Planetary Sciences Community Meetings Calendar
Organized by LPI/USRA *
August 2010
3-4 | 3rd Meeting of the Small Bodies Assessment Group, Pasadena, California | |
3-7 |
10th International Colloquium on Atomic Spectra and Oscillator Strengths for Astrophysical and Laboratory Plasmas,
Berkeley, California
The ASOS meeting has been held once every three years since its inception in Lund in 1983 and has provided a forum for atomic spectroscopists and astronomers from around the world to meet and discuss atomic data from the perspectives of their production and application. |
|
4 |
Modeling the Origin of the low-Ti Apollo 15 Green Glasses in Search of a Primordial Mantle Component (Jay Arthur Barr, MIT, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Cambridge MA),
Lecture Hall
High-pressure phase equilibrium experiments on Apollo 15 Group A, green glasses exhibit liquidus multiple-phase saturation points, with olivine and orthopyroxene, at 2.1 GPa; however the high-Mg# Group C green glasses have been shown to have a shallower liquidus multiple-phase saturation point at 1.5 GPa (Elkins-Tanton et al., 2003). Assimilation of overturned magma-ocean cumulates can explain this inverted cumulate Mg# profile, but the chemistry of the original melts is difficult to discern. Forward modeling of high-pressure melts of garnet-lherzolite and assimilation of evolved magma-ocean cumulate lithologies can reproduce the Apollo 15 Groups A and C major element compositions, and this melt-assimilant scenario provides an explanation for the presence of negative-Eu anomalies found in the Apollo 15 ultramafic glasses. |
|
8-13 |
2010 Meeting of the Americas,
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
The Meeting of the Americas is being held in Foz do Iguaçu, 08–13 August 2010. The Program Committee will develop a Union-wide science program that will cover topics in all areas of geophysical sciences. With its majestic beauty, rich history, and tropical grandeur, the cosmopolitan city of Foz de Iguassu is an ideal venue for a productive meeting and a memorable experience. |
|
10-11 |
Exploration of Near Earth Objects (NEO) Objectives Workshop [Explore NOW],
Washington, DC
NASA is hosting an interactive, two-day workshop to identify objectives for exploration missions to Near Earth Objects (NEOs). The primary goals for the workshop are to increase the collective understanding of NEOs, communicate NASA’s plans for a human mission to a NEO, and capture external input on proposed mission objectives. Explore NOW will bring together experts and key leaders within NASA, industry, academia, other government agencies, and international communities.Although participation in the workshop is limited, NASA will offer a live webcast of the plenary sessions and panel sessions, to provide maximum insight and public engagement. The website provides a link to the webcast. |
|
11-14 |
Planetary Systems Beyond the Main Sequence,
Bamberg, Germany
Planetary and brown dwarf companions to evolved stars have only recently been discovered. The aim of this conference is to discuss observational results and techniques as well as theoretical predictions for the formation and the fate of the orbiting substellar objects as well as for their impact on the evolution of the host stars. Central to the conference is to explore the impact of new and upcoming space missions like Kepler, GAIA and PLATO for this emerging field. |
|
13-15 |
SETIcon: A National Convention About the Search for Life in the University in Science Fact and Science Fiction,
Santa Clara, California
SETIcon is a public outreach event featuring talks that explain new science developments in everyday language, a few stars of science fiction TV series and movies (who enjoy science), science advisors who helped with the science in these shows and films, panels to air controversial issues and share perspectives, and a family room with hands-on activities (for kids 12 and older). |
|
16-22 |
Astronomy and Astrophysics in Antarctica,
Xi'an, China
The Antarctic plateau provides many exciting possibilities for astronomical observations. The next decade may see a significant astronomical buildup on the Antarctic Plateau. Dome A, being the highest and coldest point in Antarctica, is especially promising based on the results of recent theoretical models and site surveys. Existing data show already that certain areas of astronomical observations can be planned with little risks on the Antarctica Plateau. The goals of the meeting on Astronomy and Astrophysics in Antarctica are (1) to explore the site properties of the Antarctica Plateau; (2) to evaluate the risks involved and prioritize science programs the upcoming years for astronomy on the Antarctica Plateau; (3) to assess the technical challenges in building astronomical instruments on the Antarctica Plateau; and (4) to learn how to work together on the Antarctica Plateau. |
|
21-27 |
IMA 2010: Planetary Mineralogy Special Sessions,
Budapest, Hungary
Planetary mineralogy special sessions planned during IMA 2010 include Meteorites, shock metamorphism, and more; First solids in the solar system; Cometary and stellar mineralogy; Minerals in meteorites: Indicators of parent body processes; and Terrestrial and extra-terrestrial nanodiamonds: Recent progress in the occurrences, structures and uses. |
|
21-27 |
International Mineralogical Association (IMA2010): Bonds and Bridges,
Budapest, Hungary
Contributions are welcome from all fields of research and education related to mineral sciences and their applications, the latter including artistic and other social approaches as well. |
|
23-27 |
Detection and Dynamics of Transiting Exoplanets,
Observatoire de Haute-Provence, France
In the decade since the first detection of an exoplanetary transit, more than 60 transiting exoplanets have been discovered and characterized, using both ground-based and space-based observations. A few systems including a transiting planet have also been discovered, providing precise data that can be used for dynamical modelling and for investigating the processes of planet formation and migration. Observations of transits provide not only fundamental parameters of the planet, but also the relative inclination between the orbit and the stellar rotation axis, which offers additional constraints on formation and migration scenarios. The Colloquium "Detection and dynamics of transiting exoplanets" is intended to review all the observed characteristics of transiting systems, and all theoretical works related to the measured properties. |
|
26 |
Lunar Bombardment Record as a Window into the Early Solar System (Oleg Abramov, University of Colorado),
Lecture Hall
The Moon, with a preserved cratering, rock, and mineral record dating back to well before 4 Ga, holds the key to unlocking the ancient bombardment history of the Earth at the dawn of life, and can also inform us of the early biological potential of other rocky worlds in our solar system, such as Venus and Mars. In particular, a period dubbed the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB) at ~3.9 Ga, which has been suggested based on analyses of lunar crustal rocks and impact melts, may have profoundly affected terrestrial life, the earliest evidence of which dates back to 3.83 Ga. To evaluate the thermal effects of the LHB, a simulation was designed consisting of: (i) a stochastic cratering model which populates the surface with craters within constraints derived from the lunar cratering record, the size/frequency distribution of the asteroid belt, and dynamical models; (ii) analytical expressions that calculate a temperature field for each model crater; and (iii) three-dimensional thermal models of lunar, terrestrial, and martian lithospheres, where craters are allowed to cool by conduction in the subsurface and radiation at the surface. This simulation can constrain the intensity of the LHB (or the post-accretionary bombardment) through comparisons to data derived from lunar samples, particularly from microprobe studies of lunar zircons and apatites. However, more data are needed. Lunar bombardment history can be further elucidated through detection of previously unrecognized impact basins, as well as age-dating the major known basins, both in-situ and through sample return missions. |
|
30-Sep 2 |
Venus, Our Closest Earth-like Planet: From Surface to Thermosphere -- How Does It Work?,
Madison, Wisconsin
Venus was first visited in 1962 with the Mariner 2 fly-by and has been explored since then by Mariners 5 and 10 (Fly-by), numerous Venera (fly-bys, orbiters and entry probes/landers), Pioneer Venus (Orbiter, probes), VeGa 1 & 2 (fly-by, balloons and landers), Magellan (radar orbiter), Galileo (fly-by), MESSENGER (fly-by). Currently, Venus Express is returning new information about Venus as it orbits the planet, and the Japanese Venus Climate Orbiter ("Akatsuki") is being readied to be launched in May/June 2010 to orbit Venus in December 2010. In the nearly five decades since the Mariner 2 fly-by, we have learned much about Venus' dynamic atmosphere, yet a good understanding of how the Venus atmosphere works and how it interacts with the surface is lacking. Major questions remain unanswered in dynamics, chemistry, surface-atmosphere interactions, radiative balance, climatology, and evolution of the Venus atmosphere. Here is a sampling of suggested topics for the workshop: 1. Nature, process, and consequence(s) of surface-atmosphere interaction? 2. Timing and cause of water loss from Venus' surface, and impact on atmospheric evolution 3. Venus' runaway greenhouse effect and implications for Earth's climate evolution? 4. Nature, period, an atmospheric impact of the global cataclysm that resurfaced Venus? 5. Atmospheric dynamics, including origin of the superrotation of the Venus atmosphere, possible coupling between Hadley circulation and the hemispheric vortex circulation? |
|
30-Sep 3 | 25th Summer School and International Symposium on the Physics of Ionized Gases, Donji Milanovac, Serbia | |
30-Sep 4 | Astronomy and Power: How Worlds Are Structured, Gilching, Germany |
September 2010
2 |
Eighth Meeting of the Venus Exploration and Analysis Group (VEXAG),
Madison, Wisconsin
The Eighth Meeting of the Venus Exploration and Analysis Group (VEXAG) is bing held in conjunction with the International Conference on Venus Our Closest Earth-like Planet: From Surface to Thermosphere - How does it work? on August 30–September 1, 2010. |
|
6-8 | 10th European Workshop on Astrobiology, Pushchino, Russia | |
6-9 |
Herschel and the Formation of Stars and Planetary Systems,
Göteberg, Sweden
The goal of this conference is to bring together researchers from the infrared and star formation communities to share recent research results, contrast them with earlier insights gained from ground-based and space-based observatories, and help guide our theoretical understanding of physical and chemical processes in regions of star and planet formation. The meeting comes at a time when the early, exciting results from the Herschel Key Programs will become available. The scientific themes of the meeting include: 1.The characteristics of dust and gas in prestellar cores; 2.The characteristics of dust and gas around protostars; 3.From protoplanetary disks to debris disks; 4.The organic inventory of regions of star and planet formation |
|
6-10 |
Advances in Plasma Astrophysics,
Giardini Naxos, Italy
The symposium topics will focus on recent observational, theoretical and experimental efforts in understanding the basic plasma processes in the Universe, with broad synergies with many areas of astrophysics, including the origin and dynamics of magnetic fields in astrophysical systems (the dynamo problem), the origin of x-ray emitting coronas and the role of magnetic reconnection, acceleration of charged particles and cosmic rays, winds and jets from protostars, highly evolved stars and active galactic nuclei, plasma radiation processes, turbulence of the magnetized plasma in astrophysical objects, in the interstellar and intergalactic media and the solar wind, quantum plasmas under extreme conditions in planetary interiors and in exotic stars, and other key problems in modern plasma astrophysics. The conference will include introductory lectures, invited talks, contributed talks and posters on the major scientific topics listed below, as well as public talks. The conference is sponsored in part by IAU, the Catania Astrophysical Observatory, the Laboratorio Nazionale del Sud and Catania University. |
|
6-10 | Joint European and National Astronomy Meeting, Lisbon, Portugal | |
7-10 |
Exploring the Diversity of Planetary Atmospheres,
Exeter, United Kingdom
Planetary atmospheres are complex and evolving entities, as mankind is rapidly coming to realise whilst attempting to understand, forecast and mitigate human-induced climate change. In the solar system, our neighbours Venus and Mars provide striking examples of two endpoints of planetary evolution, runaway greenhouse and loss of atmosphere to space. The variety of extra-solar planets brings a wider angle to the issue: from scorching 'hot jupiters'' to ocean worlds, exoatmospheres explore many configurations unknown in the Solar System, such as iron clouds, silicate rains, extreme plate tectonics, and steam volcanoes. Exoplanetary atmospheres have recently become accessible to observations. The aim of this conference in Exeter is to bring together Earth, solar system and exoplanet specialists to discuss recent results and the way ahead, and put our own climate in the wider context of the trials and tribulations of planetary atmospheres. |
