PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 12, Number 54 (December 23, 2018) 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. Postdoctoral Researcher Position at JPL 2. AbSciCon 2019 Session: Exploring the Planetary System of Alpha Centauri 3. AbSciCon 2019 Session: Biosignatures, Sandstones, Mars2020 4. AbSciCon 2019 Session: Alive or Not? 5. AbSciCon 2019 Session: Have Comet, Will Travel! 6. EGU 2019 Session: Planetary Space Weather 7. EGU 2019 Session: Earth Analogs for Planetary Exploration 8. EGU 2019 Session: Exploring the Primordial Solar System 9. Graduate Assistantships in Planetary Science at the University of Maryland 10. Gemini 2019 Large and Long Programs Call for Proposals Released 11. First Announcement IPPW 2019 12. [NASA] PDS Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Data Release 36 13. [NASA] Next OPAG Meeting 14. [NASA] ROSES-18 Amendment 49: Planetary Early Career Program Draft Text 15. Minor Planet Center User Group Feedback Form 16. Request for Community Comments on VEXAG Venus Exploration Documents 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 POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER POSITION AT JPL We seek a postdoctoral researcher to conduct kinetics and spectroscopic studies on chemical processes relevant to atmospheric compositions of Mars and Titan. The research focus will be on gas-phase and gas-surface reactions involving organic molecules to enhance the scientific return of NASA missions to Mars, Titan and other planetary bodies. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in chemistry or related discipline with expertise in one or more of the following: physical organic chemistry, kinetics, optical and mass spectroscopy, and instrument development. Documented publication record in internationally circulated, peer-reviewed journals is essential. Initial appointment is full-time for one year with possible extensions based upon satisfactory progress and available funding. Position is available immediately; applications will be considered until position is filled. The California Institute of Technology is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. Please email a cover letter stating your research accomplishments and interests, a curriculum vitae, representative publications, and contact information for three references to: Dr. Xu Zhang (xu.zhang@jpl.nasa.gov) Dr. Stanley Sander (ssander@jpl.nasa.gov) Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology [Edited for length] 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 ABSCICON 2019 SESSION: EXPLORING THE PLANETARY SYSTEM OF ALPHA CENTAURI We invite you to submit an abstract to the 2019 Astrobiology Science Conference, which will be held on 24-28 June 2019 in Bellevue, Washington, to the session entitled "Exploring the planetary system of Alpha Centauri: current knowledge, opportunities, and techniques". The Alpha Centauri system (AB and Proxima) presents a unique opportunity to detect and characterize a habitable planet in the next decade. This session aims to survey the current knowledge about the system as well as the opportunities, challenges, instruments, and instrument concepts to detect and characterize the planetary systems of Alpha Centauri, and determine the potential habitability of exoplanets there. This includes studies of binary planet formation, dynamical stability of planetary orbits in the system, limits from current non-detections, as well as expected planet occurrence rates. Techniques and instruments include indirect planet detection with astrometric and RV measurements; direct imaging in optical bands as well as thermal infrared, with current ground-based telescopes, upcoming ELTs, as well as space telescope missions. Conveners: R. Belikov (NASA Ames), E. Bendek (NASA Ames), F. Marchis (SETI Institute), O. Guyon (U. of Arizona) Submission deadline: 23 January 2019 23:59 EST https://connect.agu.org/abscicon/program/format-schedule [Edited for length] 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 ABSCICON 2019 SESSION: BIOSIGNATURES, SANDSTONES, MARS2020 Dear all, The AbSciCon 2019 session "Biosignatures in sandstones: ancient to modern, Earth to Mars" is now receiving abstract submissions: https://agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon19/prelim.cgi/Session/65841 Abstract on biosignatures production, preservation, alteration, or detection, in sandy environments that are modern, ancient or planetary, are welcome. Contributions related to biosignatures in sandstones as potentially detectable by the Mars2020 rover payload (e.g. Raman, XRF, LIBS, multispectral analyses and imagery), and to prepare Mars sample return, are particularly encouraged. Submission deadline: 23 January 2019 23:59 EST Please feel free to circulate to whom might be interest, and to contact us for any questions. Best regards, The session conveners: Marion Nachon, Ryan Ewing, Michael Tice, David Flannery, Rohit Bhartia 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 ABSCICON 2019 SESSION: ALIVE OR NOT? "Alive or not? New strategies and techniques for recognizing biological signatures from the abiotic