Newsletter Newsletter Published on Division for Planetary Sciences ( Issue 17-15, March 25, 2017

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1 Newsletter Issue 17-15, March 25, CONTENTS IN MEMORIAM: MICHEL COMBES ( ) 2. HST OBSERVATIONS TO DETECT PLUMES/OUTGASSING FROM EUROPA ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY S DIVISION OF DYNAMICAL ASTRONOMY 4. SSERVI AWARD NOMINATIONS DUE 31 MARCH 5. NOAO 2017B OBSERVING PROPOSALS DUE 31 MARCH ALMA CYCLE 5 CALL FOR PROPOSALS AND PROPOSAL WRITING WORKSHOPS 7. STUDENT OPPORTUNITY: SUDBURY FIELD CAMP 8. UPCOMING WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS IN MEMORIAM: MICHEL COMBES ( ) A Tribute to Michel Combes Michel Combes passed away on March 9, following a week of hospitalization. As a former Director of the Paris Observatory DESPA Laboratory (which later became LESIA) and a former President of Paris Observatory, Michel has played a major role in the life of the laboratory, the Observatory, and, beyond, in the development of planetology and of astronomical instrumentation in France and internationally. As a former student of the Institut d Optique in Paris, Michel entered the Observatory in the early 1960s. In 1969, Michel was a major actor in the establishment of a American Astronomical Society. Page 1 of 13

2 planetology group at the Observatory, first hosted within the Department of Solar Physics and later within the Space Research Department (DESPA). Mainly interested in optics, Michel was convinced that new projects in astronomy require instrumental innovation. In 1973, he led a campaign in South Africa to observe the occultation of the star Beta Scorpio by Jupiter. This successful experiment made possible the retrieval of the thermal structure in the stratosphere of Jupiter. In parallel, Michel worked on the development of a Fourier Transform spectrometer operating in the thermal infrared, devoted to the spectral analysis of Jupiter. This instrument was flown on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory in 1973, and has been mounted several times on large ground-based telescopes. In the 1980s, with Tobias Owen in the US and Vassili Moroz in Moscow, and in partnership with other laboratories, Michel developed the concept of a new instrument for analyzing the near-infrared emission of comets. This successful experiment, launched on the Soviet probes Vega 1 and Vega 2, has led to the first measurement of the temperature of a cometary nucleus, and the detection of several parent molecules outgassed from the nucleus. In the mid-1980s, Michel became the Director of DESPA, and drove the laboratory toward participation in the ISOCAM camera of the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) of ESA. In parallel, the planetology group got involved in space projects of planetary infrared sounding. This was the beginning of a series of infrared imaging spectrometers, conceived and developed at DESPA in partnership with Institut d Astrophysique Spatiale in Orsay and several international laboratories. The first ones were devoted to the exploration of Mars, with ISM/PHOBOS and OMEGA/Mars-96 in partnership with Russia. These instruments Page 2 of 13

3 inspired the imaging spectrometers of Cassini/Huygens, Rosetta and Venus Express. In 1991, Michel became the President of Paris Observatory. This duty allowed him to express all his human and international relationship qualities, based on his excellent knowledge of men and institutions. As a President, Michel initiated a re-organization of the scientific departments of the Observatory. This was the first step of a global restructuration of the scientific departments, which was completed later in the early In the meantime, Michel continued to follow the development of infrared space projects at DESPA, in particular in the domain of stellar photometry and planetology. After the failure of the Mars-96 spacecraft just after launch, both experiments were rebuilt and used in other contexts, the French CoRoT mission and, under IAS PIship, the OMEGA instrument aboard Mars Express. Later, in collaboration with other international partners, the VIRTIS-H instrument was flown on two other European missions, Rosetta and Venus Express. He was also strongly involved in the NASA-ESA Cassini/Huygens mission through participation as co-investigator in DISR/Huygens and team member on VIMS/Cassini until recently. In 1999, after two mandates, Michel came back to DESPA, which later transformed into LESIA, and became involved in teaching activities regarding optics, and in the development of instrumental concepts. He also became more and more involved in outreach activities within the Service of Communication of the Observatory, as well as within the team working on History of Sciences. Thanks to his strong personality, his acute sense of politics, his engagement toward society, his sense of organization and dialog, Michel Combes has played a major role in the field of planetology but also at the level of the Observatory and beyond. Michel was a leader with a strong sense of responsibility, respectful of his Page 3 of 13

