PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 10, Number 12 (March 13, 2016) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Susan Benecchi, Karen Stockstill-Cahill Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Editor Melissa Lane Departing PEN 2. Community Meeting Announcement for an Asteroid Main Belt Explorer Mission as an ESA M5 Mission Proposal 3. Brave New Worlds: Understanding the Planets of Other Stars 4. Venus Town Hall Meeting and Early Career Scholars Mixer at LPSC 5. 2016B NASA IRTF Call for Proposals 6. Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) Town Hall at LPSC 7. [NASA] PDS - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter CRISM, MTRDR, and TER Data Release 8. Early Career Presenters' Review LPSC 2016 9. Eighth Annual Susan Niebur Women in Planetary Science Event at LPSC 10. Nomination Deadline for AGU Planetary Science Section Awards: April 15, 2016 11. Reminder: Last Call for DPS 2016 Prize Nominations 12. Observation Campaign of KBO Targets for Proposed New Horizons Extended Mission 13. [NASA] ROSES-16: Kepler/K2 Solar System Observations Added to DDAP 14. Data Management Plan Writing Workshop at LPSC 2016 15. JMARS at LPSC 16. 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 EDITOR MELISSA LANE DEPARTING PEN PSI Senior Scientist Melissa Lane has been volunteering her time as a Planetary Exploration Newsletter editor since September 6, 2009. That is more than six and a half years of weekends during which she has diligently edited and co-edited 380 issues of PEN, helping and communicating with submitters, and making a lot of judgment calls. She has decided it is now time to roll off and focus on other activities. We will miss our regular interactions with her. It has been fun! We would also like to welcome PSI Associate Research Scientist Karen Stockstill-Cahill to our editorial team. 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 COMMUNITY MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT FOR AN ASTEROID MAIN BELT EXPLORER MISSION AS AN ESA M5 MISSION PROPOSAL Oxford, UK April 11, 2016 On behalf of Neil Bowles (Univ. Oxford, UK) and Colin Snodgrass (The Open University, UK). In preparation for ESA's upcoming M5 mission call we would like to announce a community meeting on the 11th of April in Oxford, UK to discuss a novel mission concept to understand the evolution of our Solar System. CASTAway will be the first mission dedicated to the exploration of the main belt in all its diversity by carrying out a comprehensive census and spectroscopic survey of main belt populations with reconnaissance flybys of at least ten objects. The mission will place a small telescope into a heliocentric orbit in the asteroid belt, equipped with a spectrograph covering 0.6-5 microns and multi-spectral imaging capability for flybys. For more information and to register for the meeting on the 11th of April please see: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/main-belt-asteroid-explorer-mission -castaway-proposal-tickets-22129676458 or email neil.bowles@physics.ox.ac.uk or colin.snodgrass@open.ac.uk. 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 BRAVE NEW WORLDS: UNDERSTANDING THE PLANETS OF OTHER STARS May 29-June 03, 2016 Lake Como School of Advanced Studies Only nine planets were known before 1995, the ones orbiting our favourite star, the Sun, which then included Pluto. Twenty years later, we have "lost" Pluto but we have gained two thousand planets in orbit around other stars. The most revolutionary aspect of this young field is the discovery that the Solar System does not appear to be the paradigm in our Galaxy, but rather one of the many possible configurations we are seeing out there. These include planets completing a revolution in less than one day, as well as planets orbiting two stars or moving on trajectories so eccentric as to resemble comets. Some of them are freezing cold, some are so hot that their surface is molten. Finding out why are these new worlds as they are is one of the key challenges of modern astrophysics. The school is directed to Ph.D. students and young researchers who are interested in widening their knowledge in the field exoplanets, through an integrated approach covering observations, data analysis and interpretation. Go to: http://gatr.lakecomoschool.org 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 VENUS TOWN HALL MEETING AND EARLY CAREER SCHOLARS MIXER AT LPSC Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) invites you to participate in a lunchtime Venus Town Hall Meeting and an evening Early Career Scholars Mixer at LPSC on Thursday, March 24, 2016. The objective of this Venus Town Hall meeting in Woodlands Meeting Room is to encourage a community discussion and receive feedback on the current Venus community activities. Agenda items include the two Venus Discovery Missions: (VERITAS (Sue Smrekar, PI), an orbiting mission to produce high-resolution topography and imaging as well as global surface composition; and DAVINCI (Lori Glaze, PI), an atmospheric probe mission to study the origin, evolution, and chemical processes of the atmosphere as well as an update on NASA Planetary Science Division activities. A preliminary agenda is posted at: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/ Also, please, join the VEXAG Early Career Scholars Focus Group for an informal meet and greet at the Acqua Lounge before the Venus poster Session on Thursday night. Please check the VEXAG - Early Career Scholars Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/432478660134856/ This will be dutch treat as drinks are not included. Many thanks, Tommy Thompson 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 2016B NASA IRTF CALL FOR