|
9 |
Hayabusa and Hayabusa 2 Missions and Space Weathering (Dr. Takahiro Hiroi, Brown University),
Lecture Hall
Japanese asteroid sample return mission, Hayabusa, successfully landed on asteroid Itokawa and returned its sample capsule in June this year. Itokawa is an S-type asteroid, showing and LL chondrite like composition with low degree, developing space weathering. JAXA plans to launch Hayabusa 2 spacecraft to a C asteroid, 1999JU3 in 2014, which will return its sample in 2020. In my talk, I will review the results of Hayabusa mission and try to elaborate on what is expected from Hayabusa 2 mission, including the differences in space weathering effects between S- and C-type astroids. |
|
14-16 |
Annual Meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group
(LEAG 2010) *,
Washington, DC
The focus of the meeting will be using the Moon as a target for solar system exploration, science, commerce, education, and technology development. |
|
15-17 |
Seventh International Workshop on Planetary, Solar, and Heliospheric Radio Emissions (PREVII),
Graz, Austria
Key topics of our workshop are the recent developments in the study of non-thermal radio emissions from the Sun, the five radio planets, the heliosphere, and potential radio emissions from exoplanets. Special emphasis is put on current missions like Cassini and STEREO, but also new findings from data of older missions like Voyager, Galileo, Wind or Ulysses are welcome. In addition to space-based observations, new developments in ground-based radio telescopes (e.g. LOFAR, FASR) will be matters of discussion, that should lead to a better coordination of ground- and space-based observations. Presentations should focus on physical properties of radio emissions like rotational modulation, fine structures in dynamic spectra, polarization as well as source direction, and theoretical modeling and simulation of plasma and magnetic processes leading to their generation. Key question for potential future missions like Juno, Solar Orbiter or the Europa Jupiter System Mission (EJSM) can also be addressed. |
|
16-17 | Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) Meeting, Boulder, Colorado | |
16 |
The story of the Enceladus plumes: Is there liquid water underneath? (Andrew P. Ingersoll, Caltech),
Lecture Hall
Given observations of the Enceladus plumes and the icy surface from which they arise, we ask whether liquid water exists below the surface and at what depth it might occur. We have estimates of the power radiated by the surface, the power carried by the gas as latent heat, the velocity distribution and composition of the gas, and the velocity distribution, size distribution, and composition of the particles. With better observations and better data analysis techniques, we are constantly improving these estimates, and with better hydrodynamic models we are getting closer to answering the questions about liquid water. The talk will be a progress report and a preview of coming attractions. |
|
19-25 |
European Planetary Science Congress 2010,
Rome, Italy
The intention of the European Planetary Science Congress 2010 is to cover a broad area of science topics related to planetary science and planetary missions. The program of the congress will contain oral and poster sessions, and it will emphasize workshops and panel discussions in order to have a strong interaction between the participants. |
|
20-21 | GIS for Planetary Mappers II, Flagstaff, Arizona | |
20-22 | Journées 2010 -- "Systèmes de référence spatio-temporels": New Challenges for Reference Systems and Numerical Standards in Astronomy, Paris, France | |
20-24 |
The 10th European VLBI Network Symposium and EVN Users Meeting: VLBI and the New Generation of Radio Arrays,
Manchester, United Kingdom
At this conference the latest scientific results and technical developments from VLBI and e-VLBI results will be reported. The timing of this meeting coincides with the development of, and first results from a number of new and upgraded radio facilities around the globe, such as e-MERLIN, LOFAR, EVLA, ALMA, and the SKA pathfinders ASKAP and MeerKAT. This meeting will incorporate some of the first results from these new instruments, in addition to the unique scientific and technical contribution of VLBI in this new era of radio astronomy. Planned science sessions will include: Life cycle of matter in stars and galaxies; AGN and cosmic star-formation; Extreme Astrophysics; Astrometry, Geodesy, space and planetary science; Techniques & developments. |
|
22-24 |
First Planetary Crater Consortium Meeting,
Flagstaff, Arizona
The Planetary Crater Consortium will meet Sept. 22-24, 2010, at the USGS in Flagstaff to discuss current research and outstanding questions related to impact cratering throughout the solar system. The Planetary Crater Consortium (PCC) formed in 2010 from the merger of the Mars Crater Consortium (MCC), Lunar Crater Consortium (LCC), and Outer Solar System Crater Consortium (OSSCC). The PCC is open to any planetary scientist interested in any aspect of impact cratering on solar system bodies (planets, dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, and/or comets), including observational, theoretical, experimental, and numerical modeling studies. |
|
23-24 | The Transient Universe: From Exoplanets to Hypernova, Dublin, Ireland | |
24 |
1) Electrostatic and Magnet Cleaning of Lunar Dust Adhered to Spacesuits; 2) Electrostatic Transport of Lunar Soil and Ice for In-Situ Resource Utilization; 3) Mitigation of Lunar Dust Adhered to Mechanical Parts of Equipment Used for Lunar Exploration (Dr. Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Waseda University),
Lecture Hall
1) Cleaning of lunar dust adhered to astronaut spacesuits is of critical importance for long-term lunar exploration. We are developing three kinds of cleaning systems that in-volve the use of electrostatic and magnetic forces. One of the systems employs an alter-nating electrostatic field that forms a barrier on the surface of fabrics. Two-phase rec-tangular voltage is applied to parallel wires stitched into the insulating fabric. Particles are flicked outwards from the fabric. It was demonstrated that more than 70% of the adhered dust can be cleaned by this system. The second system employs a combination of electrostatic separation and electrostatic transport. A high voltage is applied between a Mylar sheet positioned under the surface fabric and the electrodes, which contains holes. Because of the electrostatic force dust adhered to the fabric is captured by the holes of the plate electrode. The captured dust is transported by the traveling wave and transferred to a collecting bag. The observed cleaning rate was higher than 60%. The last system utilizes magnetic force based on the fact that lunar dust is magnetic. The de-vice consists of a shaft, stationary multi-pole magnetic roller, rotating sleeve, plate magnet, and collection bag. Magnetic lunar dust is attracted to the stationary magnetic roller and transported via the rotating sleeve by means of magnetic and frictional forces. The magnetic roller is designed such that a repulsive force acts on the particles at a cer-tain position. When the dust is transported to this position, particles are separated from the sleeve, and are attracted to the plate magnet facing the release position. The dust particles then gather in the collecting bag that covers the plate magnet. The advantages of the system are that it is very simple, and that it works without power consumption. The observed cleaning rate was about 50%.; 2) In order to realize a long-term lunar exploration, it is essential to develop a technology for transporting lunar soil and ice for in-situ resource utilization. We are developing a particle transport system that utilizes electrostatic traveling-waves. The conveyer con-sists of parallel electrodes printed on a plastic substrate. Four-phase rectangular voltage is applied to the electrodes to transport particles on the conveyer. Mechanical vibration was applied to the conveyer to transport particles more efficiently. The results of our investigation are as follows. (1) The observed transport rate in air was 13.5 g/min for a conveyer with a width of 100 mm. By performing numerical calculations based on the 3D distinct element method, we predicted that the system performance would improve in the high-vacuum and low-gravity environment on the moon. (2) Power consumption in this system is very less. It was only 10 W for a conveyer with an area of 1.0 m2. (3) Crashed ice mixed with lunar dust can be transported with this system. (4) We demon-strated an inclined and curved transport path as well as a flat and straight transport path. In addition, we demonstrated that transportation of particles through a tube and accu-mulation of scattered particles were also possible.; and 3) A unique cleaning system has been developed utilizing electrostatic force to remove lu-nar dust adhered to the mechanical parts, such as bearings and seals, used for lunar ex-ploration. A single-phase rectangular voltage is applied to parallel electrodes printed on a flexible substrate to remove the dust. More than 90% of adhered dust was repelled from the surface of the slightly inclined device in a vacuum, and the cleaning perform-ance of the system would be further improved in the low-gravity environment of the Moon. This technology is expected to increase the reliability of equipment used in long-term manned and unmanned activities on the lunar surface. |
|
27-29 | Fourth Mars Science Laboratory Landing Site Community Workshop, Pasadena, California | |
27-Oct 1 | 61st International Astronautical Congress, Prague, Czech Republic | |
30-Oct 1 | 23rd Meeting of the Mars Exploration Analysis Group, Monrovia, California |
October 2010
4-6 |
GMT2010: Opening New Frontiers with the Giant Magellan Telescope,
Seoul, Korea
In 2009, Korea joined the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) project as an official member. This will be a stepping stone for a quantum jump in the development of Korean astronomy. Recently we have seen a significant progress in preparing giant telescopes including the GMT. In particular six first-generation instrument candidates for the GMT were selected this year. It is about time to prepare science cases for these instruments. The goal of this workshop is to review the current status of the GMT project and to discuss sciences, instruments, and telescope structures for the GMT. |
|
4-8 | 42nd Annual Meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society (DPS 2010), Pasadena, California | |
4-8 |
5th Alfvén Conference on Plasma Interaction with Non-Magnetized Planets/Moons and Its Influence on Planetary Evolution,
Sapporo, Japan
During the fifth Alfvén conference our focus will be on the plasma interaction with unmagnetized planets and moons in the solar system: Venus, Mars, Moon, Titan, Io, and similar bodies. New findings from the analysis of data (e.g. Venus Express, Mars Express, Kaguya, Cassini, Chandrayaan-1, Galileo, and most recent Phobos-Grunt and Yinghuo-1) as well as recent progress in theory and modeling, make the theme of the conference timely. The objective will be to promote discussions leading to a better understanding of the physical processes that determine how weakly magnetized planets and moons evolve under an active Sun. Comparing phenomena from different, but similar, planets and moons will be emphasized to increase understanding of the general physics behind the plasma environment in plasma/planet interactions and to facilitate planning for future missions. |
|
4-9 |
Comprehensive Characterization of Astronomical Sites,
Kislovodsk, Russia
The scientific program will cover methods and instruments to measure/monitor all major site properties: turbulence parameters, extinction, water vapor, cloud cover, dust, light pollution; results of recent and ongoing site programs (TMT, E-ELT, GMT, SAI, Antarctica, etc.), and merit functions for site selection; and the use of site data in telescope operation and adaptive optics. |
|
5-6 |
Robotic Science from the Moon: Gravitational Physics, Heliophysics and Cosmology,
Boulder, Colorado
The Lunar University Network for Astrophysics Research (LUNAR), a consortium of research institutions led by the University of Colorado and funded by a NASA Lunar Science Institute Cooperative Agreement, is performing research, education, outreach, and community development to advance Astrophysics From the Moon. This first LUNAR workshop will focus on concepts for astrophysical observatories and telescopes that make use of the unique environment of the Moon; instrumentation that could be used for lunar astrophysical observatories; advancement of robotic technologies that will be required for future lunar-based telescopes; and theoretical studies as they relate to possible astrophysical observations in the lunar environs. |
|
10-12 |
WittFest: Origins and Evolution of Dust,
Toledo, Ohio