4 international collaborators. He had a very strong capability for bringing teams together scientists, engineers, technicians, administrative employees and to make them work together towards a common objective. He will be deeply missed by his friends and colleagues. Therese Encrenaz and Pierre Drossart HST OBSERVATIONS TO DETECT PLUMES/OUTGASSING FROM EUROPA The STScI Director has commissioned a committee to provide advice on optimizing future strategies for using Hubble to investigate potential outgassing from Europa. The committee is currently developing recommendations that will include suggestions for pilot observations in the near future. The full report will not be available until after the Cycle 25 proposal deadline (April 7, 2017). Consequently, interested parties should not submit proposals at this time unless the observations must be executed before October Time will be set aside for observations at later dates, and proposals related to the Europan plumes will be solicited as part of the first Cycle 25 Call for Mid-Cycle proposals, deadline September ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY S DIVISION OF DYNAMICAL ASTRONOMY The AAS Division of Dynamical Astronomy is pleased to announce that its annual meeting will take place at Queen Mary University of London on June 11-15, Page 4 of 13

5 The annual AAS-DDA meeting brings together researchers in astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, and astrodynamics for discussions and talks on all aspects of dynamics in the space sciences. The DDA meeting features invited talks on a range of topics, contributed talks (with no parallel sessions), and posters that can be displayed throughout the entire conference. The 2017 meeting also features three special sessions: * Impact of Gaia Astrometry on Dynamical Astronomy (Chair: Norbert Zacharias, US Naval Observatory) * Post-Main Sequence Planetary System Science (Chair: Dimitri Veras, University of Warwick) * Cassini Ring-Grazing Orbits and Grand Finale (Chair: Matthew Tiscareno SETI) In addition, Prof. Rosemary F. G. Wyse will be honoured with the AAS-DDA Brouwer Award. The 2017 DDA meeting is being co-sponsored by the Royal Astronomical Society. Abstract Deadline April 10, 2017 For additional information see the meeting website [1] SSERVI AWARD NOMINATIONS NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) is soliciting nominations for the following SSERVI Awards: Shoemaker Award (lifetime career achievement award in lunar and planetary sciences), the Page 5 of 13

6 Wargo Award (scientist or engineer who has focused on integrating science and exploration throughout their career) and the Niebur Award (early career award for significant contributions to exploration science). Nominees from previous years will automatically be carried forward to the upcoming year. Further descriptions of each award and the nomination form may be found at: [2] Thank you in advance for your nominations and recognition of those who have contributed so substantially to our field! We do accept nominations year-round, but to be considered for the 2017 awards, please provide your nominations by March 31, NOAO 2017B OBSERVING PROPOSALS DUE 31 MARCH 2017 Proposal forms and information for observing time requests for the 2017B semester (August January 2018) are available on the NOAO web page: [3] Time requests for 2017B may be made for Gemini North and South, Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (including SOAR and SMARTS), and Kitt Peak National Observatory (including WIYN). This semester will see the commencement of public access to the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) and a significant increase in the public time available with the CHARA interferometer. Public access also continues for the Subaru and AAT telescopes through time-exchange agreements. The Call for Proposals is available in HTML at [4] Page 6 of 13

7 and as a self-contained, downloadable PDF document at [5] Newsletter Observing proposals for all facilities available through NOAO in 2017B are due by Friday evening, 31 March 2017, 11:59pm MDT ALMA CYCLE 5 CALL FOR PROPOSALS AND PROPOSAL WRITING WORKSHOPS The ALMA Director, on behalf of the Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) and the partner organizations in East Asia, Europe, and North America, is pleased to announce the ALMA Cycle 5 Call for Proposals (CfP) for scientific observations to be scheduled from October 2017 to September It is anticipated that 4000 hours of the 12-m Array time and 3000 hours of the Atacama Compact Array (ACA) time, also known as the Morita Array, will be available for successful proposals from Principal Investigators (PIs) in Cycle 5. The Cycle 5 proposal submission deadline is 15:00 UT on Thursday, 20 April [6] To prepare the North American community to fully participate in the ALMA Call for Proposals, the North American ALMA Science Center (NAASC) is organizing community outreach events in the months leading up to the Cycle 5 proposal deadline. For more information go to [7] Page 7 of 13

8 STUDENT OPPORTUNITY: SUDBURY FIELD CAMP 2017 Fall Session September 23, 2017 September 30, 2017 The Short Course and Field School at the Sudbury Impact Structure is a week long classroom and field training program based in Sudbury, Ontario. The goal of the program will be to introduce students to impact cratering processes and observe, in the field, the attributes of an immense basin-size impact structure. Sudbury is known for spectacular shatter cones, tremendously thick melt-bearing impact breccias (the Onaping Fm.), and a differentiated impact melt sheet (the Sudbury Igneous Complex). Skills developed during the program should better prepare students for their own thesis studies in impact cratered terrains, whether they be on Earth, the Moon, Mars, or some other solar system planetary surface. This field camp is being organized under the auspices of the NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute [8], which is designed, in part, to train a new generation of explorers for the Moon and beyond. The activity is being led by an SSERVI international partner, the Canadian Lunar Research Network [9] and coordinated with the LPI-JSC Center for Lunar Science and Exploration [10]. Students are responsible for transportation to Sudbury, ON. They will also be responsible for lodging and other costs while in Sudbury. Course organizers will reserve lodging space, local transportation, and other logistical details. Class size is limited, so this will be a competitive process [11]. Applicants who are accepted for the program will be asked to formally register and pay those fees in advance of the course. Students should plan to arrive on Saturday, September 23, 2017 and Page 8 of 13

