described in the "What's new" section, this data set was prepared by Steve Ruff and funded by the NASA PDART program. It is archived by the PDS Geosciences Node. The new data set adds mirror-dust-corrected emissivity, emissivity standard deviation, and target temperature data products to existing Spirit rover Mini-TES data in the Notebook. Graphs of the emissivity and emissivity standard deviation products are included. 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 POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN EXOPLANET ATMOSPHERES Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research position in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Maryland, College Park. The successful candidate will work with Professor Eliza Kempton on theoretical radiative transfer calculations for exoplanet atmospheres. Applicants should have previous experience in modeling (exo)planetary atmospheres, although a variety of backgrounds may be relevant. The position is for a period of up to three years, starting in fall 2018, contingent on positive yearly progress evaluations. A Ph.D. in Physics, Astronomy, or a related field is required prior to the start date. A competitive salary and funds for research and travel will be provided. The University of Maryland hosts a vibrant astrophysics research community and is also located within short driving distance to exoplanet researchers at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), and Carnegie Department of Terrestrial Magnetism (DTM). The successful candidate will also be a member of the Center for Theory and Computation (CTC) at the University of Maryland. All materials should be received by December 15 for full consideration. Additional information can be found at: https://jobregister.aas.org/ad/14e64131 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 G. K. GILBERT AWARD NOMINATIONS DUE SOON The G. K. Gilbert Award is the primary annual award of the Geological Society of America (GSA)'s Planetary Geology Division. The award is for outstanding contributions to the solution of a fundamental problem(s) of planetary geology in its broadest sense, including planetary geology, geochemistry, mineralogy, petrology, and tectonics, geophysics, and the field of meteoritics. Such contributions may consist either of a single outstanding publication, or a series of publications that have had great influence on the field. The recipient may be a citizen of any country and need not be a member of GSA. More information and a list of past winners can be found here: http://rock.geosociety.org/pgd/gilbert.html Please consider nominating a deserving colleague. Nominations should include a cover letter detailing the accomplishments of the nominee, their current CV, and (as available) supporting letters from colleagues. Please send these nominations, preferably as a compiled PDF, to 2018 award committee chair James Wray (jwray@gatech.edu). Nominations are due by December 1st. 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 AGU PANEL DISCUSSION: PLANETARY BODIES IN THE ULTRAVIOLET In recent years, UV spectroscopy techniques have provided significant insights into volatiles, surface composition, and space weathering effects on Solar System objects. At the AGU meeting in New Orleans, please join us for session P23F, "Planetary Bodies in the Ultraviolet." We will hear about recent UV observations, from Earth-orbiting telescopes and deep space probes, of Mercury, asteroids, comets, moons, and plumes. We'll also hear about new lab work being done to aid in interpreting these data. This will be a panel discussion with audience participation. It's sure to be an engaging discussing and we hope to see you there. P23F, "Planetary Bodies in the Ultraviolet," on Tues Dec 12 1:40-3:40PM (room R02/R03). Amanda Hendrix 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 Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html January 17-18, 2018 18th Small Bodies Assessment Group Meeting https://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/meetings/ Moffett Field, CA February 27–March 1, 2018 Deep Space Gateway Science Workshop https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/deepspace2018/ Denver, CO March 18, 2018 Planetary Science Deep Space SmallSat Studies https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/smallsat2018/ The Woodlands, TX April 12-13, 2018 2018 Southeastern Sectional Meeting of the Geological Society of America https://www.geosociety.org/se-mtg Knoxville, TN [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@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@psi.edu * * To unsubscribe, send an email to pen_editor@psi.edu * * Please send all replies and submissions to pen_editor@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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