PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 15, Number 50 (December 5, 2021) PEN Website: https://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Alex Morgan, Georgiana Kramer Email: pen_editor@psi.edu Twitter: @pen2tweets o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Mercury Science and Exploration November 2021 Newsletter Released 2. Re-Architected Mars-GRAM and Earth-GRAM Released in GRAM Suite Version 1.4 3. Sharing Planetary Science Seminar Common Planetary Misconceptions 4. [NASA] ROSES-21: FINESST Graduate Student Research Final Text and Due Date Released 5. Future Leaders of Ocean Worlds (FLOW) Early Career Coffee Hour: Academia 6. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month 7. OPAG Meeting Announcement 8. [NASA] Ames Planetary Studies Research Branch Chief Sought 9. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship 10. [NASA] PDS: Aperiodic Data Releases in 2021.11 11. [NASA] PDS: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Data Release 59 12. AbSciCon 2022 Session: Deep Dive into the Geophysics of Ocean Worlds 13. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 14. 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 MERCURY SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION NOVEMBER 2021 NEWSLETTER RELEASED The Mercury Exploration Assessment Group (MExAG) is circulating Issue 5 of "The Mercury Newsletter". The quarterly community newsletter can be accessed online at: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/mexag/newsletter/ In this newsletter, we share Mercury science and exploration news, highlight recent publications, and note upcoming meetings. Please send your Mercury community announcements and calendar items to mexag.sc@gmail.com for inclusion in the newsletter by the MExAG Steering Committee. 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 RE-ARCHITECTED MARS-GRAM AND EARTH-GRAM RELEASED IN GRAM SUITE VERSION 1.4 The Global Reference Atmospheric Model (GRAM) Suite is an engineering-oriented atmospheric model that estimates mean values and statistical variations of atmospheric properties for planetary destinations. GRAM outputs include atmospheric density, temperature, pressure, winds, and chemical composition along a user-defined path. The GRAMs have been re-architected from Fortran to a common object-oriented C++ framework. This new architecture creates a common GRAM library of data models and utilities. Version 1.4 of the GRAM Suite contains the re-architected Mars-GRAM, Earth-GRAM, Neptune-GRAM, Titan-GRAM, and Venus-GRAM and the new Uranus-GRAM and Jupiter-GRAM. GRAM Suite Version 1.4 also now includes the 2019 Range Reference Atmosphere database in Earth-GRAM. GRAM Suite Version 1.4 is available upon request through the NASA Software Catalog at: https://software.nasa.gov/software/MFS-33888-1 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 SHARING PLANETARY SCIENCE SEMINAR COMMON PLANETARY MISCONCEPTIONS Tuesday, December 7, 3:00 p.m. CST All planetary scientists and engineers, including early-career scientists and graduate students, are invited to join us on December 7, 2021 for this free seminar. Audiences may have mistaken ideas about the size, scale, and characteristics of objects in the Solar System, and limited understanding of astronomical and geological time and concepts. Join Dr. Sanlyn Buxner (Planetary Science Institute), Dr. Molly Simon (Arizona State University) and Christine Shupla (LPI) to learn about how people learn and some of the common planetary misconceptions that may affect education and public engagement programs, and to discuss ways to modify your presentations and activities. Join the Zoom at: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1601216457?pwd=bE1sTnozQkhvUTlzMG9sYUhpei8xdz09 Join audio by telephone: (669) 254-5252 Webinar ID: 160 121 6457 This can also be streamed on LPI's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/LPIUSRA For more details, or information on past Sharing Planetary Science sessions, go to the Lunar and Planetary Institute's Scientist Engagement website: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/scientist-engagement [Edited for length] 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 [NASA] ROSES-21: FINESST GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH FINAL TEST AND DUE DATE RELEASED Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST ROSES-2021 F.5) solicits proposals from accredited U.S. universities and other eligible organizations for graduate student-designed and performed research projects that contribute to SMD's science, technology, and exploration goals. The graduate student shall have the primary initiative to define the proposed FINESST research project and must be the primary author, with input or supervision from the proposal's Principal Investigator (PI), as appropriate. The proposal must present a well-defined research problem/activity and a justification of its scientific significance to NASA. FINESST awards are grants for up to three years and up to $50K per year. Go to: https://go.nasa.gov/FINESST21 Notices of Intent are not requested. Proposals are due February 11, 2022. Questions concerning FINESST should be directed to hq-finesst@mail.nasa.gov [Edited for length] 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 FUTURE LEADERS OF OCEAN WORLDS (FLOW) EARLY CAREER COFFEE HOUR: ACADEMIA Tuesday, December 7, at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET Webex Link: https://jpl.webex.com/jpl/j.php?MTID=m78b273814ddb3fef669573ac1f9c1664 Meeting number: 2762 568 7152 Password: t6PY6kusUK8 Join our winter coffee hour on a career in academia! We have invited panelists from four different types of academic institutions. Learn more about FLOW at: https://oceanworlds.space/flow/ Panelists: Dr. Charlene Estradam, South Mountain Community College. Geology faculty, specializing in Earth and Planetary Sciences. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfestrada https://sites.google.com/asu.edu/cestrada Dr. Alberto Mestas-Nunez, University of Texas at San Antonio (R2 University). Associate Professor in Practice, specializing in Physical Oceanography and Remote Sensing. Served a 3-year tour as Program Director in the NSF Physical Oceanography Program. https://albertomestas.com/research/ Dr. Jill Mikucki, University of Tennessee (R1 University). Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology. https://micro.utk.edu/faculty/mikucki.php Dr. Alysia Cox, Montana Technological University (PUI). Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Chemistry. https://mtechlegend.weebly.com/ 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 GEOMORPHOLOGY IMAGE OF THE MONTH The December image of the month is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page: https://planetarygeomorphology.wordpress.com This month's topic is "Jostling Pack Ice(ish) on Venus", contributed by Prof. Paul K. Byrne, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Washington University in St. Louis, USA. You can follow IAG Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month on Twitter (@PlanetGeomorpho) or Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/PlanetaryGeomorphology Best wishes, Frances Butcher (Chair, IAG Planetary Geomorphology working group) 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 OPAG MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT April 19-20, 2022 OPAG is NASA's community-based forum designed to provide science input for planning and prioritizing outer planet exploration activities for the next several decades. The OPAG meeting will be in the Washington D.C area. A final location for the meeting will be posted at a later date. The focus of this meeting will include updates from NASA HQ, updates on current missions, and aspects of the Decadal Survey that are relevant to OPAG. The three-day meeting will consist of oral and poster presentations. https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/ 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 [NASA] AMES PLANETARY STUDIES RESEARCH BRANCH CHIEF SOUGHT The deadline for applications has been extended. NASA Ames Research Center is seeking a permanent supervisory Branch Chief hire in Planetary Studies Research. Any interested applicants can apply on USA Jobs: https://www.usajobs.gov The position is engaged in professional scientific and engineering work involving systematic, critical investigations directed toward discovering, disseminating, and applying new or expanded knowledge in a professional discipline. The position provides technical, administrative, and managerial supervision to a highly technical, scientific workforce engaged in both basic and applied research, technology and instrument concept development leading to flight mission concepts. 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 NASA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP Application Deadline: March 1, 2022 The NASA Postdoctoral Program offers US and international scientists the opportunity to advance their research while contributing to NASA's scientific goals. The NPP supports fundamental science; explores the undiscovered; promotes intellectual growth; and encourages scientific connections. Selected by a competitive peer-review process, NPP Fellows complete one- to three-year Fellowship appointments that advance NASA's missions in earth science, heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, space bioscience, aeronautics and engineering, human exploration and space operations, and astrobiology. Current NPP research opportunities in planetary science can be viewed here: https://npp.usra.edu/opportunities/?filter_keywords=&filter_fields=145 Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in hand before beginning the fellowship, but may apply while completing the degree requirements. Please see current eligibility requirements. Stipends start at $60,000 per year, with supplements for high cost-of-living areas and for certain academic specialties. Financial assistance is available for relocation and health insurance, and $10,000 per year is provided for professional travel. Applications are accepted three times each year: March 1, July 1, and November 1. For further information and to apply, visit: https://npp.usra.edu/ Questions: npphelp@usra.