noise" https://agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon19/prelim.cgi/Session/67151 Submission deadline: 23 January 2019 23:59 EST We would like to invite colleagues to submit abstracts to our session that concentrates on the search for life and the abiotic conditions that may favor its evolution (habitability). Despite significant scientific and technological progress in sampling and characterizing extreme environments remotely and in situ, a significant obstacle in our search for life beyond Earth is that we still lack a clear understanding of how to recognize its presence beyond the terrestrial evolution context, nor do we fully know how to disentangle its signatures from the myriad of abiotic geochemical processes at play. This session would address constraining the formation of biosignatures across space and time, and would explore new strategies, techniques, and instruments for recognizing them from abiotic environmental noise. Contributions on experiments where abiotic and biotic factors are considered, field studies in analogue environments and early Earth deposits, as well as flight technologies/instruments for detecting biosignatures from "life as we know it" as well as "life as we don't know it" are welcome to this session. See you in Seattle! 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 ABSCICON 2019 SESSION: HAVE COMET, WILL TRAVEL! We are pleased to announce that AbSciCon 2019 (June 24-28, 2019, Bellevue, WA) will feature a session focused on the role small bodies play in promoting habitability. https://agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon19/prelim.cgi/Session/66054 Topic Area: Star-planet-planetary system interactions and habitability Session Title: Have Comet, Will Travel - How small bodies promote habitable conditions across the solar system? Session ID: 66054 Submission deadline: 23 January 2019 23:59 EST Small bodies in the solar system (and other planetary systems) may play a significant role in the promotion, proliferation, dissemination and the cessation of life and its related building blocks. This session will combine recent insights from experimental, observational and theoretical studies of ice and organic-rich environments of comets and carbonaceous asteroids. We invite contributions aimed at revealing how the physics and chemistry of small bodies help catalyze and distribute life's building blocks, across the planetary system, from early to late stages of planetary formation. For more details and abstract submission go to: https://agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon19/prelim.cgi/Session/66054 Please feel free to forward this email to your colleagues who might be interested in this session. Sincerely, Gal Sarid & Chris Bennett University of Central Florida, FSI & Physics 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 EGU 2019 SESSION: PLANETARY SPACE WEATHER PS4.1 "Planetary Space Weather: Fundamental plasma interactions in space environments" Convener: Zhonghua Yao Co-conveners: Philippe Garnier, Valeria Mangano The emphasis of the session is on crucial processes of planetary space weather, that is, plasma physics and interactions of the interplanetary medium with the Solar System bodies, including: (a) magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling dynamics and auroras: from the Earth to other planets (b) the solar wind interaction with planets, moons, asteroids and comets (c) plasma interactions with exospheres, dust and surfaces (d) surface space weathering (e) potential impact of planetary environment on technological space systems (f) inter-comparisons of planetary environments Contributions are welcome that address previous, present, forthcoming and planned observations from space. Analyses of ground-based observations of neutral and ionized environments and laboratory studies simulating the interactions on planetary analogues are welcome. Theoretical modeling and simulations are also strongly encouraged, both in themselves and as a basis for inter-comparisons and interpretation of measurements. Major breakthroughs on terrestrial space weather have been made with measurements from THEMIS, Cluster, AMPERE, MMS and Van Allen Probes, so we welcome relevant terrestrial topics as comparative study has proven to be a powerful tool in understanding planetary space weather. [Edited for length] 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 EGU 2019 SESSION: Earth Analogs for Planetary Exploration BG7.1 "Earth Analogs for Planetary Exploration: Field, Lab and Simulations" Dear colleagues, Please consider submitting an abstract to our EGU 2019 session. A lot of great field, laboratory and simulations studies will be featured! More information is available at: https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2019/session/32087 Abstract deadline: January 10th 2019, 13h CET. Terrestrial analog studies provide invaluable insights into geological and biological processes that may have occurred on other planets. The understanding and knowledge of terrestrial analog sites is key to the interpretation of data acquired remotely on other planets, but also to the