PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 18, Number 13 (March 24, 2024) PEN Website: https://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Matthew R. Perry, Alex Morgan Email: pen_editor@psi.edu Twitter: @pen2tweets o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Open Letter from the Chair to Members of the MEPAG Community 2. Become a VIRTEX Mentor 3. NEOWISE 2024 Data Release 4. Are We a Unique Species on a Unique Planet? - Or are We Just the Ordinary Galactic Standard? 5. Postdoctoral Opportunity in Planetary Field Geology as Enabled by Virtual Reality 6. Planetary Science and Space Exploration Conference 7. New Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship through the Rice Space Institute 8. MEPAG/ExMAG Joint Workshop on Connecting Community Scientific Hypotheses to Mars Sample Science 9. Instrument Engineer Position at Northern Arizona University in Planetary Science 10. AGU Planetary Sciences Award Deadlines 11. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 12. Planetary Science Journal - New Papers 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 OPEN LETTER FROM THE CHAIR TO MEMBERS OF THE MEPAG COMMUNITY Although the Indication of Interest for the April hybrid workshop called Connecting Community Scientific Hypotheses to Mars Sample Science has closed, anyone interested in attending is invited to register - we anticipate opening registration in the next week or so. In addition, we are finalizing the MEPAG #41 hybrid meeting agenda (24-26 April) and registration is open at the LPI MEPAG website. Please note: all attendees for the workshop and MEPAG meeting are required to register for either physical access to the meeting venue or to receive remote web links. Hotel room blocks surrounding both the workshop and the MEPAG meeting are available, so make your reservations soon! https://www.lpi.usra.edu/mepag/meetings/mepagapril2024/ Also, if you are curious as to how Artemis science can feed forward into crewed missions to Mars, there will be a breakout session on this topic at the next Lunar Surface Science Workshop on 3 April called, "Science Enabled by the Artemis Base Camp": https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lunarsurface2020 Please also feel free to strike up a conversation with me if you have questions or concerns by e-mailing me at hamilton@boulder.swri.edu. Until next month, Vicky Hamilton, Chair [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 BECOME A VIRTEX MENTOR Virtual Trips to Extreme Environments (VIRTEX) will connect Boys & Girls Clubs with researchers who study unique extreme environments. NASA-funded scientists who work in extreme environments are invited to become VIRTEX mentors! With training and support, mentors will act as STEM role models as they connect virtually with teams of students (ages 10-15) at a partnering Boys & Girls Club. We're looking for NASA-funded scientists, engineers, and technicians (including early career researchers) who conduct research in exciting, "extreme" environments such as remote field locations, unique laboratory settings, aircraft, mountain tops, underwater laboratories, and more. In particular, we are seeking mentors from historically marginalized communities. Not sure if you're the right fit? Reach out to us with questions! Total time commitment expected: 8 hours spread over two months. https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/VIRTEX/ 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 NEOWISE 2024 DATA RELEASE The Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) and IPAC at the California Institute of Technology announce the NEOWISE 2024 Data Release. The 2024 Release includes data acquired during the tenth year of the NEOWISE Reactivation mission (Mainzer et al. 2014, ApJ, 792, 30), 13 December 2022 to 13 December 2023. These data are combined with those from Years 1-9 into a single archive that contains ~25.3 million sets of 3.4 and 4.6 micron images and a database of ~189 billion source detections. NEOWISE scanned the sky ~20 times during the first ten years of survey operations, with approximately six months between survey passes. With twelve or more independent exposures made on each sky position during each epoch, the NEOWISE archive is a time-domain resource for extracting multiple, independent thermal flux and position measurements of Solar System small bodies and background galactic and extragalactic sources. A guide to the NEOWISE data release, data access instructions, and supporting documentation is available at: https://wise2.ipac.caltech.edu/docs/release/neowise/ NEOWISE is a joint project of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology and the University of Arizona, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Planetary Science Division. 