“WittFest: Origins and Evolution of Dust” is a conference on cosmic dust on the occasion of Adolf Witt’s 70th birthday, celebrating a lifetime of contributions to the field. The conference will focus on understanding the origins of interstellar dust, the varied techniques Adolf has used, and insights gained throughout his career. |
|
11-14 | Science with the Hubble Space Telescope -- III, Venice, Italy | |
11-15 |
First Moscow Solar System Symposium (1M-S3),
Moscow, Russia
Starting from 2010 the Space Research Institute will hold an annual international symposia on solar system exploration. Topics of these symposia will cover a wide range of problems, including the formation and evolution of the solar system; planetary systems of other stars; exploration of solar system planets, their moons, small bodies; study of the Sun, interplanetary environment, exobiology problems. Experimental planetary studies and preparation for space missions will be also considered at these symposia. |
|
11-15 |
IAU Symposium 276: The Astrophysics of Planetary Systems: Formation, Structure, and Dynamical Evolution,
Torino, Italy
More than 400 planets are now known to orbit main-sequence stars in the neighborhood of our Sun, discovered using a variety of detection and characterization techniques. Fifteen years after the first announcement, the formation and evolution of planetary systems is now emerging as a new, quickly expanding interdisciplinary research field. The Symposium will bring together leading experts from the many different research disciplines involved with two broad aims: (1) to present the state-of-the-art of the field of extrasolar planets, through an organic discussion of the observational evidence in connection with the most recent theoretical progress, and (2) to identify objectives and strategies necessary in the coming years to advance our comprehension of the many complex processes which connect the formation, structure, and evolution of planetary systems. |
|
16-18 |
The 3rd International Congress on Image and Signal Processing (CISP'10) and The 3rd International Conference on BioMedical Engineering and Informatics (BMEI'10),
Yantai, China
CISP’10-BMEI’10 is a premier international forum for scientists and researchers to present the state of the art of multimedia, signal processing, biomedical engineering, and biomedical informatics. The previous CISP’09-BMEI’09 attracted over 3000 submissions from around the world. The registration fee of US$390 includes proceedings, lunches, dinners, banquet, coffee breaks, and all technical sessions. CISP’10-BMEI’10 is technically co-sponsored by the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. |
|
18-22 |
Graduate School in Astronomy XV Special Advanced Courses,
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Graduate School in Astronomy of the Observatório Nacional, Brazil is pleased to announce their XV Special Courses. These courses started in 1996 and are devoted to provide graduate students and postdocs with a broad view of selected topics in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Each year, specialists from different areas are invited to give a week-lecture course in their field of research. |
|
19-22 |
Big Science with Small Telescopes: The Role of 2-4 m Telescopes in the Era of the Large and Extremely Large Telescopes,
Dornburg, Germany
The main topics covered at this workshop will be large scale surveys, transient phenomena; long term monitoring; science with network telescopes; support of space missions; and new facilities and instrumentation. |
|
24-27 |
First Puerto Rico Space Congress: Space Is the Answer,
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Where can we go from ...here? Where SHOULD we go? Where will we go? How will we educate our workforce? How will we fix our economy and fund the necessary investments? All these questions will be discussed in depth. Experts in the relevant fields will be assembled. Come join students, managers, engineers, policy makers, futurists, academics, entrepreneurs, and investors. |
|
25-29 |
7th International Conference on the Inspiration of Astronomical Phenomena,
Bath, United Kingdom
In recent years the INSAP conferences have become the leading international forum for bringing together artists, astronomers and all who are inspired by the sky. They are noted for the quality of their presentations and the friendliness of the atmosphere. |
|
25-29 |
In the Spirit of Lyot 2010: Direct Detection of Exoplanets and Circumstellar Disks,
Paris, France
The last 15 years have witnessed a rapid development of techniques for the detection and characterization of extrasolar planets. Radial velocity surveys have detected the first bona fide giant planets and are now pushing the limits towards lower masses and longer periods. As of today, the more than 400 known exoplanetary systems and our own Solar System demonstrate a large diversity of physical and chemical properties as various formation mechanisms (core accretion, stellar mechanisms). However, a small fraction of the mass-period diagram has been explored so far. Recently, two major steps were accomplished with the first direct images of massive giant planets around young stars and the first low resolution spectra of transiting hot-Jupiters, preluding the era of "spectral characterization". This field will undergo significant breakthroughs in the next couple of years with the installation of the first ground-based "planet finders" (SPHERE/VLT, GPI/Gemini, HiCIAO/Subaru) and with the launch of JWST in 2014. In addition to spectral analysis, direct imaging will participate to a more general picture of the planetary systems while exploring longer periods. Observations of giant planets close or beyond the snow line will allow to investigate how they form and evolve. For the longer term, many ambitious ground-based and space-based projects using smart concepts compete for a major goal, the search and characterization of telluric planets and ultimately the quest for Earth analogs. Improving the understanding of planet formation and evolution in the telluric regime will require new technologies. In that context, many progress have been accomplished in the last years. In the 1930’s, Bernard Lyot was a pioneer in this field and many of the techniques used today for high contrast imaging derive from his coronagraph concept. In 2007, the "Lyot Conference" held in Berkeley confronted technological developments with astrophysical requirements. Since then, this field has experienced enough astrophysical and instrumental advances to motivate a second conference. "In the Spirit of Bernard Lyot 2010" will be held in Paris, in the city where Lyot led his career. |
|
27-30 |
Joint Meeting of the "Paneth Kolloquium" and Workshop of the DFG Special Program "The First 10 Million Years of the Solar System -- A Planetary Materials Approach",
Nördlingen, Germany
The Paneth-Kolloquium is a European meeting that brings together students and researchers from different fields of cosmochemistry, planetology, and astrophysics. Traditionally, the Paneth-Kolloquium is held in those years in which the annual meeting of the Meteoritical Society is held outside Europe. |
|
31-Nov 3 | Geological Society of American Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado |
November 2010
1-5 |
International Young Astronomer School on High Angular Resolution Techniques (2010),
Paris, France
The Paris Doctoral School (École Doctorale d’Astronomie et d’Astrophysique d’Île de France) organizes an international school on High Angular Resolution techniques from November 1st to November 5, 2010. Sessions will take place at the Paris Observatory Meudon site near Paris and at the Sèvres CIEP nearby. High Angular Resolution techniques is a very active field at Paris Observatory with recent contributions in various fields : images of stellar surfaces with interferometers, images of extrasolar planetary systems with adaptive optics and coronography, instrumental projects for the future JWST space telescope, for the VLT with SPHERE or for the VLTI with GRAVITY, project studies for the E-ELT. The wealth of HAR novelties will increase in 2010 – 2011 with the upcoming decisions on the E-ELT and the shipping of SPHERE to Paranal. Other such events are also occurring on other continents and other countries with the construction of ELTs, studies for space missions and attempts to image exoplanetary systems with other large telescopes. |
|
10-11 |
Synchrotron Radiation in Earth, Space and Planetary Science -- Exploiting the UK's Newest Facility,
Didot, Oxfordshire, UK
Diamond is a third generation synchrotron light source that generates extremely brilliant beams of X-rays, which are well suited for the study of micro- and nano-scale dust particles recovered from space, and of materials formed under conditions typical of planetary interiors. The workshop, spread over two days, is aimed at bringing together researchers active in these fields, with a view to encouraging exploitation of Diamond instruments for planetary and space materials science. The programme will focus on current and future scientific problems in these fields, and on the use of synchrotron radiation techniques. There will be opportunities for discussion and visiting relevant state-of-the-art beamlines at Diamond. We will also welcome poster presentations highlighting current research. |
|
11 |
Numerical Modeling of Impact Ejecta (Natalia Artemieva, Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, and Institute for Dynamics of Geospheres, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia),
Lecture Hall
Numerical modeling is an important part of multi-disciplinary approach to impact cratering. Although basic equations are well-known and modern computer capabilities are almost unlimited, the results of numerical simulations do not correlate well with observations and laboratory experiments. It means that some important physical processes are not included into the models. As impact ejecta in terrestrial records are sparsely preserved, deposits of volcanic eruptions may play an important role in model improvement and benchmarking. Understanding of impact ejecta is a crucial factor for the current planetary remote sensing and sampling in the future. The following problems will be discussed: (1) why are lunar meteorites more rare than meteorites from Mars; (2) is the K-Pg boundary the result of the Chicxulub impact; (3) what are the possible mechanisms of ejecta separation into two (or more) layers? |
|
15-19 | ISPRS Symposium/Planetary Mapping Workshop, Orlando, Florida | |
16-18 |
9th Triennial Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Users' Meeting,
Taipei, Taiwan
This Users' Meeting, nicknamed "CFHT Decade 4", comes after the celebration of CFHT's 30th birthday in 2009, at a time when the observatory is defining with its users and member agencies its development plan for [2010-2020]. In addition: (1) The meeting will be a great opportunity to share the achievements of the past years, with the final release of the CFHT Legacy Survey happening during the meeting and a new generation of Large Programs starting or being already underway. (2) With many new instruments in various stages of initial development, (SPIRou, SITELLE, `IMAKA, Gyes, ...) and the exciting scientific applications and potential large programs and collaborations they could trigger, the meeting will allow the communities to come, present and share with all the status of these projects. (3) With the CFHT Corporation envisioning to broaden its membership beyond Canada, France and Hawaii, the meeting will be a unique opportunity to showcase the achievements of the CFHT community as well as the many exciting options its future will offer, thus maintaining the observatory at the forefront of today's astronomy. |
|
18 |
Vanadium isotopes in silicate Earth and meteorites: Solar system heterogeneity from irradiation or planetary differentiation? (Sune Nielsen, University of Oxford (England) currently at Rice University (Houston)),
Lecture Hall
The isotope ratio of element vanadium (51V/50V) is interesting for cosmochemical studies because irradiation can theoretically produce large isotope anomalies. It has been suggested as a potential test for the so-called X-wind model. However, due to the low abundance of 50V, no high precision data have thus far been published. In Oxford, we have developed a technique to measure the V isotope ratios at high accuracy and precision. Preliminary data for chondrites and achondrites reveal that all meteorites are significantly offset from silicate samples from Earth. Does this difference reflect solar system heterogeneity? Or is it caused by terrestrial differentiation processes? |
December 2010
6-8 | Carbon in the Solar System, Brussels, Belgium | |
13-17 | Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, California |
January 2011
5-9 |
Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy: Building Bridges Between Cultures,
Lima, Peru
This meeting, the Ninth "Oxford" International Symposium on Archaeoastronomy, will focus upon topics such as methodological and theoretical issues in cultural astronomy, ethnographic and historical approaches, regional syntheses, and cultural astronomy as a tool for breaking down barriers in society. |