preparation, testing and optimization of future missions. Conditions representative of other, rather inaccessible, extra-terrestrial environments can be investigated on Earth or through laboratory and numerical experiments. Authors are in particular encouraged to submit contributions on: - Field and remote sensing studies on Earth and other planets - Field testing of future exploration missions - Laboratory experiments in planetary conditions - Numerical simulations in planetary conditions We look forward to your contributions and to seeing you in Vienna. Happy holidays! The conveners: Jessica Flahaut, Janice Bishop, Barbara Cavalazzi, Monica Pondrelli, Angelo Pio Rossi [Edited for length] 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 EGU 2019 Session: Exploring the Primordial Solar System PS2.2 "Exploring the primordial Solar System: First Results from Hayabusa 2 and Osiris Rex" Dear Colleagues, We would like to invite you to attend our session at the next EGU General Assembly 2019, Vienna, Austria, 7 - 12 April 2019. To present your research at this session, please submit your abstract at: https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2019/session/31972 Abstract deadline: 10 January 2019, 13:00 CET JAXA and NASA space missions Hayabusa 2 and Osiris-Rex have the ambitious objective to orbit around two primitive carbonaceous Near Earth Asteroids (162173 Ryugu and 101955 Bennu) to understand the origin and evolution of the Solar System. The two missions will collect samples of the two bodies and return back them to the Earth for further and more accurate analysis in laboratory. This session is open to all the scientists directly involved in the two missions to show the first results obtained so far, and to discuss possible links between the two objects. Nevertheless, we invite all other scientists to present their scientific discussions, modelling, laboratory simulations about these two primitive NEAs. Convener: Ernesto Palomba (INAF/IAPS, Italy) Co-conveners: Fabrizio Dirri (INAF/IAPS, Italy) Stephan Ulamec (DLR, Germany) Makoto Yoshikawa (JAXA, Japan) [Edited for length] 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 GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS IN PLANETARY SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND The Department of Geology at the University of Maryland (College Park, MD) has multiple open positions for incoming graduate students (beginning Fall 2019) to develop cutting-edge instrumentation and conduct chemical analyses on planetary analog samples representative of the Moon, Mars, and/or ocean worlds. Research topics include: identification of spectral signals diagnostic of Mars minerals collected via ion trap mass spectrometry; development of an ultrahigh resolution mass analyzer for lunar and ocean world exploration (inorganic and organic materials); and, advancement of an in situ geochronology instrument suite targeting lunar and/or martian surface characterization. For more information about the available positions, please contact Prof. Ricardo Arevalo Jr. at rarevalo@umd.edu. Although applications are accepted on a continuously rolling basis, priority will be given to applications received by January 4th, 2019. Applications can be submitted through the UMD portal below: https://app.applyyourself.com/AYApplicantLogin/ fl_ApplicantConnectLogin.asp?id=umdgrad 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 GEMINI 2019 LARGE AND LONG PROGRAMS CALL FOR PROPOSALS RELEASED Gemini Observatory announces the opportunity for new Large and Long Programs, with observations beginning in the 2019B semester. Letters of Intent to propose a new Large and Long Program are due February 4, 2019. Completed Proposals are due April 1, 2019. See the current Call for Proposals for further information: http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/observing-gemini/proposal-routes-and- observing-modes/large-and-long-programs/2019-llp-call Large and long programs (hereafter "large programs" or LLPs) are Principal Investigator defined and driven programs that, as a guideline, either require significantly more time than a partner typically approves for a single program or extend over two to six semesters, or both. Large programs are expected to promote collaborations across the partnership's communities, to have significant scientific impact, and normally to provide a homogeneous data set, potentially for more general use. Proposals for Large and Long programs are accepted annually. 