PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 2, Number 46 (October 5, 2008) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Nic Richmond Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Matt Balme Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. [NASA] Postdoctoral Program (NPP) 2. [NASA] New proposal opportunities for Education and Public Outreach 3. [NASA PDS] Nasaview 3.2.0 Release 4. Request for Proposals: Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) Observation Campaign 5. Geomorphology Image of the Month 6. Workshop on Observing with SOFIA 7. Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Planetary Science 8. 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 [NASA] POSTDOCTORAL PROGRAM (NPP) The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly talented national and international scientists and engineers to engage in ongoing NASA research in Aeronautics, Astrobiology, Astrophysics, Earth Science, Exploration Systems, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Space Operations. * Approximately 60 Fellowships awarded annually * One-year appointments, renewable up to three years * Annual stipends start at $50,000, with supplements for certain degree fields and high cost-of-living areas * Annual travel budget of $8,000 * Financial assistance for relocation * Financial supplement for health insurance purchased through the program Apply at: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc Three application deadlines each year: November 1, March 1, and July 1. Eligibility: * U.S. Citizens * Foreign Nationals with a J-1 visa status as a research scholar, Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status, or Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with pending LPR status * Recent and senior-level Ph.D. recipients Locations of Fellowship Positions: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/centers.htm To obtain more information and to apply for this exciting opportunity, please visit the NPP Web site at: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc [Editor Note: This announcement was edited slightly 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 [NASA] NEW PROPOSAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH This amendment announces proposal opportunities for Education and Public Outreach supplemental awards. Principal Investigators (PIs) of selected Science Mission Directorate (SMD) research investigations may propose for Education or Outreach awards as supplements to their research award. Note: Two major changes have been made to the supplemental E/PO award opportunity compared to ROSES-2007 and earlier. (i) Two different pathways are offered: $15K education pathway proposals and $10K outreach pathway proposals. (ii) There is a specific proposal due date, and proposals are submitted through NSPIRES. Proposals for supplemental E/PO awards are due December 15, 2008. Notices of Intent (NOIs) to propose are not requested. On or about October 3, 2008, this Amendment to the NASA Research Announcement "Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2008" (NNH08ZDA001N) will be posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (Select "Solicitations" then "Open Solicitations" then "NNH08ZDA001N"). Questions concerning the Supplemental Education/Outreach Awards for ROSES Investigators may be addressed to Dr. Larry P. Cooper, Tel: 202-358-1531; E-mail: larry.p.cooper@nasa.gov. [Editor Note: This announcement was edited slightly 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 [NASA PDS] NASAVIEW 3.2.0 RELEASE The Planetary Data System (PDS) is pleased to announce a new delivery of NASAView, version 3.2.0. This maintenance release of NASAView includes support for 64-bit Linux platforms as well as corrections for issues discovered in previous releases. These corrections include a larger more readable histogram window, fixes for displaying MGS MOLA and MOC images properly and better recognition of TABLE-type objects when selecting them from the hierarchy menu. Due to platform incompatibilities and its general uselessness, the help menu feature has been replaced with a general information pop-up window. All available documentation for NASAView is supplied with each download package in PDF and HTML form. To access the Nasaview software, please visit the following link: http://pds.nasa.gov/subscription_service/SS-20081003.html 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 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: LUNAR CRATER OBSERVATION AND SENSING SATELLITE (LCROSS) OBSERVATION CAMPAIGN The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for participation in the USRA-NASA sponsored Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) Observation Campaign. USRA is working with NASA's Ames Research Center (ARC) and George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to coordinate the Observation Campaign for LCROSS. The Observation Campaign is designed to provide funding to qualified observers who have time on appropriate observatories to take measurements that will validate and complement measurements taken by the Shepherding Spacecraft and other assets. The RFP being issued by USRA is open to all qualified observers and is intended to fund a number of proposals that address LCROSS Science Goals. To download the RFP please visit: http://www.usra.edu/ or http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov Proposals are due 30 October 2008. Contact: Jennifer Heldmann at NASA Ames Research Center (Jennifer.heldmann@nasa.gov) or email LCROSS@usra.edu. 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 GEOMORPHOLOGY IMAGE OF THE MONTH The October 'Image of the month' is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/oct08image.html This month's topic is on deltaic sediments on Mars. The images and information are a free educational resource provided to encourage the inclusion of planetary geomorphology topics in curriculum. They are also intended to stimulate collaboration between geomorphologists studying Earth landforms and those who focus primarily on other planetary surfaces. If you would like to contribute an image (Earth analogs are welcome) please contact mbourke@psi.edu Past images and captions are available at http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/index.html Mary Bourke Coordinator of the IAG Working Group on Planetary Geomorphology 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 WORKSHOP ON OBSERVING WITH SOFIA 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., Monday, October 13, 2008 During the Ithaca DPS meeting Location: Taylor A/B A brief workshop will be offered to the planetary science community regarding SOFIA, NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, Monday October 13, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. during the Ithaca DPS meeting, in room Taylor A/B. SOFIA's first scientific observing flights are expected in mid-2009. Presentations will be made during the workshop about status of the SOFIA program, capabilities of the observatory and its 9 scientific instruments spanning the wavelength range from UV to sub-mm, and the mission's E&PO program. Upcoming opportunities to apply for SOFIA observing time will be described. A draft "white paper" on planetary science possibilities with SOFIA will be summarized, for discussion by attendees. 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 POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE IN PLANETARY SCIENCE The Department of Astronomy of the University of Maryland, College Park, seeks applications to fill an immediate post-doctoral position in planetary science, in collaboration with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The aim of the research project is to study the lower atmosphere and surface of Saturn's moon, Titan, using data collected by the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) on the Cassini Saturn orbiter spacecraft. The position is a two-year appointment in the first instance, with the possibility of extension depending on the success of future grant proposals. For further information on this position, including qualifications required and application details see: http://www.astro.umd.edu/~nixon/postdoc_job.html or contact Dr C.A. Nixon (conor.a.nixon@nasa.gov) Applications received by November 12th will receive full consideration. 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 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html November 19-20, 2008 (RESCHEDULED) Workshop on the Early Solar System Impact Bombardment http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/bombardment2008/ Houston, TX January 19-23, 2009 The Role of Astronomy in Society and Culture http://iaus260.obspm.fr Paris, France April 21-23, 2009 Missions for Exoplanets: 2010-2020 http://exep.jpl.nasa.gov Pasadena, CA April 27-May 2, 2009 XVI Young Scientists' Conference on Astronomy and Space Physics http://ysc.kiev.ua Kiev, Ukraine September 14-18, 2009 Pathways Towards Habitable Planets http://www.pathways2009.net/ Barcelona, Spain October 19-23, 2009 Towards Other Earths: Perspectives and Limitations in the ELT Era http://www.astro.up.pt/investigacao/conferencias/toe2009 Porto, Portugal [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 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.html * * To unsubscribe, go to http://planetarynews.org/pen_unsubscribe.html * * 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. Go to the PEN website for submission directions. ************************************************************************