|
8-14 | Colloquium of African Geology, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
10-14 |
The Millimeter and Submillimeter Sky in the Planck Mission Era,
Paris, France
The Planck satellite has been operating with outstanding success since its launch on May 14, 2009. Reaching the ambitious goals of Planck in cosmic microwave background (CMB) science will depend on the ability to remove all foregrounds (galactic and extraglalactic) in intensity and polarization. This conference will be aiming mostly at the physics and observations of the foregrounds and in particular of the lesser known polarized ones. The Planck flight performances will be presented and the implications of the cosmological goals for the CMB primary anisotropies in terms of the needed accuracy of the foreground removal will be reviewed. |
|
10-15 |
CPS 7th International School of Planetary Sciences: Theory of Stellar Evolution and Its Applications,
Kobe, Japan
The objective of CPS International School of Planetary Sciences is to promote education and research in planetary sciences for highly motivated graduate students and young researchers worldwide. It will offer them an opportunity to interact with leading scientists in a specific field of the year. Note that “Planetary Sciences” includes astronomy (astrophysics, astrochemistry, astrobiology, etc.), geosciences, space science, and other related fields. |
|
16-20 |
ExoClimes 2012: the Diversity of Planetary Atmospheres,
Aspen, Colorado
This series of meetings is designed to bring together Earth, Solar System and Exoplanet specialists to discuss recent results and the way ahead, and put our own climate in the wider context of the trials and tribulations of planetary atmospheres. |
|
17-21 |
Landing Site Characterization and Selection for Future Exploration Missions (A Europlanet JRA1 Workshop),
Leiden/Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Europe is currently in the process of defining its activities in solar system exploration through programs of the European Space Agency and the EU. Scientific research is a key-driver in solar system exploration and constitutes the essential foundation for future robotic planetary and lunar missions in the global exploration context. The process by which landing sites are selected for such missions typically involves collaboration between people with diverse expertise and background, both science and engineering. The European planetary science community has had limited exposure to the process of landing site selection. As part of Europlanet (EU FP7 Research Infrastructure Program), this workshop seeks to foster global collaboration and to empower the planetary community in areas related to landing site selection and terrain characterization for future missions. |
|
18-22 |
The 15th International Conference on Gravitational Microlensing and School on Planetary Microlensing Events Modeling,
Salerno, Italy
The conference will gather all people active in this field, providing the state of the art of microlensing searches and the perspectives opened by new methodologies and new observational and computational facilities. Colloquia on dark matter searches and planet formation theories are also foreseen as a central part of the conference. The three-day conference will be preceded by a school dedicated to the delicate issue of efficient modelling of planetary microlensing events, which requires major efforts and new ideas from new talents in order to get access to the precious physical information hidden in microlensing light curves. |
|
24-26 | 4th Meeting of the Small Bodies Assessment Group, Washington, DC | |
29-Feb 8 | International Workshop on Extrasolar Planets, Kish Island, Iran |
February 2011
7-14 |
Geobiology in Space Exploration (with Field Trip),
Marrakech, Morocco
Geobiology in Space Exploration is a meeting of talks and discussions to understand the full range of the contributions of geobiology to space exploration and settlement. It has two core purposes: 1) To contribute to building the community of people working in geobiology and applying it to space sciences and exploration, 2) To develop a strategic document on the range of geobiology applications and possible space missions for ESA. The meeting is organised by the European Space Agency (ESA) Topical Team 'Geomicrobiology for Space Settlement and Exploration (GESSE)'. The topical team was set up in 2009 to investigate and develop new opportunities for geobiology in space - from life detection to practical applications of geobiology and geomicrobiology in human space exploration. This meeting will be the fourth topical team meeting, but has been organised as a community workshop to achieve the outlined objectives. |
|
8-11 |
Fourth International Workshop on the Mars Atmosphere: Modelling and Observations,
Paris, France
The scope of the workshop is to bring together experts in observations and modelling of the present and past Mars climate systems and discuss the nature of the atmospheric circulation and the photochemistry (up to the thermosphere), the dust cycle, the water cycle (vapor, clouds and frost) and the carbon dioxide cycle (polar caps), as we did in the previous editions of the workshop. |
|
12-13 |
SpaceUp Houston *,
Houston, Texas
SpaceUp is a space unconference, also known as a user-generated conference or a BarCamp. Participants will decide the topics, schedule, and structure of the event. While other unconferences have been held about technology, science, transit, and, even, cupcakes, the SpaceUp series is focused solely on space exploration. There are no spectators at SpaceUp, only participants. All attendees are expected to give a demo, present a talk (without slides), present an Ignite Talk (8-10 of them), or participate in a panel or roundtable. SpaceUp, founded in 2010, has successfully been held in San Diego and Washington D.C. Houston will build upon their success by involving the Houston-Clear Lake community in sharing and discussing the possibilities for space exploration covering NASA programs, hobbyist projects, start-up companies, research, and arts. SpaceUp is not just for space professionals, but also strives to include children, university students, and anyone else who has a passion for space exploration. It provides a mechanism for people to share knowledge, enthusiasm, and develop new ideas for the future to be enacted upon. |
|
18-22 |
IAG/AIG Regional Conference on Geomorphology,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG/AIG) is a scientific, non-governmental and non-profit organisation, whose principal objectives are development and promotion of geomorphology as a science through international co-operation and dissemination of knowledge of geomorphology. The IAG/AIG was founded at the Second International Conference on Geomorphology in Frankfurt/Main (Germany) in 1989 in order to strengthen international geomorphology. IAG/AIG fulfils its aims through the establishment of working groups and task forces, organisation of conferences, publication activity and information exchange. |
|
18 |
The Hadley-Apennine KREEP Basalt Igneous Province (G. Jeffrey Taylor, Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai‘i),
Lecture Hall
We report on a petrologic study of 27 KREEP basalt fragments in six thin sections of samples collected from Apollo 15 stations 2, 9A, 6A, and 7. On the basis of sampling site, local stratigraphy, and regional remote sensing data, the samples represent KREEP basalt lava flows emplaced locally (ending up beneath the younger Apollo 15 mare basalts) and others emplaced north of the Apollo 15 site and deposited at the site as ejecta from the large craters Aristillus and Autolycus. KREEP basalts in this igneous province have a volume of 103–104 km3. Mineral and bulk compositional data indicate that the erupted magmas had Mg# [100 x molar Mg/(Mg+Fe)] up to 73, corresponding to orthopyroxene-rich source regions with Mg# >80. Minor element variations in the parent magmas of the KREEP basalts, as inferred from compositions of the most magnesian pyroxene and most calcic plagioclase in each sample, indicate small but significant differences in the concentrations of minor elements and Mg#. These differences suggest variations in the compositions of lower crustal or mantle source regions and different amounts of partial melting to produce the KREEP basalts. The Hadley-Apennine KREEP basalt province was active between 4.3 to 3.84 Ga, but the scarcity of age data does not allow us to determine if the magmatism was concentrated at the extremes of this range or occurred sporadically during this interval. Formation of the youngest basalts may have been triggered by formation of the Imbrium basin, but the existence of older KREEP basalt magmas (if verified) suggests a role for earlier large impacts as well. |
|
22 |
TARGET NEO: Providing a Resilient NEO Accessibility Program for Human Exploration Beyond LEO,
Washington, DC
Panel Discussion Topics, Led by World Experts, Include: ■ The NEO Population: Known and Unknown ■ Mission Design: Getting There and Back ■ NEO Characteristics for Safe and Meaningful Exploration ■ Mission Duration: Quantifying the Risks ■ Affordable Options for Providing a Resilient NEO Accessibility Program Outcome: A community expert opinion–based report will be delivered to major stakeholders for review and consideration. Registration is free. |
|
23 |
U-Pb Isotopic Systematics on Shocked Baddeleyite
U-Pb Isotopic Systematics on Shocked Baddeleyite ~Implication for Crystallization Age of Shergottites~ (Takafumi Niihara - The Guraduate University for Advanced Studies),
Lecture Hall
The issue of the duration of Martian magmatic activity is one the controversial debates recently. The young radiometric ages of ~180 Ma for shergottites, a class of Martian meteorites, reflect the timing of crystallization from a magma or rather later events related to shock metamorphism or fluid infiltration. Shock-recovery and annealing experiments were undertaken to understand shock effects on U–Pb isotope systematics of baddeleyite. Shock pressures up to 57 GPa and annealing up to a partial-melting temperature of ~1300 ºC did not cause phase transition from monoclinic baddeleyite structure to high-pressure/temperature polymorphs of ZrO2. These results are consistent with the crystal structures of baddeleyite in basaltic shergottites. The U–Pb systems of baddeleyite did not show any remarkable isotopic disturbance, implying that the U–Pb isotopic systematics of baddeleyite is durable for shock metamorphism. Our experimental results suggest that the U–Pb ages of baddeleyite in shergottites will give crystallization ages of Martian volcanic rocks. We also have undertaken U–Pb isotopic studies on baddeleyite in the Roberts Massif (RBT) 04261 shergottite. Baddeleyite in RBT 04261 is usually associated with ilmenite and shows monoclinic structure, suggesting to have formed by crystallization from a residual liquid and not by shock metamorphism. In situ U-Pb isotopic analysis of baddeleyite yields a concordant age of ~200 Ma. Since the U–Pb system of baddeleyite is considered to be more resistant to resetting during reheating events, and olivine in RBT 04261 preserves an igneous calcium zoning, the young age of baddeleyite could be interpreted as a crystallization age of RBT 04261. The present results imply that Martian magma was still forming only 200 Ma, and that Mars has been geologically active until the recent past. |
|
24-25 |
PLATO Science Conference,
Berlin, Germany
PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) is one of the three medium-class (M class) missions selected for definition study in the framework of the ESA Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 program. The main objectives of PLATO are the detection and characterization of Earth analog systems; the search for exoplanets around the brightest stars of solar type at all orbital periods and with all physical sizes; the search for exoplanets around nearby M-type dwarfs with all physical sizes and at all orbital periods, including at orbital distances such that these planets fall within the habitable zones of these very cool stars; the search for and characterization of exoplanets over a wide variety of sizes, masses, and orbits around bright stars; and a full characterization of very bright stars of all masses and ages using seismic analysis. PLATO will use three complementary techniques: ultra-high-precision photometric monitoring of very large samples of bright stars, groundbased follow-up in radial velocity, and seismic analysis of the host stars to obtain accurate stellar parameters (mass, radius, age, ...). This meeting aims to present to the general scientific community the PLATO mission, its scientific program, and the PLATO Mission Consortium, to provide a contact point to those interested in getting involved in PLATO, and to collect the input from the community for the PLATO definition phase. |
|
24 | Chemotrophic Ecosystem Beneath the Larsen B Ice Shelf, Antartica: Discovery and Demise Following Ice Shelf Collapse (Eugene Domack, Hamilton College), Lecture Hall | |
28-Mar 1 |
Millimeter Astronomy by the Bay: CARMA Science Symposium,
Berkeley, California