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 [NASA] PDS: APERIODIC DATA RELEASES IN 2021.11 In November 2021, PDS ingested and made available the following data, none of which were regularly released with an ongoing mission: 2021.11.19 PRIMASS-L Spectra 2021.11.19 Mars Express: OMEGA experiment from mission extension 7 2021.11.19 Mars Express: MaRS 4 volumes of Occultation measurements 2021.11.15 VG2: CRS Jupiter Derived Proton/Ion/Electron Flux 2021.11.12 MRO: SHARAD Reprocessed Radargram Data 2021.11.11 Mars Express: MaRS 20 volumes of Occultation measurements 2021.11.05 Laboratory Study of Hydrocarbon IR Spectra 2021.11.01 Mars Express: MaRS 10 volumes of Occultation measurements To access those data: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20211130.shtml To access all data archived in PDS: https://pds.nasa.gov 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 [NASA] PDS: MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER DATA RELEASE 59 The NASA Planetary Data System announces Release 59 of data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). This release contains raw, calibrated, and derived data products nominally covering the time period February 9, 2021, through May 8, 2021. Some instrument teams are delivering more recent data. The data are archived at various PDS nodes. - CRISM, SHARAD, and Radio Science data at the Geosciences Node - HiRISE, CTX, and MARCI data at the Cartography and Imaging Sciences Node - MCS data at the Atmospheres Node - SPICE data at the NAIF Node The data may be accessed at: https://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/mro/ For a view centered on this release: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20211201.shtml To access the latest PDS Data Releases, please visit the following link: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-Release.shtml All available PDS data may be found at: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/data-search/ For further information, see the PDS Home Page: https://pds.nasa.gov/ MRO data releases occur every three months. The next release is scheduled for March 1, 2022. 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 ABSCICON 2022 SESSION: DEEP DIVE INTO THE GEOPHYSICS OF OCEAN WORLDS Submit your oral and poster presentations to the Ocean World focused AbSciCon 2022 session Deep Dive into the Geophysics of Ocean Worlds. Details: https://agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon21/prelim.cgi/Session/111831 Submission deadline: January 19 A variety of planetary oceans are predicted in our Solar System and beyond, whose conditions depend on planetary size, water mass, composition, stellar distance, etc. Although regarded as major astrobiological targets, physical constraints are necessary to understand the limiting factors for habitability. P-T conditions in these oceans can exceed those found on Earth, therefore approaches using geophysical tools to constrain planetary environments becomes binding. We welcome contributions from numerical and experimental studies using geophysical tools (e.g. geodynamics, mineral physics, thermodynamics, seismology) aimed at understanding the environments of ocean-bearing worlds from their surfaces to their deep interiors, with topics including: (1) numerical studies of structure/geodynamics, (2) experimental studies of aqueous solutions and solids (ices, rocks, metals), (3) exploration with upcoming mission concepts (e.g. gravity, seismology, magnetism), including fieldwork, and (4) investigating the astrobiology of ocean worlds with geophysics. Looking forward to your submissions! The conveners, Baptiste Journaux, Angela Marusiak, Cayman Unterborn, Morgan Cable, Mohit Melwani Daswani, Shannon MacKenzie, Nadejda Marounina, Steve Vance 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 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 February 21-23, 2022 PERC International Symposium on Dust & Parent Bodies 2022 (IDP2022) https://www.perc.it-chiba.ac.jp/meetings/IDP2022/IDP2022/ Online April 19-20, 2022 Outer Planets Assessment Group Meeting https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/ Washington, DC August 22-26, 2022 Cosmic Dust https://www.cps-jp.org/~dust/ Kitakyushu, Japan [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.] 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS Editor, Faith Vilas https://psj.aas.org The Lunar Fossil Figure in a Cassini State Isamu Matsuyama et al. 2021 PSJ 2:232 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ac32d9 Thermochemical Equilibrium Modeling Indicates That Hg Minerals Are Unlikely to Be the Source of the Emissivity Signal on the Highlands of Venus S. T. Port and V. F. Chevrier 2021 PSJ 2:233 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ac2fa5 A Sublime Opportunity: The Dynamics of Transitioning Cometary Bodies and the Feasibility of In Situ Observations of the Evolution of Their Activity Darryl Z. Seligman et al. 2021 PSJ 2:234 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ac2dee Morphometric Study of Craters on Saturn's Moon Rhea Betzaida Aponte-Hernandez et al. 2021 PSJ 2:235 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ac32d4 Early Activity in Comet C/2014 UN271 Bernardinelli-Bernstein as Observed by TESS Tony L. Farnham et al. 2021 PSJ 2:236 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ac323d *********************************************************************** * 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/pen_subscribe.html, 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. Title plus text is limited to 200 words. All PEN * submissions will be tweeted @pen2tweets. Please submit a 234 (or * fewer) character tweet to accommodate the PEN tag. Alternatively, * the editorial staff will create one for you. 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