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT IPPW 2019 16th International Planetary Probe Workshop 8-12 July 2019 Dept. of Physics, University Of Oxford The University of Oxford's Physics Department and Vorticity Ltd invite you to attend the 16th International Planetary Probe Workshop, to be held in Oxford on 8-12 July 2019. We are delighted to convene the world's foremost engineers, scientists, technologists, mission designers, and policy makers involved in interplanetary exploration to advance understanding of our Solar System. The accompanying Short Course on Ice Giants will take place immediately preceding the workshop on the weekend of 6-7 July. The website has information about key dates, travel & accommodation and local information. http://www.ippw2019.uk Abstraction submission deadline is 15 March 2019. Accommodation at selected Oxford hotels and University Halls of Residence, with negotiated rates for IPPW delegates, is now available to book. Oxford is a popular destination during July so do please make your reservation as soon as possible. Yours sincerely LOC Co-Chairs: Dr. Colin Wilson, University of Oxford, Department of Physics Dr. Steve Lingard, Founder and Technical Director, Vorticity If you have any questions about the event, please send them to ippw2019@maillist.ox.ac.uk [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 [NASA] PDS LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER DATA RELEASE 36 The NASA Planetary Data System is pleased to announce a new delivery of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) data for the following instruments: CRaTER, DLRE, LAMP, LEND, LOLA, LROC, MiniRF and RS. In general, LRO Release 36 includes data collected between June 15, 2018 and September 14, 2018. To access the above data, please visit the following link: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20181215.shtml PDS offers two services for searching the LRO archives: The Planetary Image Atlas at the Imaging Node allows selection of LRO data by specific search criteria. http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov/search/lro/ The Lunar Orbital Data Explorer at the Geosciences Node allows searching and downloading of LRO data and other lunar orbital data sets (Clementine and Lunar Prospector). http://ode.rsl.wustl.edu/moon/ 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 [NASA] NEXT OPAG MEETING The next OPAG meeting is scheduled for February 5-6, 2019, in Washington, DC. Additional details will be provided on the website as they become available. 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 [NASA] ROSES-18 AMENDMENT 49: PLANETARY EARLY CAREER PROGRAM DRAFT TEXT The NASA Planetary Science Early Career Award supports the research and professional development of outstanding early-career scientists, and serves to stimulate research careers in areas supported by the Planetary Sciences Division. The support of this program will allow key individuals to play an increasing role in the community - to achieve high-impact science and to help lead the field through development of new concepts, technologies, and methods. This program consists of a two-tiered nomination and selection process. The first tier is to check a box when a regular ROSES research proposal is submitted. Early-career Principal Investigators, whose proposals are selected via normal review processes, will be invited to enter the second tier of the application. Invitees will be asked to submit an application package to be considered for the NASA Planetary Science Early Career Award. The Planetary Science Division intends to select approximately five (5) Early Career Awards per year. https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary!init.do? solId=%7bAA37E3E1-C25A-54CD-34E7-E24BCEE8E04C%7d&path=open Questions concerning this program element may be directed to Shoshana Weider at shoshana.z.weider@nasa.gov. [Edited for length] 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 MINOR PLANET CENTER USER GROUP FEEDBACK FORM The PDS Small Bodies Node has convened a Minor Planet Center User Group (MUG) to represent the interests of the Minor Planet Center user community. The MUG welcomes comments about the Minor Planet Center via this form: https://goo.gl/forms/SgbbZds3GVep12xp2 Sincerely, C.R. Nugent, Olin College (on behalf of the MUG) 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 REQUEST FOR COMMUNITY COMMENTS ON VEXAG VENUS EXPLORATION DOCUMENTS The VEXAG Venus Exploration Documents, which were last updated in 2014, are being revised in anticipation of the next Planetary Science Decadal Survey. Drafts of each our updated draft Venus Exploration Documents will be made available for community assessment and comment via the VEXAG webpages at: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/ VEXAG strongly encourages of the planetary science community interested in Venus exploration to read the draft documents and provide feedback, comments, or suggestions for the revisions. Draft documents will all be available in December 2018 and January 2019. Also, VEXAG will host Virtual and Face-to-Face Townhalls in February and March of 2019 for community comments. The first document released for public review comments is the Draft Venus Technology Plan at: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/reports/Venus-Technology-Plan-DRAFT-V1. pdf Please send comments, suggestions, and feedback to noam.izenberg@jhuapl.edu including [VENUS TECH PLAN] in the email subject line. 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 September 16-20, 2019 Physics of Stars and Planets: Atmospheres, Activity, Magnetic Fields http://www.shao.az/en/news/239 Shamakhy, Azerbaijan [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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