Presentations are welcome on (1) scientific results from CARMA (Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-Wave Astronomy); (2) technical developments (present and future) on CARMA; (3) CARMA data reduction and analysis; and (4) Observing campaigns with CARMA in the ALMA era. We especially seek talks to describe large, comprehensive observing programs that can be carried out with existing capabilities or can be enabled with technical improvements in the array (e.g., increased bandwidth, focal plane arrays.) |
|
28-Mar 2 |
Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference
(NSRC 2011),
Orlando, Florida
A new generation of space vehicles capable of economically delivering payloads and researchers is coming on line. These vehicles will revolutionize space access by providing frequent, low-cost access to space and the capability to carry research and education crew members. They will also carry experiments for technology demonstrations, for scientist in-the-loop research, and for educational/public outreach demonstrations. Fields including atmospheric science, solar physics, microgravity science, planetary science, space life science, space physics, and education and public outreach (EPO) stand to benefit from these vehicles. NSRC2011 will provide a forum to learn about the research and EPO capabilities of these new systems, their experiments, and EPO integration processes. NSRC2011 will also provide input on vehicle design requirements for science and education. |
|
28-Mar 3 |
Telescopes from Afar Conference,
Kona, Hawaii
Fully robotic observatories have been in continuous operation for a quarter century. Although initially confined to smaller telescopes, many large observatories are now being operated remotely and even autonomously without staff on-site. The goal of this conference is to provide an opportunity to share information on the advancements and developments in the areas of remote observing, remote operation, and automated local and global networking of all sizes of observatories. The conference will explore management, operational, and engineering considerations. Participants will exchange ideas and experiences with designing and operating robotic observatories and retrofitting existing observatories for remote and autonomous operations. |
March 2011
1-3 |
Astronomy with Radioactivities VII,
Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia
The scope of this workshop is to bring together observers of radioactive isotopes, from stellar/radio/X-ray/gamma-ray spectroscopy, to cosmic rays and meteoritic isotope analysis; theoreticians of cosmic nucleosynthesis in its wide variety, from supernova explosion and massive star to asymptotic giant branch stars, cosmic-ray, and binary systems, as well as cosmic chemical evolution; and experimentalists and theoreticians of nuclear reaction rates involving radioactive isotopes. |
|
3-5 |
First Annual Lunar Superconductor Applications Workshop: Opportunities at 40 Kelvin — "All Cold" Engineering for the Lunar Poles and Beyond,
Houston, Texas
Recent discoveries by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the LCROSS impactor have proven that the Lunar poles are a dynamic and exiting destination for exploration and discovery. They contain a rich variety of volatile ices and the dynamic dust and plasma processes that have created and modified them. The Lunar Poles will be a crossroads of discovery and a gateway to the solar system and beyond in the coming decades as we unlock the secrets not only for Lunar science but for ice and dust processes throughout the solar system and even for planetary formation disks and molecular gas clouds before gravitational collapse has begun. Unlocking these mysteries will first require developing a new realm of engineering “All Cold” designs that operate for long periods below 100 Kelvin. This will require new research, new funding, and new cross collaboration in four key areas of science and engineering: High Temperature Superconductor Applications; Low Temperature/Ultra Low Power Electronics; CryoRobitic Rovers, Landers, and Laboratories; and Astrochemistry and Cryoscience at the Lunar Poles. The purpose of this workshop is to bring together experts in these four cutting edge arenas and to give them an opportunity to learn of each other’s work and recent discoveries. This workshop will be very interactive with presentations, panels, and guided group discussions. |
|
5-6 |
Analogue Sites for Mars Missions: MSL and Beyond *,
The Woodlands, Texas
The goal of the workshop is to develop an inventory of analogue sites that have value to NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), the Mars 2018 missions, and Mars analogue missions by the Canadian Space Agency and other space agencies. There will be a strong focus on outstanding science questions and Mars habitability. A secondary goal is to foster a closer relationship between the analogue science and planetary mission communities. The results from this workshop may be used as input from the community to help guide future support to analogue sites by participating funding agencies. |
|
5-6 |
The Importance of Solar System Sample Return Missions to the Future of Planetary Science *,
The Woodlands, Texas
The workshop will focus on why sample return science is important to the future of solar system science and exploration, including the implications for NASA as it plans and implements future missions to a variety of solar system locations. |
|
5-6 |
The Moon: The First Billion Years of Crustal Evolution,
The Woodlands, Texas
The Moon's crust is thought to have formed from substantial melting in the latter phase of lunar accretion and subsequent intrusions. On the basis of Apollo/Luna samples and meteorites, hypotheses for the compositional structure and evolution of the crust, such as the lunar magma ocean model and Mg-suite emplacement, have been formulated. Coincident with early crustal evolution, impact basin formaton significantly perturbed the physical and thermal structure of the Moon, excavated material from the crust and perhaps the mantle, and laterally mixed huge quantities of crustal material. Much remains to be learned about the first billion years of lunar history, such as the processes involved in lunar crustal formation, the aftermath and possible overturn of residual cumulates, the intrusive history of the crust, and the effect of impact basin formation on these processes. Recent missions such as Kaguya, Chandrayaan-1, Chang'E-1, and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter have begun to provide data to test hypotheses for the mineralogy and structure of the lunar crust and to assess the importance of impact basins in early crustal and thermal evolution. High spatial and spectral resolution image and spectrometer data have shown the detailed location and setting of both typical and anomalous exposures of crustal and mantle material, and now permit the linking of specific lunar sample types to local and regional geological settings, such as central peaks and basin rings. The goal of Microsymposium 52 is to present a summary of these new discoveries, and to bring together representatives of the lunar geology, mineralogy, petrology, spectroscopy, geochemistry and geophysics communities to ponder the implications of these new findings for the next generation of significant scientific problems. A critical aspect of this discussion will be to assess the implications of this new perspective for future modes and destinations for robotic exploration of the Moon. |
|
7-11 | 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC 2011) *, The Woodlands, Texas | |
14-16 | IXO Science Meeting: Present Status and Future Prospects in X-Ray Astronomy, Rome, Italy | |
14-16 | Second International Conference on the Exploration of Phobos and Deimos, Moffett Field, California | |
20-25 |
Twelfth International Conference on Accelerator Mass Spectrometry,
Wellington, New Zealand
This conference will bring together scientists from all over the world to discuss recent progress, applications and future trends of accelerator mass spectrometry for studies in archaeology, nuclear physics and astrophysics, cosmogeochemistry, biomedical sciences, environment, geology, hydrology, ocean sciences, and nuclear safeguards. |
|
25 |
The Evolution of Icy Satellites (Michael Bland, Washington University in St. Louis),
Lecture Hall
Icy satellites provide a unique vantage point for understanding geophysical processes in the Solar System. On these bodies, the same physical processes that guide our understanding of terrestrial planets must be applied to a unique material (water ice) in a unique environment (the cold outer Solar System). I present results from a long-term campaign to model and understand the detailed mechanical deformation of ice lithospheres. Through such modeling we gain greater insight into the origin of the tectonic deformation observed on icy satellites and constrain the thermal and physical conditions present on the satellite at the time such features formed. Understanding the mechanisms that have created the unique surface features observed on icy satellites therefore constrains their plausible thermal evolution. |
|
28-31 |
Resolving the Future of Astronomy with Long-Baseline Interferometry,
Socorro, New Mexico
As evidenced by the growth in the number of papers over the past two decades, optical/infrared interferometry can no longer be relegated to a so-called "niche" area of astronomy. This workshop will highlight anticipated science across the entire spectrum of stellar astrophysics where long-baseline interferometry has recently made some spectacular discoveries, and is now beginning to delve into near-field cosmology through the characterization of the environs of AGN. This four-day workshop will take place in scenic Socorro, NM, home to the array operations center for the EVLA, and near the site of the soon-to-be-operational Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer. Along with a confirmed and exciting slate of invited speakers, it will feature contributed talks, a poster session, and plenty of time for open discussion among the participants. The workshop will culminate in a tour of MROI and the production of proceedings via the ASP. |
|
30 |
The Greatest Show on Earth: The Search for the Apollo 11 tapes (John Sarkissian, CSIRO Parkes Observatory and Colin Mackellar, Editor, Honeysuckle Creek Web Site),
Lecture Hall
It was one giant leap for mankind, and it was witnessed live by more than six hundred million people worldwide. The Apollo 11 television signal from the Moon was received at stations in California and Australia. From there, the picture was converted to commercial TV standards for worldwide distribution. This conversion meant that the best quality TV was only seen at the tracking stations. In recent years, a small team of volunteers in the United States and Australia (including John Sarkissian and Colin Mackellar) came together to search for the recordings made at the stations. Although those tapes were not found, evidence of a backup recording was uncovered. The search for this tape is ongoing. During the search, the best surviving broadcast standard copies of the Moonwalk TV were found and with NASA support, they were restored for posterity and as an enduring tribute to all who made Apollo possible. In addition, the team discovered the high resolution archive copies of EVA TV from the other Apollo missions. Inquiries are being made into the possible restoration of these. The story of how the world saw this remarkable event is a tale of immense technical achievement. This talk will recount the challenge of bringing live TV from the Moon, the search for the original Apollo 11 recordings and the subsequent restoration effort. |
April 2011
3-8 |
European Geosciences Union General Assembly,
Vienna, Austria
The EGU General Assembly 2011 will bring together geoscientists from all over the world into one meeting covering all disciplines of the Earth, planetary and space sciences. Especially for young scientists the EGU appeals to provide a forum to present their work and discuss their ideas with experts in all fields of geosciences. |
|
3-9 |
From Planets to Life,
Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland
The course covers the most important and critical events essential for the emergence and development of intelligent life on Earth. Are these events inevitable or are they fortuitous and unlikely to reproduce elsewhere under similar conditions. The underlying and fascinating question is the ubiquity of life in our Universe: are we alone? Have complex life forms developed on extrasolar planets? Three lecturers will present the subject from different view points: (1) astrophysics, (2) Earth geology and climatology and (3) biology. |
|
6-7 | ALMA Community Days 2011: Towards Early Science, Garching, Germany | |
10-14 |
AAS Division on Dynamical Astronomy Meeting,
Austin, Texas
The annual DDA Meeting brings together top researchers in astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, and astrodynamics for in-depth and stimulating 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 meeting. |
|
10-15 |
MEARIM-2, The Second Middle-East and Africa IAU Regional Meeting,
Cape Town, South Africa