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 ARE WE A UNIQUE SPECIES ON A UNIQUE PLANET? - OR ARE WE JUST THE ORDINARY GALACTIC STANDARD? This is a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, July 30 to August 2, 2024, on the theme "from planetary formation, to biology to future of life", addressing questions like "What determines whether an interstellar cloud of gas and dust collapses into a habitable or a lifeless planetary system?", "Was there something special about the way our own Solar System formed and/or developed?", "Is there a great filter that we cannot pass on our evolution toward higher intelligence?", and "Can we observe it?". These and many more questions about the conditions that eventually will lead to the ability for life to develop on some of the many exoplanetary systems being discovered today will be discussed by leading scientists within the wide range of areas that illuminates the field. The full program, list of subjects and invited speakers, and registration, can be found at: https://cels.nbi.ku.dk/english/ Deadline for early registration (250 Euros) is May 1, and for late registration (300 Euros) July 1, 2024. Contact: Uffe Grae Jorgensen, uffegj@nbi.dk 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 OPPORTUNITY IN PLANETARY FIELD GEOLOGY AS ENABLED BY VIRTUAL REALITY The recently launched Dreamscape Discovery Initiative (DDI) at Arizona State University was established to explore the use of immersive virtual reality for scientific research. One focus of our work is to create virtual environments using real observational data from other planetary bodies and to explore ways to conduct planetary field geology using those environments as proxies. We are searching for a postdoctoral researcher to join the team who has a strong record in field geology or field planetary science. All applications must be submitted through: https://apply.interfolio.com/143048 For more information, contact Kip Hodges (kvhodges@asu.edu). 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 PLANETARY SCIENCE AND SPACE EXPLORATION CONFERENCE https://www.ibs.re.kr/psse2024/ Date: July 22-25, 2024 Location: Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, South Korea Planetary Science and Space Exploration (PSSE) aims to share the latest findings, and recent and upcoming space missions, providing exciting scientific targets for future studies. PSSE welcomes talks and posters on recent results, new methods and facilities, and ongoing modeling efforts that suggest diverse and comparative scientific approaches for general planetary scientists. PSSE is held right after COSPAR. Each session at PSSE combines associated planetary science topics, providing excellent opportunities for participants to get an overview of the research trends. This is different from COSPAR, which has specific topics in parallel, resulting in situations where participants likely need to choose to attend one session at a time. Korea will establish its space agency in May 2024. PSSE will allow participants to network for international collaboration, especially with the Korean community. Abstract submission deadline: April 19, 2024 (Friday) Note that the PSSE website will be updated in the last week of March, and registration is free of charge. 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 PRIZE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP THROUGH THE RICE SPACE INSTITUTE The Rice Space Institute at Rice University in Houston, TX is seeking applicants for a postdoctoral fellow to conduct independent research that contributes to the scientific mission of the recently established Center for Planet Formation, Evolution, and Habitability. The center's areas of interest span a broad range of topics, including the formation and evolution of planetary systems, the origin, delivery, distribution, and cycling of life-essential elements on planets, the interaction between planets and their host stars, comparative planetology, processes and properties of planetary interiors, and the interactions between the interiors and planetary surfaces. Scholars with a track record of interdisciplinary research in astronomy/astrophysics, Earth and planetary sciences, and space science are particularly encouraged to apply. The position is open to theoreticians, experimentalists, modelers and observational astronomy and Earth and planetary scientists. The successful candidate will be housed in either the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences or the Department of Physics & Astronomy. The appointment will be for two years, renewable for a third year based on progress and performance. Applications are due April 15, 2024. Details and application link here: https://tinyurl.com/3ra75saa 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 MEPAG/EXMAG JOINT WORKSHOP ON CONNECTING COMMUNITY SCIENTIFIC HYPOTHESES TO MARS SAMPLE SCIENCE April 22-23, 2024 (2 days hybrid in-person/virtual) MEPAG and ExMAG are jointly hosting a workshop focused on relating scientific hypotheses about Mars to what can be learned from samples. The workshop will span two full days, April 22-23, 2024 (10am-6pm EDT), and will focus on building collaborations, distilling science hypotheses that can be addressed by samples returned from either Jezero Crater or elsewhere on Mars (robotically or by humans) and understanding the potential applications of various sample analysis techniques on Earth. In addition, because any given collection of returned samples may not completely address all hypotheses or fields of inquiry, we want to develop an understanding of how those other areas can be supported by research