9 depart on Saturday, September 30, Additional logistical details will be provided to the selected participants. [12] UPCOMING WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS A) JWST PROPOSAL PLANNING WORKSHOP May 15-18, 2017 Baltimore, Maryland In support of the first JWST call for proposals, Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) is pleased to announce a workshop to educate the general astronomical community about the JWST Proposal Planning process. This workshop will take place at STScI in Baltimore, MD on May 15-18, The main goal of this workshop is to provide hands-on teaching for the JWST Exposure Time Calculator (ETC), the JWST Target Visibility Tools, and the JWST Astronomer s Proposal Tool (APT). Registration to the workshop is now open [13]. The Exposure Time Calculator (ETC) [14] calculates the detailed performance of the observatory by modeling astronomical scenes consisting of single or multiple point and extended sources. It offers full support for all of the JWST observing modes. There are two Target Visibility Tools [15] to help you assess target visibilities before you enter information in APT: the General Target Visibility Tool (GTVT) [16] predicts visibility windows and position angles for all instruments, and the Page 9 of 13

10 Coronagraphic Visibility Tool (CVT) [17] provides target visibility information for the NIRCam and MIRI coronagraphic modes. The Astronomer's Proposal Tool (APT) [18] is used to write, validate and submit proposals. The JWST Guaranteed Time Observers (GTOs) will submit Cycle 1 observing descriptions on April 1, We plan to illustrate the proposal planning process and the tools mentioned above using a subset of the NIRCam, NIRSpec, NIRISS, MIRI and Telescope Scientist GTO programs. During the workshop, GTOs will describe the science and technical motivation for half a dozen programs. STScI staff will step participants through ETC calculations and Target Visibility and APT planning for each program. The science programs to be discussed illustrate planning for (1) Multi Object Spectroscopy of bright and faint sources, (2) NIRCam and MIRI Coordinated Parallel Imaging, (3) NIRISS Wide Field Slitless Spectroscopy, (4) NIRSpec and MIRI Integral Field Spectroscopy of compact, extended sources, and (5) NIRcam and MIRI Coronagraphy of bright targets. In addition, STScI staff will be available to provide help with ERS and GO cycle 1 proposal planning during unstructured open periods. More information on JWST capabilities and observing opportunities can be found in the user documentation [19] (JDox) pages. For questions regarding the workshop you can contact us at: JWSTWorkshop-2017May-Info@stsci.edu [20] B) ASTROBIOLOGY 2017 Coyhaique, Chile Nov. 26-Dec 1, 2017 Page 10 of 13

11 We announce that registration is open for Astrobiology This conference will take place in beautiful Chilean Patagonia at Coyhaique (November 26th-December 1st, 2017). [21] The astrobiology community in the IAU has the tradition to hold a series of scientific meetings every three years. For a truly multidisciplinary discussion, we welcome researchers at the frontier of science from the fields of astronomy, planetary and space science, chemistry, biology, geology, philosophy, sociology and ethical issues, among others. KEY DATES * Early Registration deadline: May 19th * Oral contribution submission deadline: July 28th * Regular registration deadline: Oct 13th * Poster contribution deadline: Oct 13th * Late registration deadline: Nov 17th * Conference starts: Nov 26th CONFERENCE TOPICS * Star and planet formation * Extrasolar planets / Habitable zones and habitable planets * Planets in the solar system / Comets and meteorites * Prebiotic molecules in the ISM and protoplanetary disks * Early Earth environments and the emergence of life * Life in extreme conditions and early life * Search for life in the Universe * Societal and ethical issues linked to astrobiology * Education in Astrobiology INVITED SPEAKERS Over 20 superb invited speakers have already confirmed. The updated list can be found at: [22] TRAINING SCHOOL We are also preparing a two day training school with lectures on basics of Astrobiology open to all participants. This school will precede the conference and take place on Santiago during Friday 24th and Saturday 25th. There is no extra cost for participants of the conference but space is limited. Interested participants of the TS should reserve a seat during registration. STUDENT SUPPORT We expect to be able to provide a reduced number of travel funds for students. Instructions to apply for it will be provided on the webpage during coming March. With best regards, Page 11 of 13

12 Patricio Rojo (LOC's chair) Newsletter Send submissions to: Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary [23]) To unsubscribe visit [24] or [25]. To change your address [26] Footer Reports Photos History Bylaws Source URL: Links: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] af4637f6b84319f0.aspx [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] Page 12 of 13

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