PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 12, Number 6 (February 11, 2018) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Elisabeth Adams, Karen Stockstill-Cahill Email: pen_editor@psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. New Postdoctoral Position at MIT 2. [NASA] Seeking Volunteer Reviewers in Earth and Space Science 3. Workshop in Geology and Geophysics of the Solar System - 2nd Announcement 4. AGU Planetary Sciences Section Leadership Opportunities 5. Postdoctoral Position in Asteroid Science at MPS, Germany 6. Planning Solar System Observations with JWST in Cycle-1 7. Planetary Sessions at the May GSA Cordilleran-Rocky Mountain Joint Meeting 8. Volunteers Needed for Updating VEXAG's Venus Exploration Documents in 2018 9. Summer School in Software Systems for Astronomy 10. MEPAG Meeting 36 Venue and Hotel Block Announced 11. MEPAG Meeting Reminder 12. New OPAG Goals Document Posted for Community Comments 13. Carbon in the Solar System Workshop 14. Environments of Terrestrial Planets Under the Young Sun: Seeds of Biomolecules 15. 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 NEW POSTDOCTORAL POSITION AT MIT Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position at MIT to work on the physical characterization of near-Earth objects. This position will be supervised by Dr. Francesca DeMeo. The postdoctoral associate will work in collaboration with Dr. DeMeo and other project team members on the MIT-Hawaii Near Earth Object Spectroscopic Survey, a long-running near-infrared spectral survey using SpeX on the NASA IRTF. The position is to take a leading role in target selection, spectroscopic observations (~1 night per month), reduction, and data analysis. To apply, send the following to fdemeo@mit.edu: * A Cover Letter * A Curriculum Vitae * A Statement of past research accomplishments and future research goals (2 pages or less) * Phone numbers and e-mail addresses of three references The start date is Summer or early Fall 2018. Review of applications will begin on 15 March 2018. The position will remain open for applications until filled. 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] SEEKING VOLUNTEER REVIEWERS IN EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is seeking subject matter experts to serve as mail-in and/or panel reviewers of proposals to ROSES and other SMD solicitations. Go to: http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/volunteer-review-panels/ for links to volunteer review forms for the programs below and click the boxes to indicate the topics in which you consider yourself to be a subject matter expert. If your skills match our needs for that review, we will contact you to discuss scheduling. We are currently seeking reviewers for: Advancing Collaborative Connections for Earth System Science (ACCESS) Astrophysics Data Analysis Astrophysics Research and Analysis Earth Surface and Interior and Space Geodesy Programs Habitable Worlds Solar System Workings Earth Science (Graduate Student) Fellowship Proposals Space Science (Graduate Student) Fellowship Proposals InSight Participating Scientist Program 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 WORKSHOP IN GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM - 2ND ANNOUNCEMENT June 23rd-July 1st 2018 Petnica Science Center, Petnica, Serbia http://petnica.rs/planetary2017/ The workshop in Geology and Geophysics of the Solar System is now open for registration. The call for scholarships is open until 1 March, and we anticipate to let all candidates know very soon after. The number of places is limited, and the registration is first-come first-served basis. However, if you have already applied for a scholarship, your place is provisionally booked until you get the information about your scholarship. 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 AGU PLANETARY SCIENCES SECTION LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES The Planetary Sciences section of the American Geophysical Union is looking to expand the number of volunteers who help to lead and operate the various section activities throughout the year. Compensation towards your AGU Fall Meeting registration is anticipated in recognition of your service. To learn more about the available opportunities, and to apply, please visit: https://planets.agu.org/leadership.php 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 POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN ASTEROID SCIENCE AT MPS, GERMANY The Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Gottingen, Germany, invites applications for a postdoctoral position to work on the active binary asteroid 288P/300163. Details are found at: http://www.mps.mpg.de/5230867/job_full_offer_11934395?c=2169 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 PLANNING SOLAR SYSTEM OBSERVATIONS WITH JWST IN CYCLE-1 In light of the April 6, 2018, deadline for JWST Cycle-1 observing proposals, a 4-hour webinar will be held on February 13 from 10a-2p (EST) and will summarize JWST planning tools and their application to observations of solar system targets. These tools include the Astronomer's Proposal Tool (APT), Exposure Time Calculator (ETC), the Target Visibility Tool, and best practices for