MEARIM II, the second Middle-East and Africa IAU Regional Meeting, will be held at the Cape Town Ritz Hotel in South Africa, 10 - 15 April 2011. Topics to be covered are: Galaxies & Large-Scale Structure; Space Astronomy & High Energy Astrophysics; Sun, Stellar Interiors & Heliosphere; Virtual Observatory & Data Handling; Optical/NIR Telescopes & Instrumentation; Astronomy for the Developing World; Radio Telescopes & Instrumentation; Stellar Astrophysics & Galactic Structure; Planetary Astronomy & Exoplanets; and Cosmology. |
|
11-15 | 18th IAA Humans in Space Symposium, Houston, Texas | |
11-15 |
Fifth Workshop on Titan Chemistry — Observations, Experiments, Computations, and Modeling,
Poipu Koloa, Hawaii
Saturn’s moon Titan is the only solar system body besides Earth and Venus with a thick atmosphere and solid surface and is widely considered as a natural laboratory on the planetary scale to understand the prebiotic chemistry on proto-Earth. The Cassini-Huygens mission to Titan has opened a new chapter in solar system exploration and extraterrestrial atmospheric chemistry. On January 14, 2005, the Huygens probe successfully descended through the atmosphere of Titan and safely landed on its surface. An extraordinary new world has been unveiled. The scientific data obtained by the Huygens experiments and by the Cassini Orbiter -- currently being archived and analyzed -- are far from being understood. This workshop is part of the NSF-Collaborative Research in Chemistry (CRC) Network "Chemistry of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons in Titan's Atmosphere” and the fifth in a series of annual meetings aimed to better understand the hydrocarbon chemistry taking place in the atmosphere and on the surface of Titan. It brings together atmospheric modelers, astronomical observers, mission specialists, planetary scientists, physical chemists (dynamics, kinetics, photochemistry), theoreticians (electronic structure, dynamics calculations), astrobiologists, and organic chemists. By focusing on the interplay between observational & mission data, modeling, and fundamental investigations of the underlying chemical reactions and photochemical processes, we also seek emerging generalized concepts on the chemical processing of hydrocarbon-rich atmospheres of planets and their moons in the solar system. By exploring the current boundaries of planetary science and chemical knowledge, we can more effectively design new laboratory experiments under well-defined conditions (and recommend promising directions for further observational searches) and upcoming solar system missions to resolve hitherto unanswered aspects of molecular synthesis in our solar system. |
|
12-14 |
Signposts of Planets Conference,
Greenbelt, Maryland
Do debris disks always contain planets? Can we infer the properties of these planets from the morphologies of these disks? How do planets affect T Tauri, Herbig Ae, and transitional disks? Are patterns in exozodiacal clouds friend or foe for direct imaging of exoEarths? This conference will bring together observers, modelers, and instrument builders to take on all these questions. Bring your prettiest images and simulations; let's compare them. |
|
12-15 |
Eleventh Symposium on Advanced Space Technologies in Robotics and Automation,
Noordwijk, The Netherlands
The “Advanced Space Technologies in Robotics and Automation” (ASTRA) symposium is organized every two years by the Automation and Robotics (A&R) section of the European Space Agency. The symposium brings together the European A&R community and welcomes international participation. The European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands hosts every edition of ASTRA. |
|
15 |
Geology of the Mg-Spinel Lithology and Other Puzzles from the Lunar Farside (Peter Isaacson, Brown University),
Lecture Hall
Recent observations of the Moon with high resolution imaging spectroscopy have revealed unusual rock types on the lunar farside. These rock types are found near the inner ring of the Moscoviense basin, and are found in three distinct “varieties”, each characterized by high abundances of a single mafic mineral (olivine, low-Ca pyroxene or spinel). The basis of this discovery will be presented, the geology of these peculiar materials will be discussed, and possible formation mechanisms will be discussed. Efforts to evaluate the composition of the olivines found in association with these materials will be explored as well. |
|
17-21 | 2011 RAS National Astronomy Meeting, Llandudno, United Kingdom | |
21 |
Kepler and the Search for Habitable Earths (William Cochran, University of Texas-Austin),
Lecture Hall
The Kepler spacecraft, launched in March 2009, is designed to detect potentially habitable Earths around other stars by detecting the transits of these planets across the disks of their parent stars. This requires performing differential photometry to a precision of 20ppm on a sample of 170,000 stars for a period of 3.5 years. I will present scientific results from the first two years of Kepler data. In addition to several transiting single and multi-planet systems, I will present statistical results on the frequency of planetary candidates around Kepler target stars, and observations of several other interesting (non-planetary) objects. |
|
26-28 | A Decade of Exploration with the Magellan Telescopes, Pasadena, California |
May 2011
2-7 |
18th Young Scientists' Conference on Astronomy and Space Physics,
Kiev, Ukraine
The aim of the annual Open Young Scientists' Conference on Astronomy and Space Physics is to provide young scientists with a possibility to communicate and present their scientific work. A young scientist is a student (PhD-student, PhD, researcher) up to age 35. Fields covered will include atmospheric studies and space geophysics; solar physics and heliosphere; solar system and extrasolar planets; stellar astrophysics; interstellar and intergalactic medium; extragalactic astrophysics and cosmology; high-energy astrophysics and astroparticle physics; positional astronomy and astronomical equipment; and computers in astronomy. |
|
4-6 |
Solar System Science Before and After Gaia,
Pisa, Italy
The Gaia mission of the European Space Agency is scheduled for launch in late 2012. Among an impressive amount of achievements in many branches of modern Astrophysics, Gaia is also expected to produce a major advancement in the disciplines related to the dynamical and physical properties of the minor bodies in our Solar system. By performing a systematic survey of the whole sky down to magnitude V = 20, Gaia will be able to survey through repeated observations spanning over 5 years several 100,000s asteroids. It will directly measure sizes of about 1,000 objects, obtain the masses of about 100 of them, derive spin properties and overall shapes of more than 10,000 objects, yield much improved orbits and taxonomic classification for most of the observed sources. The final results will also include direct measurements of tiny radiative effects on small bodies, in particular of the Yarkovsky effect acting on near-Earth objects, and the measurement of tiny relativistic effects on the motion of some of these bodies. An impressive improvement of orbit accuracy for know objects will also become possible (by at least two order of magnitude). Low activity distant comets and low elongation Earth crossers could also be discovered. Given the above expectations, we organize a meeting aimed at informing the scientific community active in asteroid science about the unprecedented opportunities offered by the Gaia mission. The goal of this meeting is twofold: on one hand to spread information and awareness about Gaia; on the other hand, to organize future activities and collaboration, in order to best exploit the observations that Gaia will perform. |
|
9-12 |
2011 IAA Planetary Defense Conference,
Bucharest, Romania
The International Academy of Astronautics will hold its second conference on protecting our planet from impacts by asteroids and comets from 9 - 12 May 2011 in Bucharest, Romania. The 1st IAA Planetary Defense Conference: Protecting Earth from Asteroids, co-sponsored by the European Space Agency and The Aerospace Corporation, is the follow-on to three previous planetary defense conferences held in 2004 in Los Angeles and 2007 in Washington, D.C., and in 2009 in Granada, Spain. |
|
11 |
What are we missing in meteoritics? From chondritic cannibalism to water on Mars (A. W. Needham, Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institue, The Open University),
Lecture Hall
Meteorites provide an essential source of information on the origin and evolution of the solar system. Chondritic meteorites preserve minerals formed before, during and after the collapse of the solar nebula and proto-planetary disc, while achondrites chart the differentiation and evolution of large planetary bodies such as Mars. Reconstructing the true history of the solar system and its planets relies on accurate interpretation of the minerals present in these samples at the present day – minerals which are far from pristine, rarely primary, and are often not even secondary phases. In this talk I will discuss high and low temperature processes in ordinary chondrites and SNCs, focusing on what the present-day mineral assemblages can reveal about their immediate precursors, earlier generations of minerals, fluids and gases, as well as the processes and events which formed the phases of interest. Techniques discussed will range from two- and three-dimensional petrographic studies through to isotopic analyses of ‘traditional’ carbon and oxygen isotopes and ‘non-traditional’ isotope systems such as iron and silicon. I will also discuss potential avenues of future exploration using the latest generation of instruments for in situ analyses. |
|
12 |
Silicate Stardust in Primitive Chondrites (Maitrayee Bose, Washington University in St. Louis),
Lecture Hall
Primitive chondrites belonging to petrology type 3 contain silicate stardust grains that formed in the envelopes of evolved stars. I will present the isotopic and elemental compositions of silicate grains that have been identified in four chondrites namely Acfer 094, ALHA77307, SAH 97096, and SAH 97159. The NanoSIMS 50 was used to locate the isotopically distinct silicate grains, followed by PHI 700 Auger Nanoprobe analyses that were done to retrieve elemental information from the same grains. Isotopic and elemental compositions obtained by these two analytical techniques provide complementary information about the identified silicate grains. Oxygen isotopic compositions of stardust silicate grains are orders of magnitude different from those found in solar system materials. For example, the 17O/16O ratio of 1716-4-2 silicate stardust ranges from greater than solar O/O ratio (= 3.8×10) up to ~10. The oxygen isotopic compositions of the silicate grains agree with observations and astrophysical models of red giant (RG) branch and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, and supernovae (SNe). Low-mass RG or AGB stars that have undergone first and second dredge-up episodes show envelope enrichments in 17O and slight depletions in 18O; grains with such oxygen isotopic compositions are the most common in our stardust inventory. Silicate grains with similar 17O enrichments but large 18O depletions may have condensed in low-mass AGB stars that underwent cool bottom processing. Some silicate grains are moderately depleted in 17O and 18O, and have likely originated in low-metallicity, low mass AGB stars. Grains that are enriched in 17O and/or 18O may have condensed in either SN ejecta or high-metallicity stars. Silicon and iron isotopic ratios were measured in rare silicate grains because isotopes of other elements in the same grain help us constrain models of stellar evolution, convective mixing processes, and nucleosynthesis. Differences in the abundances of silicate grains in chondrites belonging to different classes provide clues to the heterogeneities in the grain distributions in the early solar system and secondary alteration processes subsequent to parent body formation. The EH3 chondrite SAH 97159 has a large abundance of silicate stardust, in spite of a history of thermal alteration. Elemental compositions of silicate grains provide pertinent information about stellar grain formation as well as grain survival in the interstellar medium and solar nebula. Silicate stardust predominantly exhibit non-stoichiometric elemental compositions; grains with olivine-and pyroxene-like grains also exist in our inventory. In addition, silicate stardust is Fe-rich with Fe contents reaching up to about 45at.% in contrast to equilibrium condensation models, which predict Mg-rich phases such as forsterite and enstatite to form. Although condensation under non-equilibrium conditions can produce Fe-rich grains, secondary alteration processes may have modified the compositions of some silicate grains in Acfer 094. Finally, composite grains (i.e., grains with multiple subgrains) and grains with SiO2 compositions expected to form only under non-equilibrium conditions have also been identified in situ of ALHA77307. |
|
18-20 |
Conference on Micro-Raman Spectroscopy and Luminescence Studies in the Earth and Planetary Sciences (CORALS II) *,
Madrid, Spain
