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Planetary Sciences Community Meetings Calendar

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Organized by LPI/USRA *

March 2016

4	Shock Chemistry of Simple Sugars: Production of Biologically Relevant Compounds in Impacts (Nicolle Zellner, Albion College), Lecture Hall  The identification of over 100 different sugars, sugar acids, amino acids, and other biologically relevant molecules in the Murchison meteorite has spurred interest in the field of prebiotic chemistry. Questions regarding the origins of these compounds are many. For example, are they native to the meteorite? If so, how were they formed? Could they have been formed in the shock event that occurred when the meteorite fell to the Earth? In this talk, I will describe our recent experiments where we explore the reactivity of two simple sugars, glycolaldehyde and dihydroxyacetone, catalyzed by mineral surfaces. I will also present the results of laboratory impact experiments where these sugars and mineral matrices were subjected to reverberated shocks from 5 GPa to >25 GPa. Our experiments show that the production of larger molecules (with up to six carbons) is accelerated under the conditions that simulate impacts by extraterrestrial objects. Scenarios for the production of these molecules via impact delivery by asteroids or comets will be explored.
7-11	Protoplanetary Discussions, Edinburgh, United Kingdom  In this conference, we invite observers from all wavelength regimes to share their latest results with modellers from the thermo-chemical and hydrodynamic communities in order to foster collaboration across this exciting and rapidly expanding field.
18	Solar System Observations with the Arecibo Planetary Radar System (Patrick Taylor, Arecibo Observatory), Lecture Hall  Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico houses the largest and most sensitive single-dish radio telescope and the most active and powerful planetary radar system in the world. The radar system on the 305-m William E. Gordon telescope has been used to study objects in the Solar System since its construction in 1963, from Mercury out to Saturn and all solid bodies in between. I will discuss the history of planetary radar at Arecibo and its applications to Solar System astronomy with specific attention paid to observations of near-Earth objects. Radar observations of near-Earth asteroids are critical for identifying those objects that may present a hazard to Earth and providing detailed physical characterizations in terms of size, shape, spin, and surface-property (reflectivity, polarization, geologic features and sometimes composition and density) information. In fact, radar investigations of many near-Earth objects are roughly equivalent in terms of their science content to space flyby missions, but at a cost orders of magnitude less making radar arguably the most powerful ground-based method for post-discovery characterization of the near-Earth object population.
19-20	Microsymposium 57 — Polar Volatiles on the Moon and Mercury: Nature, Evolution, and Future Exploration, The Woodlands, Texas  In this Microsymposium, we will explore our current knowledge of these materials and seek to identify the key questions, goals, and objectives in order to underpin and motivate future exploration. We will review current exploration plans, including the U.S. Resource Prospector, Russian Luna 26 and 27, and ESA BepiColombo missions.
21-25	47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (#lpsc2016) *, The Woodlands, Texas

 