Solar System proposers. Operational constraints that affect observations of solar system targets will be summarized and include: bright limits, pointing constraints, track rates, and the impact of ephemeris uncertainties on certain observing modes. Science instrument capabilities and applications will be briefly summarized, but are described extensively in 12 papers in PASP v128, 959 & 960 (2016). WebEx information: https://stsci.webex.com/stsci /j.php?MTID=m11d817133347203e9300d096eb4f428d Meeting number: 902 908 849 Meeting password: JWST2018 Audio connection: +1-510-210-8882 USA toll (International numbers can be found through the link above.) Further details including presentation materials can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/y9clnm3t 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 SESSIONS AT THE MAY GSA CORDILLERAN-ROCKY MOUNTAIN JOINT MEETING May 15-17, 2018 Flagstaff, AZ We invite contributions to the following planetary sessions: T21. Recent Advances in Planetary Geoscience. How the volume and diversity of recent data sets have significantly advanced our understanding of the geologic character and evolution of bodies in the Solar System. T22. Earth as a Stepping Stone for Planetary Exploration. Terrestrial research in the field and in the laboratory is necessary for advancing planetary exploration. T23. Integrating Composition and Morphology: Keys to Constraining Planetary Surface Processes from Spacecraft Data. Compositional interpretations critically augment geomorphological and/or sedimentological studies to yield a refined understanding of geologic context and surface processes. T24. Understanding Basin Environments and Evolution Beyond Earth. Though topographic and structural basins exist beyond Earth, lack of direct access makes deciphering exposed units a challenge. There also will be a full-day post-conference field trip on May 18 to planetary analog sites in northern Arizona (The Holey Tour). Abstract deadline is February 20, 2018. More information can be obtained at the meeting website: http://www.geosociety.org/GSA/Events/Section_Meetings/GSA/Sections/rm/ 2018mtg/home.aspx 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 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR UPDATING VEXAG'S VENUS EXPLORATION DOCUMENTS IN 2018 In order to prepare for the upcoming Planetary Science Decadal Survey and a NASA-sponsored Venus Flagship Study, volunteers are needed to support a key Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) effort for 2018 of reviewing and updating our primary VEXAG Venus Exploration documents: (1) Venus Exploration Goals, Objectives, and Investigations, (2) Venus Exploration Technology Plan, and (3) Venus Exploration Roadmap. VEXAG Focus Groups will be formed for each of these 3 documents. The schedule for completing this is: - Kick-offs in March at LPSC - Drafts for community review by the fall in time for the annual VEXAG Meeting - Final versions completed and posted by the end of 2018 If you are interested in participating in this effort, provide Bob Grimm, VEXAG Chair, (grimm@boulder.swri.edu) and Martha Gilmore, VEXAG Deputy Chair mgilmore@wesleyan.edu) with a short statement on your expertise and expected contribution by Friday, March 9, 2018. 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 SUMMER SCHOOL IN SOFTWARE SYSTEMS FOR ASTRONOMY Registration is now open for the 5th offering of Software Systems for Astronomy. The course covers software design and implementation of telescope and instrument control systems, observation planning tools, and software for analyzing and archiving astronomical data. SSfA-5 will be offered as a two week intensive course this summer, 23-Jul to 03-Aug, 2018, on the Big Island of Hawaii. The course number is ASTR385. For more information visit: http://astro.uhh.hawaii.edu/Summer/Summer-2018/ssfa18.php or send email to aconrad@hawaii.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 MEPAG MEETING 26 VENUE AND HOTEL BLOCK ANNOUNCED MEPAG Meeting 36 will be held April 3-5, 2018 at the Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport (1999 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202). A room block has been made available at $253/night (GSA rate) for the nights of April 2-4; this room block will be open through March 12. To make a reservation at this rate, please use the following link: Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport GROUP RATE LINK. Please Note: The regular room rate at this hotel may be lower than the GSA rate – so we recommend checking out the Marriott site (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wascc-crystal-city-marriott-at -reagan-national-airport/) without the meeting code before making use of the room block. Additionally, we remind you to please register, if you intend to attend MEPAG Meeting 36 in-person: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e /1FAIpQLSf5ryntC2pTy7D3rJTsXdRoibOMDVyaYmRYR0Hsb4lDf0BSSA/viewform Registration is not required for attendance, but aids with meeting planning and name-badge printing. (Note that registration is completely separate from forecasting.) The online registration will be open until March 23. We look forward to seeing you at the Crystal City Marriott! 