The primary aim of the conference is to assess the state of the art and reliability of micro-Raman spectroscopy as well as luminescence-based spectroscopy and microscopy and related techniques in the Earth and planetary sciences. The conference will be organized to maximize transfer of knowledge among the participants. The scientific program will provide a comprehensive overview of recent results and development trends in optical and luminescence spectroscopic research applied to the Earth and planetary sciences. |
|
18-22 |
International Space Development Conference 2011,
Birmingham, Alabama
The International Space Development Conference (ISDC) covers several broad areas of study related to building a spacefaring civilization, including transportation to and through space, technology needed to live and work in space, and Earth-based activities to advocate for or educate others about space development. The overall theme for ISDC 2011 is "From the Ground Up," emphasizing the tools, resources, and social activities that must be accomplished to make a spacefaring civilization a reality. Participants are encouraged not just to describe an ideal "future state," but to think about the technical, economic, or advocacy steps that must be accomplished to achieve a specific goal. |
|
20 |
Sustainability and the New Age of Humans: What you should know (Dr. James White, University of Colorado),
Lecture Hall
Humans are demonstrably the largest agent of change today in most of the planet's key functions. This is new development, the impacts of which have yet to be absorbed into national or international policy or planning, or the average person's consciousness. Achieving sustainable societies is a difficult challenge, one made more difficult by mismatches between the natural functioning of our planet and human action and decision making. We will use the example of energy and climate change, which I will argue is training wheels for sustainable societies, to introduce and examine the broader challenges of sustainability. |
|
22-26 |
20th ESA Symposium on European Rocket and Balloon Programmes and Related Research,
Hyeres, France
This Symposium will be the 20th in a series of conferences started in 1973 by the member states of EASP, in order to provide a discussion forum for scientists and engineers using sounding rockets and balloons for their research, and to advance progress in related scientific disciplines. The programme of the Symposium also includes related ground-based, aircraft and satellite research, new developments in technology, and improvements of launching range facilities. |
|
22-27 | Japan Geoscience Union International Symposium 2011, Chiba-city, Japan | |
23-24 | Enceladus Focus Group Meeting, Mountain View, California | |
30-Jun 3 |
The Molecular Universe,
Toledo, Spain
This meeting is the sixth in a series of the International Astronomical Union(IAU) Symposia on Astrochemistry, following the 1985 Goa, 1991 Brazil, 1996 Leiden, 1999 Korea and 2005 Asilomar Symposia. The main goal of the meeting is to bring together observers, theoreticians, and experimentalists from different communities to discuss the many different aspects of our rapidly developing field. Topics include: Star-forming regions from cold pre-stellar clouds to hot cores; Protoplanetary disks; Exoplanets and their atmospheres; Solar system objects from comets to the Kuiper Belt; Envelopes around evolved stars; Extragalactic astrochemistry out to high redshift; Molecules and galaxy formation; Diffuse and dense interstellar clouds; Laboratory astrochemistry: gas and solid state; Theoretical studies of basic molecular data; New tools for the analysis of spectral data; Role of heterogeneity and dynamics in chemical modeling; "Hot" results from Herschel and the promise of ALMA. |
June 2011
5-8 |
Astrobiology Graduate Student Conference (AbGradCon 2011),
Bozeman, Montana
Aspiring astrobiologists should report to Montana State University in Bozeman, Montanta on June 5-8th 2011 for AbGradCon 2011, the world's leading astrobiology conference for graduate students and early career scientists. Students and post-docs from a variety of fields are invited to participate in this event which will feature oral presentations, poster sessions, public outreach, and a field trip to Yellowstone National Park. |
|
5-10 |
Second Workshop on Robotic Autonomous Observatories,
Malaga, Spain
The number of automatic astronomical facilities worldwide continues to grow, and the level of robotisation, autonomy, and networking is increasing as well. This has a strong impact in many astrophysical fields, like the search for extra-solar planets, the monitoring of variable stars in our Galaxy, the study of active galactic nuclei, the detection and monitoring of supernovae, and the immediate follow-up of high-energy transients such as gamma-ray bursts. The main focus of the workshop will be on the new and existing astronomical facilities whose goal is to observe a wide variety of astrophysical targets with no (or very little) human interaction. The workshop will become an international forum for researchers to summarise the most recent developments and ideas in the field, with a special emphasis given to the technical and observational results obtained within the last five years. |
|
6-10 |
8th Serbian Conference on Spectral Line Shapes in Astrophysics,
Divcibare, Serbia
The spectral lines, their widths, and shapes, are powerful tools for emitting/absorbing gas diagnostics in different astrophysical objects (from the solar system to the most distant objects in the universe -- quasars). The emission/absorption lines of astrophysical objects are produced over a wide range of distances from an observer and under a wide range of physical and kinematical conditions. Therefore in astrophysical objects the lines from X-ray (Fe K) to the radio (radio recombination line) have been observed. On the other hand, the experimental and theoretical investigations of laboratory plasma have been applied in spectroscopic astrophysical research, especially atomic data needed for line shape calculations. This conference will bring together astronomers (observers and theoreticians) and physicists to review the present stage of investigation (Serbia and elsewhere), with the aim of improving our knowledge in this field, and to better understand the significance of emission/absorption lines for future astrophysical investigations. The program will focus on stellar and interstellar spectral lines; spectral line phenomena in extragalactic objects; and spectral lines in laboratory plasma. |
|
6-10 |
Eighth International Planetary Probe Workshop,
Portsmouth, Virginia
Sending space vehicles to other worlds is one of humankind’s most challenging and rewarding ventures. The 8th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW-8) will bring together scientists, engineers, technologists, mission designers, space agency leaders, and exceptional students from around the world for a compelling, week-long collaboration focused on exploring solar system destinations via in-situ missions. This 8th workshop will build upon the IPPW tradition by encouraging international cooperation in planetary probe missions, new technologies, and scientific discoveries. In addition, students from around the world will have a unique opportunity to present their work and to interact with the leaders in their discipline areas. |
|
8-10 |
24th Space Cryogenics Workshop,
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
This biennial workshop is an opportunity for all those engaged in low temperature work to exchange research results and knowledge, to inform the world about accomplishments and breakthroughs, and to network and share information with peers from around the world. All aspects of space cryogenics will be represented, with an emphasis on those related to previous missions as well as future research. |
|
8-10 |
International Workshop on Planning and Scheduling for Space,
Darmstadt, Germany
IWPSS-11 is the seventh International Workshop on Planning and Scheduling for Space. The purpose of this workshop is to focus on the challenges and opportunities facing the planning and scheduling community when addressing the needs of a wide range of space-based applications. Since the first workshop in this series, advanced planning and scheduling solutions have successfully found their application into a number of mission ground systems as well as onto spacecrafts. In each case, the deployment has considered flight project needs including cost reduction, increased science returns, and enabling new types of scientific observations. Still, a faster infusion process is motivated by the need for planning and scheduling technologies to support an increasingly large and complex suite of missions. |
|
10 |
Particle Transport and Processing in the Solar Nebula (Fred John Ciesla),
Lecture Hall
Studies of meteorites, cometary samples, and interplanetary dust particles have demonstrated that the solar nebula was dynamic--solid grains were transported large distances from where they formed to where they were accreted into their final parent bodies. This transport would have resulted in solids being exposed to a variety of nebular environments in which they were processed, altered, or destroyed, depending on the conditions present and time spent within each environment. I will discuss a new method of studying the dynamics of solid materials over long periods of time. I will also discuss specific applications of this method to understanding the observed properties of meteorites, comets, and IDPs. |
|
13-15 | A Wet vs. Dry Moon: Exploring Volatile Reservoirs and Implications for the Evolution of the Moon and Future Exploration *, Houston, Texas | |
13-15 |
The International Conference on Exploring Mars Habitability,
Lisbon, Portugal
The conference will focus on the habitability of Mars, both ancient and modern. The effects of planetary evolution, atmospheric evolution, climate cycles, and transitory events on the habitability of Mars are of key interest. These help to address the origin of life both on Mars and on Earth, as well as its potential for preservation. Upcoming missions (e.g., MSL, MAVEN, Exomars orbiter and rover) will address many of these issues. Suggested strategies as to how these missions will address current and past habitability of Mars are welcome. |
|
14-17 | The Second CoRoT Symposium: Transiting Planets, Vibrating Stars and Their Connection, Marseille, France | |
14-18 | Ringberg Workshop on Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Flow: Baroclinic Instability and Protoplanetary Accretion Disks, Ringberg Castle, Germany | |
16-17 |
24th Meeting of the NASA Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group,
Lisbon, Portugal
There have been many developments in Mars exploration in both NASA and ESA over the past year. This meeting will focus on the implications of these as well as the overall status of Mars exploration. This will be the first international meeting of MEPAG and it directly supports NASA’s and ESA’s intent to collaborate on Mars exploration. The meeting agenda will address the status and plans for current missions as well as current planning for future missions. This will also be the first MEPAG meeting that can respond to the Decadal Survey results. |
|
18-21 |
Very Wide Field Surveys in the Light of Astro2010,
Baltimore, Maryland
A general theme to the top recommendations of the Astro2010 Decadal Survey is the importance of wide-area surveys. These surveys will provide data that is much deeper and covering larger solid angles than previous surveys, opening new parameter space for discovery. However a dilemma is that many future very large area surveys (Omega > 20,000 sq. deg.) are photometric and so spectroscopic follow-up will be essential to realize their full scientific potential. This will be particularly acute in the area of time-domain astronomy where sample selection for immediate spectroscopic follow-up will have to be made on very short time frames and probably be performed automatically. Another critical issue is having sufficient broadband coverage to interpret the physics of the sources. This workshop will aim to address two key topics: what science can be done by correlating current and future very wide-area surveys and what plans can be made for providing spectroscopic coverage. The overall structure will include talks and panel discussions. "Tiger teams" will be asked to summarize the conclusions in white papers that will help motivate future strategic plans to address these issues. |
|
19-22 |
Second Joint Meeting of the Planetary and Terrestrial Mining Sciences Symposium (PTMSS) and the Space Resources Roundtable (SRR),
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
The purpose of the Planetary & Terrestrial Mining Sciences Symposium is to promote a closer relationship between the space and mining sectors. The intent is to allow mining experts to network with space scientists and engineers, to share knowledge, and to foster collaboration. The Space Resources Roundtable brings together space professionals, natural resources industry personnel, and entrepreneurs interested in developing the resources of space, including the Moon, Mars, asteroids, comets, and other bodies of this solar system. The goal of the Space Resources Roundtable is to advance prospects for the commercial development of space resources through information exchange among government, commercial, and academic organizations. |