PROPOSALS The due date for the 2016B semester (August 1, 2016 to January 31, 2017) proposals to the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility is Friday, April 1, 2016. See our online submission form. Information on available facility and visitor instruments and performance can be found at: http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/Facility The new high-resolution, cross-dispersed spectrograph, iSHELL, is expected to be available starting Oct. 1, 2016 on a shared-risk basis. Observing on-site or remote observing is available with SpeX, MORIS, CSHELL and iSHELL; please see the instrument webpages for more information. The full call text is at: http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/observing/callForProposals.php 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 OUTER PLANETS ASSESSMENT GROUP (OPAG) TOWN HALL AT LPSC Thursday March 24, 2016 12:00 to 1:15 p.m., Waterway 1 This OPAG Town Hall will discuss draft findings from the February OPAG meeting, discussion of the science goals document, an update on the Ice Giants mission study, an update on Roadmaps to Ocean Worlds (ROW), and other items of interest to the outer planets community. 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 [NASA] PDS - MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER CRISM, MRTDR, AND TER DATA RELEASE The PDS is pleased to announce the release of two new Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter CRISM data sets, the Targeted Empirical Record (TER) and Map-projected Targeted Reduced Data Record (MTRDR) product suites. TER products are image cubes derived from CRISM hyperspectral targeted observations, post-processed to standardize the illumination and observation geometry and remove atmospheric gas absorptions and instrument artifacts. MTRDR products are the same data map-projected using terrain models of the Martian surface. The first delivery of these data sets covers the data acquisition period 2006-11-10 through 2007-11-01. Future deliveries are planned. To access the above data: http://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/mro/crism.htm Alternatively: http://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-20160307.shtml To access the latest PDS Data Releases: http://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-Release.shtml All available PDS data may be found at: http://pds.nasa.gov/tools/data-search/ For further information, see the PDS Home Page: http://pds.nasa.gov/ 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 EARLY CAREER PRESENTERS' REVIEW LPSC 2016 Are you a young scientist preparing to present your research at LPSC 2016? Are you nervous? Looking for advice? Join others like you for this educational opportunity to get feedback from seasoned presenters! Early career scientists, including undergraduate and graduate students, attending the 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference are invited to participate in the Early Career Presenters' Review. This event will take place Sunday, March 20, 2016 from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott. Seasoned presenters wishing to participate as reviewers are also welcome! Registration for early career presenters is now open via Survey Monkey through March 16, 2016. Seasoned presenters wishing to be a reviewer should contact Andy Shaner at shaner@lpi.usra.edu. For more information, please visit the 2016 LPSC Education and Engagement webpage. 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 EIGHTH ANNUAL SUSAN NIEBUR WOMEN IN PLANETARY SCIENCE EVENT AT LPSC Wednesday, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., Waterway 5, Woodlands Waterway Marriott (LPSC Conference Venue, Houston, TX) Everyone has implicit or unconscious biases shaped by societal expectations and past experiences. These biases can influence evaluation and judgment, in either a positive or negative way. Studies have shown that unconscious bias can negatively affect the careers of women and other minorities in STEM fields. In addition to raising awareness about best practices, this event is meant as a springboard for implementing positive change in our community. We welcome everyone's input on this important topic. RSVP (not required, but requested so we will have an idea about attendance numbers), and more information: http://bit.ly/WIPS_2016 Note: The formal event will be 6:00-7:30 and light refreshments will be provided thanks to generous support from the Division for Planetary Sciences (thank you!!!). We have the room until 8 for those who wish to continue small group discussions. 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 NOMINATION DEADLINE FOR AGU PLANETARY SCIENCE SECTION AWARDS: APRIL 15, 2016 Ronald Greeley Early Career Award in Planetary Science Established in 2012, the Ronald Greeley Early Career Award in Planetary Science is given annually to one honoree (no more than 6 years post degree) in recognition of significant early career contributions to planetary science. This award is named in honor of AGU Fellow Ronald Greeley for his influential contributions made to training and mentoring planetary scientists. Whipple Award Established in 1989, the Whipple Award is given annually to one honoree in recognition of outstanding contributions in the field of planetary science. This award is named in honor of AGU Fellow Fred Whipple, a gifted astronomer most noted for his work on comets. The Whipple Award includes an opportunity to present an invited lecture during the AGU Fall Meeting, held in San Francisco, Calif. The Whipple Lecture is webcast and made available as an archived presentation on the AGU website. Contact Sarah Stewart, section president, with questions (sts@ucdavis.edu). Nomination instructions and previous winners are available at: http://honors.agu.org/scientific-contribution/planetary-sciences/ 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 REMINDER: LAST CALL FOR DPS 2016 PRIZE NOMINATIONS Deadline: March 15, 2016 Every year the DPS recognizes exceptional achievement in our field. It is time to consider nominating a respected colleague for one of the annual DPS prizes: The Gerard P. Kuiper Prize honors outstanding contributions to the field of planetary science. The Harold C. Urey Prize recognizes outstanding achievement in planetary research by a young scientist. The Harold Masursky Award acknowledges outstanding service to planetary science and exploration. The Carl Sagan Medal recognizes and honors outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the general public. The Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award recognizes and stimulates distinguished popular writing on planetary sciences. Go to: http://dps.aas.org/prizes [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 OBSERVATION CAMPAIGN OF KBO TARGETS FOR PROPOSED NEW HORIZONS EXTENDED MISSION Having completed its successful flyby of the Pluto system, the New Horizons spacecraft is on a trajectory to encounter Kuiper Belt Object 2014 MU69. Pending NASA approval for an extended mission, New Horizons will also take advantage of being an observing platform in the outer solar system to observe a select number of other KBOs having favorable geometries for resolved or high signal-to-noise measurements. Earth-based observations can support these pending New Horizons measurements through calibrated photometry at low phase angle (Earth), which will be complementary to the higher phase angle data from the spacecraft. In particular for objects having the potential for resolved imaging from the spacecraft, knowledge of the rotational phase at the time of the New Horizons observations can help constrain the overall shape of these distant objects. An Earth-based campaign website in support of the pending science from the New Horizons extended mission is under construction. Go to: http://guinan.space.swri.edu/nhcs/campaignobjectives/kuiperbelt 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] ROSES-16: KEPLER/K2 SOLAR SYSTEM OBSERVATIONS ADDED TO DDAP The objective of the Discovery Data Analysis Program (DDAP) is to enhance the scientific return of Discovery Program missions by broadening the scientific participation in the analysis of data, both recent and archived, collected by Discovery missions. This Amendment permits the submission of proposals for work on Kepler/K2 observations of solar system targets to C.11 The Discovery Data Analysis Program (DDAP). The due dates remain unchanged. Step-1 proposals are due by 09/08/2016, and Step-2 proposals are due by 11/17/2016. Go to: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ and http://nasascience.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations /roses-2016 Questions concerning this program element may be directed to: Michael New at michael.h.new@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 DATA MANAGEMENT PLAN WRITING WORKSHOP AT LPSC 2016 ROSES 2016, section 3.5 states that Data Management Plans (DMP) are required in proposals in order to broaden the access to NASA-funded research with some exceptions. To aid researchers in developing (DMP), NASA will be hosting a workshop for writing DMPs at LPSC 2016. NASA-HQ, Dr. Michael New, will present on the expectations of what should be in a DMP. NASA-PDS will present initial guidelines for calculating the level of effort required to archive common data types. The workshop will be held during lunch on Monday, March 21st, from 12:00 until 1:15pm. Room: Grogan's Mill 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 JMARS AT LPSC Explore Mars, Moons, Asteroids, Earth, and a whole lot more! Similar to previous years, the JMARS team will be staffing an exhibition booth in the poster hall on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights as well as most of the normal conference hours. Come by to say hello, ask questions, get technical support, or give us your opinions about everything we've done or not done thus far. This year we will also be hosting a JMARS Showcase at noon on Wednesday, March 23rd in Waterway 6-8. The JMARS Showcase will feature a series of short presentations by actual scientists (not our usual techies) demonstrating how to complete actual scientific tasks. If you haven't used JMARS in a while, want a quick refresher, or just want to see what we've slipped in since the last time, please join us. If you want to know more about JMARS 2035, please visit our poster (JMARS Software Development for NASA's 2035 Human Landing Site Assessment) on Thursday evening. If you can't make it to LPSC, or have questions, concerns or technical issues before, during, or after the conference, we can always be reached at help@jmars.asu.edu. 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS May 29-June 3, 2016 Brave New Worlds: Understanding the Planets of Other Stars http://gatr.lakecomoschool.org Como, Italy September 20-23, 2016 Half a Decade of ALMA: Cosmic Dawns Transformed http://go.nrao.edu/ALMA5years Indian Wells, CA December 11-16, 2016 Search for Life: From Early Earth to Exoplanets http://rencontresduvietnam.org/conferences/2016/search-for-life/ Quy Nhon, Vietnam [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 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, or * send a request to pen_editor at psi.edu * * To unsubscribe, send an email to pen_editor at psi.edu * * 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. 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