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 MEPAG MEETING REMINDER The MEPAG Meeting 36 1st Informational Circular is available at: https://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/meetings.cfm?expand=m36 A focus of this MEPAG meeting will be preparation for the next Decadal Survey. We would like to draw your attention to two upcoming deadlines, associated with this forum: (1) To request a presentation spot at the MEPAG meeting forum, please submit an abstract outlining your concept to mepagmeetingqs@jpl.nasa.gov by Thursday, February 22. Information about the forum and abstract content/length can be found in the 1st Circular. (2) To encourage and enable more Early Career participation in the forum (and in the full MEPAG meeting), the NASA Mars Program Office has announced that travel awards are available for up to four early career U.S. scientists or engineers with an interest or role in the Mars Exploration Program. Selection for the travel award will be based on submission of an acceptable abstract for the forum, anticipated participation in the full MEPAG meeting, and demonstration of financial need. Please submit an application form by Thursday, February 15 (deadline has been extended) and a first-author concept abstract by the abstract deadline. Further information can be found in the 1st Circular. [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 NEW OPAG GOALS DOCUMENT POSTED FOR COMMUNITY COMMENTS An extensively revised draft goals document for the Outer Planets Assessment Group has been posted at: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/ We invite the OPAG science community to provide feedback by using the OPAG Discussion Board: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/forums/viewforum.php?f=2 To use this, you must have filled out a notification of interest form at: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/opag.cfm and register for the discussion board. This document will be discussed at the next OPAG meeting February 21-23 in Hampton, Virginia. This document will influence both the next decadal survey and near-term decisions such as what mission concepts to study and technologies to support, and provides a resource for PI-led proposals to SIMPLEx, Discovery, New Frontiers, telescopic observations, and for R&A. -OPAG Steering Committee 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 CARBON IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM WORKSHOP April 25-27, 2018 Denver, Colorado Abstracts are due March 6. We've posted a notional program with some of the invited speakers. Check it out at: https://carbon-workshop.arc.nasa.gov 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 ENVIRONMENTS OF TERRESTRIAL PLANETS UNDER THE YOUNG SUN: SEEDS OF BIOMOLECULES 9-13 April, 2018 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, USA Hosted by the Sellers Exoplanet Environments Collaboration, this symposium is a major international interdisciplinary conference in the emerging area of astrobiology covering astrophysical, physico-chemical, atmospheric and geological aspects of environments of early terrestrial planets with a focus on the impacts of the young Sun’s space weather on the precursors of life. The central objective of the Symposium is to unify and coordinate these efforts to understand, and characterize heliophysical, magnetospheric, ionospheric, climate and their interaction with geological environments on the early Earth, Mars and Venus and their impacts on the initiation of prebiotic chemistry. The official web site for the symposium is available at: https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/600/seec/Events /Environments_of_Terrestrial_Planets_Under_the_Young_Sun.html Please register and submit your abstract (at no cost) at: https://asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/conferences/seec/2018_Symposium/ Please contact Prof. Vladimir Airapetian at NASA/GSFC and American University at vladimir.airapetian@nasa.gov 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 MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html June 11-15, 2018 Cosmic Dust: Origin, Applications & Implications https://indico.nbi.ku.dk/event/1040/ Copenhagen, Denmark June 20-22, 2018 Exoplanets Orbiting Hot Stars https://vu.edu/planetsaroundhotstars Nashville, TN July 8-11, 2018 Spectroscopy of Exoplanets http://www.exomol.com/activities/conference-spectroscopy-of-exoplanets/ Windsor, United Kingdom July 23-August 3, 2018 Software Systems for Astronomy http://astro.uhh.hawaii.edu/Summer/Summer-2018/ssfa18.php Hilo, HI September 10-14, 2018 Triple Evolution and Dynamics Trendy-2 http://www.lorentzcenter.nl/lc/web/2018/1016 /info.php3?wsid=1016&venue=Oort 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@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@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. Title plus text is limited to 200 words. Go to * http://planetarynews.org/submission.html for complete submission * directions. * * PEN is a service provided by the Planetary Science Institute * (http://www.psi.edu) using no NASA funds. All editorial work is * volunteer. **********************************************************************