April 2016

4-8	International Venus Conference 2016, Oxford, United Kingdom
8	Royal Astronomical Society Meeting on Space Resources, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London  The RAS in the UK will hold a Specialist Discussion Meeting on the theme of "The use of extraterrestrial resources to help facilitate space science and exploration." Note that, for consistency with the scientific interests of the RAS, the emphasis will be on how space resources may facilitate/accelerate scientific discovery (e.g. by enabling the construction of large space observatories, robotic missions to the outer Solar System or beyond, and lunar and planetary research stations) rather than a narrow focus on ISRU techniques. At this (early) stage we would be interested in hearing from colleagues who may be interested in presenting a talk or a poster at this meeting.
8	Proximal Volcanic Deposits and an Evolving LROC-Perspective of a Dynamic Moon (Julie Stopar, Arizona State University), Lecture Hall  Unprecedented high-resolution coverage (0.5-2 m scale images) and derived topography (2-5 m scale DTMs) from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) continue to transform our understanding of lunar geology. Both impact craters and volcanic constructs are well preserved on the Moon, and LROC Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) images reveal new details of their morphology and distributions. In this talk, I will focus on my investigations of several volcanic landforms about which little detail was previously known and discuss what questions yet remain in their understanding. For example, small-area conical deposits emplaced proximal to source vents (0.5-3 km in diameter) are relatively common and widely dispersed in the maria. NAC images resolve layering in the cones that I interpret as interbedded cinder, spatter, and lava. Dark draping layers on the summits are likely late-stage spatter facies or lava remnants. Cones in the Marius Hills are larger and steeper on average than those found elsewhere, a possible consequence of increased volatiles and/or larger eruption volumes. Other morphologies signify variations in explosiveness and volatile content during or between eruptions. Cone and flow stratigraphies in the Marius Hills connote repeated eruptions from a single, long-lived source, perhaps spanning 3 billion years, suggesting persistent, regional-scale volcanism. These and other landforms are contributing to an emerging view of a more dynamic and younger Moon.
11-15	15th Biennial ASCE International Conference in Engineering, Science, Construction and Operations in Challenging Environments, Orlando, Florida  This conference brings professionals together from across the world to discuss issues related to engineering, science, construction and operations in the extreme environments on Earth and in space. The conference is sponsored by the Aerospace Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and administered by Missouri University of Science and Technology.
13-16	Horizon 2020 EURO-CARES WP3 Meeting - Designing a European Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Facility, Vienna, Austria  This meeting is focused on infrastructures, storage, and curation of samples.
15	Volatile Reservoirs in the Outer Solar System (Silvia Protopapa, University of Maryland), Lecture Hall  Over the past decade, the synergy of ground- and space-based observations, modeling efforts, and laboratory studies have highlighted vital information on the composition of the worlds in the outer solar system. I will discuss some of the latest results from New Horizons at Pluto and contrast them with emerging trends seen in other trans-Neptunian objects and comets — the primitive remnants of the planetesimal disk from which the outer planets formed. I will demonstrate how characterizing the composition of these objects improves our understanding of the primordial solar nebula and the accretion processes that led to the formation of the planets.