and analysis, technology development, and the Mars Exploration Program. For more information, go to: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/mepag/meetings/mepag-exmag-workshop/ Registration: https://forms.gle/Lu9vnCTNqJZj4RQi6 [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 INSTRUMENT ENGINEER POSITION AT NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY IN PLANETARY SCIENCE The PIXEL research group (Planetary Instrumentation eXperimentation and Exploration Laboratory) in the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences at NAU seeks a full-time employee to fill an Instrument Engineer position to support the development and application of new remote sensing instruments for use in the laboratory, field, UAS and spaceborne applications. They will perform managerial, leadership, and engineering duties associated with design, analysis, development, procurement, fabrication, integration, and testing of the optical, electrical, and mechanical sub-systems of spacecraft instruments. Leads the engineering responsibilities for a range of projects providing professional direction and coordination to other staff, including students. They will have significant experience in spacecraft instrument development, design and environmental test programs. The candidate may also have additional specialized experience in certain subsystems within instruments (e.g., optical, sensors, electrical, software mechanical, etc.). Applications accepted until April 1, 2024. Minimum Qualifications: a) Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field, and b) 5 years of professional engineering experience related to remote sensing instrument development; or c) Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational. For the full position description and to apply please visit: https://tinyurl.com/4dscm3vj Questions: Christopher.Edwards@nau.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 AGU PLANETARY SCIENCES AWARD DEADLINES A reminder that the deadline for the AGU Planetary Sciences Section awards is this Wednesday, 27 March. This year, the PS Section has three awards for which we are actively seeking nominations. Details of these three awards are available at the following links: a) The Eugene Shoemaker Lecture: https://www.agu.org/honors/shoemaker b) The Fred Whipple Award And Lecture: https://www.agu.org/honors/whipple c) The Ronald Greeley Early Career Award in Planetary Sciences: https://www.agu.org/honors/greeley Thank you! Your Planetary Sciences Section Executive Committee 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 Note: Most face-to-face meetings going forward will have online components. Check their websites for details. Posted at https://planetarynews.org/meetings.html July 22-25, 2024 Planetary Science and Space Exploration https://www.ibs.re.kr/psse2024/ Daejeon, South Korea July 30-August 2, 2024 Are we a Unique Species on a Unique Planet? https://tinyurl.com/mwb3jd2n Copenhagen, Denmark [Editor Note: If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or workshop that you think your colleagues should be aware of, please send the date, title, URL and location to pen_editor@psi.edu.] 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS Direct Links to Open Access Papers Editor, Faith Vilas https://psj.aas.org Parent Volatile Outgassing Associations in Cometary Nuclei: Synthesizing Rosetta Measurements and Ground-based Observations Mohammad Saki et al. 2024 PSJ 5:70 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad118f A Gap in the Densities of Small Planets Orbiting M Dwarfs: Rigorous Statistical Confirmation Using the Open-source Code RhoPop J. G. Schulze et al. 2024 PSJ 5:71 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad26f5 Three Years of ACB Phase Function Observations from the Mars Science Laboratory: Interannual and Diurnal Variability and Constraints on Ice Crystal Habit Alex C. Innanen et al. 2024 PSJ 5:72 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad2990 Noble Gas Planetology and the Xenon Clouds of Uranus Kevin Zahnle 2024 PSJ 5:73 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad276b Orbital and Physical Characterization of Asteroid Dimorphos Following the DART Impact Shantanu P. Naidu et al. 2024 PSJ 5:74 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad26e7 SpuBase: Solar Wind Ion Sputter Database for Modeling Purposes Noah Jaggi et al. 2024 PSJ 5:75 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad2993 Juno's JunoCam Images of Europa C. J. Hansen et al. 2024 PSJ 5:76 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad24f4 *********************************************************************** * The Planetary Exploration Newsletter is issued approximately weekly. * Current and back issues are available at https://planetarynews.org * * To subscribe, go to https://planetarynews.org and click on Subscribe. * * An unsubscribe option is available at the end of every PEN email. Or * 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. All PEN * submissions will be tweeted @pen2tweets. Please submit a 234 (or * fewer) character tweet. Alternatively, the editorial staff will * create one for you. 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