20	The Fine Structure of the Hawaiian Mantle Plume Images the Earth's Deep Mantle (Dominique Weis, University of British Columbia), Lecture Hall  The origin, scale and source of mantle heterogeneities have been the subject of debate since their first documentation through the study of ocean island basalts (OIB) 50 years ago (Gast et al., 1964). One of the most common approaches is to analyze the geochemistry of oceanic basalts brought to the surface by mantle plumes, sampled either on oceanic islands or by drilling oceanic plateaus. Improved analytical precision for radiogenic isotopes, combined with statistical data treatment, has provided the finer resolution necessary for identifying small-scale geochemical variations in OIB that relate to shallow and deep plume structure. Another key factor is the acquisition of continuous datable sequences of lavas (DePaolo & Weis, 2007). The Hawaiian mantle plume represents >80 Myr of volcanic activity in a pure oceanic setting and with a high magmatic flux. Identification of two clear geochemical trends (Loa and Kea) among Hawaiian volcanoes (Tatsumoto, 1978; Abouchami et al., 2005) in all isotope systems (Weis et al., 2011), together with the recurrence of similar isotopic signatures at >350 kyr intervals identified in the HSDP (Hawaii Scientific Drilling Project) cores, have implications for the dynamics and internal structure of the Hawaiian mantle plume conduit (Farnetani & Hofmann, 2009, 2010) and source (Farnetani et a., 2012). In this review talk, I will present a compilation of recent isotopic data for samples from shield lavas on Hawaiian volcanoes, focusing specifically on high-precision Pb isotopic data (MC-ICP-MS or DS, TS-TIMS) integrated with Sr, Nd and Hf isotopes. All isotopic systems indicate source differences for Loa- and Kea-trend volcanoes that are maintained throughout the ~1 Myr activity of each volcano and that extend back in time on all the Hawaiian Islands (~5 Ma). There is also a NE-SW gradient in isotopic compositions. The Loa-trend source is more heterogeneous in all isotope systems than the Kea-trend source by a factor of ~1.5. When projected to the CMB, many mantle plumes occur at the edges of large low shear velocity provinces (LLSVZ) (e.g., Ritsema et al., 2004). The Hawaiian mantle plume overlies the boundary between typical Pacific lower mantle on the Kea side and a sharp, seismically defined, layer of apparently different ULVZ material that occurs on the Loa side of the plume. The geochemical differences between the Kea and Loa trends reflect preferential sampling of these two distinct sources of deep mantle material at the core-mantle boundary. Similar indications of preferential sampling at the edges of the African LLSVP are found in Kerguelen and Tristan da Cunha basalts in the Indian and Atlantic oceans, respectively. The anomalous low-velocity zones at the core–mantle boundary store geochemical heterogeneities that are enriched in recycled material (EM-I type) and are sampled by strong mantle plumes such as Hawaii and Kerguelen. To wrap up, I will present new data for the Northwestern Hawaiian Ridge (i.e. for 42 myr of activity of the Hawaiian plume) and discuss the conditions of appearance of the Loa component and its impact on plume magmatic flux.
21-22	The Asteroid-Meteorite Connection, Los Angeles, California  New spectrographic observations of asteroids hint at complex internal structures. Advances in geochemistry and cosmochemistry suggest complicated geological histories of meteorite parent bodies. This workshop will strive to reconcile observations of asteroids and comets with detailed geochemical and cosmochemical data for meteorites with the goal of achieving a more complete understanding of the formation and evolution of planetesimals in the early solar system. The workshop will bring together geochemists, planetary scientists and astronomers to discuss this 'asteroid-meteorite' connection.
25-28	From Star and Planet Formation to Early Life, Vilnius, Lithuania  This meeting will cover a multitude of scientific subjects ranging from star and planet formation until the early evolution of life on Earth. It aims to bring together astronomers, physicists, chemists, geologists and biologists as well as academics and students from humanities to discuss the most important questions and newest findings in all related disciplines. Special sessions will be devoted to comets, meteorites, prebiotic chemistry and early life.
29	Water, Hydroxyl, and Ice in the Asteroid Belt (Andrew Rivkin, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory), Lecture Hall  Water-and Organics-rich objects are of intense interest to the planetary science community, and are high-priority targets for spacecraft visits and sample return. However, such visits are rare commodities, and remote sensing via telescopic observations are necessary to obtain the context required for understanding spacecraft measurements. Over the past decade, we have observed hundreds of objects at wavelengths diagnostic for water and organic material. I will present our current understanding of water, hydroxyl, and ice on asteroids, including the ways these objects are and aren't represented in the meteorite collection.

 

May 2016

4	Internal structure of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko probed by the CONSERT radar on ROSETTA (Jeremie Lasue, IRAP-OMP), Hess Room - Brown Bag  During the successful landing of Philae on 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the Comet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radiowave Transmission (CONSERT) provided the first opportunity to investigate the internal structure of a comet nucleus. The data unambiguously showed that propagation inside the smaller lobe of the nucleus was achieved (Figure) [1]. CONSERT also reduced the size of the uncertainty of Philae’s final landing site down to approximately 21 by 34 square meters [1, 2]. From the shape of the received signals, we can infer that the smaller lobe of 67P is fairly homogeneous on a spatial scale of tens of meters. The average permittivity obtained from the propagation delay is about 1.27, suggesting that this region has a volumetric dust/ice ratio of 0.4 to 2.6 and a porosity of 75 to 85% [1]. From comparison with laboratory measurements made on meteorites and ice mixtures, the dust component permittivity value may be comparable to that of carbonaceous chondrites. Simulations of the signal propagation is consistent with a possible near-surface gradient of the dielectric constant decreasing with depth [3]. The very low dielectric constant values and homogeneity of the nucleus as constrained by CONSERT data indicates that the comet interior is primitive and has not been heavily processed. The data does not show the presence of cometesimals or large voids at the scale probed (about 10 meters), providing information about its formation and evolution in the early solar system. Figure: Propagation of signals from Philae on the nucleus to Rosetta on its orbit. References: [1] W. Kofman, et al., Science 349, aab0639-1 (2015) [2] A. Hérique, et al., PSS, 117, 475-484 (2015) [3] V. Ciarletti, et al., A&A aa26337-15, (2015)
16-19	Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments (#biosignature2016) *, Lake Tahoe, Nevada  Our objective is to focus strategies to detect a range of possible biosignatures on Mars in different categories of geologic settings by assessing the attributes and preservation potential of various biosignatures in different Mars-analog habitable environments on Earth. We are seeking a better understanding of three broad classes of ancient environments known to exist in the martian geologic record: 1.Lacustrine and deltaic sediments; 2.Near-surface chemical sediments (including hydrothermal and pedogenic); or 3.Deep crustal rocks (including hydrothermally altered).
17-19	Humans to Mars Summit, Washington, DC  Explore Mars is proud to present the Humans to Mars Summit 2016 (#H2M2016), the comprehensive Mars exploration conference that addresses the major technical, scientific, and policy challenges of getting humans to Mars, as well as how such missions can have positive impacts on STEM education, American Competitiveness and other important collateral issues.
17-19	International Workshop About Comets in Honor of Hans Rickman, Paris, France  This three-day meeting will cover both the dynamical and physical properties of comets, with a full day focused on the most recent results obtained from the Rosetta mission.
18-19	4th European Lunar Symposium, Trippenhuis (Dutch Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences), Amsterdam, The Netherlands  This meeting will build upon the success of previous European Lunar Symposiums (ELS) held in Berlin (2012), London (2014), and Frascati (2015). The fourth ELS will be held under the umbrella of the European nodes of the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI). A global surge in lunar exploration has thrust lunar science and exploration back into the limelight once again. Current interests in the exploration of the Moon range from astronomical, astrophysical, geological, commercial, resource utilization, and strategic considerations, to its use as an outpost for future human exploration of the Solar System. One of the main aims of this meeting is to bring together the European scientific community interested in various aspects of lunar exploration. In addition, lunar experts from countries engaged in launching lunar missions are also invited to attend this meeting. The format will consist of both oral and poster presentations divided into four broad themes of: “Science of the Moon,” “Science on the Moon,” “Science from the Moon,” and “Future Lunar Missions."
18-19	68th Annual Meeting of the Rocky Mountain GSA, Moscow, Idaho
22-26	Japan Geoscience Union Meeting, Chiba, Japan
24-25	5th Interplanetary CubeSat Workshop, Oxford, United Kingdom  iCubeSat 2016, the 5th Interplanetary CubeSat Workshop, will address the technical challenges, opportunities, and practicalities of interplanetary space exploration with CubeSats. The workshop provides a unique environment for open wide ranging practical collaboration between academic researchers, industry professionals, policy makers, and students developing this new and rapidly growing field.
24-26	New Views of the Moon 2 (#newviews2) *, Houston, Texas
27-30	Fourth Beijing Earth and Planetary Interior Symposium, Beijing, China  The aim of the Symposium is to bring scientists in different disciplines—experimental, observational, theoretical and numerical—together for further understanding the origin, structure, and variations of the Earth’s and planetary magnetic fields.
29-Jun 3	Brave New Worlds: Understanding the Planets of Other Stars, Como, Italy  This year's focus will be on exoplanet science.
29-Jun 24	Water in the Solar System and Beyond, Rome, Italy  Water plays an important role in the origin and chemical development of comets, asteroids, icy moons, and planets including our own Earth. It is also a necessary ingredient for life as we know it. Recent space missions, remote sensing, and laboratory research have led to considerable growth in our understanding of the role of water in the solar system and in cosmochemistry. Expert faculty will direct a comprehensive four-week course of lectures, presentations, and hands-on projects in the beautiful setting of the Papal villas outside Rome. It will be an unforgettable experience!

 

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