|
20-23 | Titan Science Meeting, Abbaye Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer, France | |
20-24 |
Ninth IAA Low-Cost Planetary Missions Conference,
Laurel, Maryland
Mark your calendars for the 9th Low-Cost Planetary Missions Conference, organized and hosted by The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, and devoted to cost-efficient planetary missions with exciting science results. The conference is a forum for planetary scientists, technologists, engineers, managers, and agency officials to collect and exchange information and ideas for making this class of robotic mission richer scientifically and yet affordably low cost. This IAA-sponsored series of conferences has become the only venue for the international community to discuss methods to achieve cost-efficient exploration of objects in our solar system. In general, low-cost missions are the NASA equivalent of an Explorer or Discovery mission. The space agencies of Europe, Japan, Russia, India, and China have similar programs of planetary exploration within this cost range. Significant advances in scientific knowledge have resulted from this class of missions and will continue to do so in the future. |
|
21-24 | Discover the Cosmos and Change the World!, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain | |
24 |
Rayleigh–Taylor instability as a mechanism for corona formation on Venus (Trudi Hoogenboom),
Lecture Hall
In this study we explore the idea that coronae have formed on Venus as a result of gravitational (Rayleigh–Taylor) instability of the lithosphere. The lithosphere is represented by a system of stratified homogeneous viscous layers (low-density crust over high density mantle, over lower density layer beneath the lithosphere). A small harmonic perturbation imposed on the base of the lithosphere is observed to result in gravitational instability under the constraint of assumed axisymmetry. Topography develops with time under the influence of dynamic stress associated with downwelling or upwelling, and spatially variable crustal thickening or thinning. Topography may therefore be elevated or depressed above a mantle downwelling, but the computed gravity anomaly is always negative above a mantle downwelling in a homogeneous asthenosphere. The ratio of peak gravity to topography anomaly depends primarily on the ratio of crust to lithospheric viscosity. Average observed ratios are well resolved for two groups of coronae (∼40 mgal km−1), consistent with models in which the crust is perhaps 5 times stronger than the lithosphere. Group 3a (rim surrounding elevated central region) coronae are inferred to arise from a central upwelling model, whereas Group 8 (depression) coronae are inferred to arise from central downwelling. Observed average coronae radii are consistent with a lithospheric thickness of only 50 km. An upper low-density crustal layer is 10–20 km thick, as inferred from the amplitude of gravity and topography anomalies. |
|
27-Jul 1 | Joint Mars Express/Venus Express Workshop, Villanueva de la Canada, Spain | |
28-Jul 7 | IUGG/IAMAS General Assembly, Melbourne, Australia | |
30 |
Rayleigh-Taylor instability as a mechanism for corona formation on Venus ( Dr. Trudi Hoogenboom),
Lecture Hall
In this study we explore the idea that coronae have formed on Venus as a result of gravitational (Rayleigh–Taylor) instability of the lithosphere. The lithosphere is represented by a system of stratified homogeneous viscous layers (low-density crust over high density mantle, over lower density layer beneath the lithosphere). A small harmonic perturbation imposed on the base of the lithosphere is observed to result in gravitational instability under the constraint of assumed axisymmetry. Topography develops with time under the influence of dynamic stress associated with downwelling or upwelling, and spatially variable crustal thickening or thinning. Topography may therefore be elevated or depressed above a mantle downwelling, but the computed gravity anomaly is always negative above a mantle downwelling in a homogeneous asthenosphere. The ratio of peak gravity to topography anomaly depends primarily on the ratio of crust to lithospheric viscosity. Average observed ratios are well resolved for two groups of coronae (~40 mgal km-1), consistent with models in which the crust is perhaps 5 times stronger than the lithosphere. Group 3a (rim surrounding elevated central region) coronae are inferred to arise from a central upwelling model, whereas Group 8 (depression) coronae are inferred to arise from central downwelling. Observed average coronae radii are consistent with a lithospheric thickness of only 50 km. An upper low-density crustal layer is 10–20 km thick, as inferred from the amplitude of gravity and topography anomalies. |
July 2011
3-8 |
Origins 2011: The International Astrobiology Society and Bioastronomy Joint International Conference,
Montpellier, France
The main goal of this conference is to bring together scientists from all over the world to share their newest results and insights into the wide field of the origin of life and its occurrence in the universe. This meeting will integrate the broader interests and techniques of astronomy, planetology, geology, chemistry, biology and also history of sciences to have a wide understanding of the topic. It will start from the formation of our solar system up to the origin and evolution of living systems with an opportunity to generate a context for exploration in our solar system and observation of extrasolar planetary systems. |
|
4-8 | European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (JENAM-2011), St. Petersburg, Russia | |
4-8 |
SKA Science and Frontiers of Astronomy in the Era of Massive Datasets: The Promise and Challenges,
Banff, Canada
The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is a mega-science project to build a revolutionary radio telescope with global involvement and unprecedented scientific and technical ambition. It is being planned and designed by a twenty-nation collaboration of engineers, astronomers, astrobiologists, physicists, industrialists and policy makers. |
|
5-8 |
40th Young European Radio Astronomers Conference (YERAC),
Alcala de Henares, Spain
The Young European Radio Astronomers Conference has been held almost every year since 1968. Graduate students and early-career postdocs from all over Europe meet for a few days to give presentations. "Europe" generally includes any country from Russia in the East to Portugal in the west, plus affiliates of the European VLBI Network, RadioNet or other current bodies. YERAC covers all aspects of radio astronomy, from the Sun out to the cosmic microwave background, from stars and planets to the most distant galaxies, using single dish and interferometric techniques, models and theoretical work. YERAC is especially valuable in forging pan-European links between new astronomers that frequently lead to fruitful collaborations over many decades. |
|
11-15 | Magnetospheres of the Outer Planets 2011, Sendai, Japan | |
17 | AI in Space: Intelligence Beyond Planet Earth, Barcelona, Spain | |
17 |
Second Annual Lunar Graduate Conference
(LunGradCon 2011),
Mountain View, California
LunGradCon 2011 will address the three main research areas of the NASA Lunar Science Institute: Of the Moon: Investigations of the nature and history of the Moon (including research on lunar samples) to learn about this specific object and thereby provide insights into the evolution of our solar system; On the Moon: Investigations of the effects of the lunar environment on terrestrial life and the equipment that supports lunar inhabitants, and the effects of robotic and human presence on the lunar environment; From the Moon: Use of the Moon as a platform for performing scientific investigations, including observations of the Earth and other celestial phenomena that are uniquely enabled by being on the lunar surface. LunGradCon 2011 will also present opportunities for social networking among LGC participants and senior scientists and engineers from NASA ARC and the NASA Lunar Science Institute. |
|
17-22 |
2011 Gordon Research Conference on Origins of Solar Systems,
South Hadley, Massachusetts
This unique interdisciplinary meeting includes astronomers and astrophysicists interested in star and planet formation, planetary scientists and cosmochemists interested in the early history, structure, and evolution of the Solar System, as well as scientists in related disciplines. |
|
18 |
Third Annual Lunar Scientists and Engineers Workshop,
Moffett Field, California
The Next Generation Lunar Scientists and Engineers (NGLSE) group is now accepting applications for its upcoming workshop on Monday, July 18, prior to the NASA Lunar Science Forum at Ames Research Center. The day-long workshop will feature media training by Emmy Award winner George Merlis, a former executive producer of Good Morning America, the CBS Morning News, and Entertainment Tonight. Media training was identified as a topic of interest to NGLSE members in a recent survey. In addition to media training, participants will have the opportunity to meet and network with their peers and established members of the lunar community. |
|
18-22 |
From Interacting Binaries to Exoplanets: Essential Modeling Tools,
Tatranska Lomnica, Slovakia
This meeting will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first model atmosphere and binary star synthesis codes, as well as the 110th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Antonín Bečvář, founder of the Skalnaté Pleso Observatory and author of several famous atlases and catalogues: Atlas Coeli, Atlas Borealis, Atlas Eclipticalis and Atlas Australis, which were used nightly by astronomers around the world for almost half a century. |
|
19-21 |
Lunar Science Forum 2011,
Moffett Field, California
The NASA Lunar Science Institute is pleased to announce the 4th annual NASA Lunar Science Forum, to be held July 19-21, 2011. This year's forum will feature sessions on recent scientific results from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, dedicated side-conferences for graduate students and young lunar professionals, as well as the annual recognition of scientific accomplishments and associated keynote lecture. As in past years, science sessions are structured to report on both recent results and future opportunities for lunar science, exploration, education and outreach. We also look forward to news on the upcoming lunar missions GRAIL and LADEE, and welcome abstracts across the many fields of lunar science. |
|
22 |
Mars Volcanism Sampler: Key Questions Addressed Using Orbiter Cameras, 1997–2011 (Kenneth S. Edgett, Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego, Ca),
Lecture Hall
Is Mars still volcanically active today? Have there been geologically recent or present-day volcanic or hydrogeothermal (e.g., geyser) eruptions? Are there “warm havens for life”1? Did magmatism contribute to the formation of martian chaotic terrain and melting of ground ice or release of groundwater to form attendant outflow channels? What has been the role of volcanism in the Valles Marineris, a system of troughs and chasms that span the distance between the chaotic terrain in the east and the Tharsis volcanoes in the west? The sands of Meridiani Planum have been characterized by Opportunity rover investigators as “basaltic”. Where would basalt sand come from? Has there been volcanism in the Meridiani region, a place very far from the major volcanoes of Tharsis, Elysium, Syrtis, and Hesperia? The approach taken to address these questions has been an active one: Select locations for high-resolution imaging and monitor incoming daily global meteorological pictures for evidence of eruptions or new tephra deposits. This effort has involved targeting of the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) narrow angle subsystem and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Context Camera (CTX) and HiRISE instruments. It has also involved reviewing daily images from the MOC wide angle subsystem and the MRO Mars Color Imager (MARCI) as well as examination of images and laser altimetry returned by other instruments and spacecraft. The results: No evidence for present-day or very recent (tens of thousands of years) volcanic or hydrogeothermal activity; observation of a lava flow interbedded with sedimentary rock in the Sinus Meridiani region; observations regarding the effect of substrate resistance to erosion on the retention of small (sub-kilometer) impact craters; observation of lava flows and small shield volcanoes in and around the chaotic terrain east of the Valles Marineris; and documentation of landforms across the entire Valles Marineris at 6 meters per pixel, including volcanic features. In addition to these observations regarding Mars volcanism, if the audience is interested, I will briefly discuss the Mars Science Laboratory Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) investigation and, for the LPI Summer Interns, my career path which began as an LPI intern 25 years ago. (1To borrow a phrase from B. M. Jakosky (1996) New Scientist 150, 38–42) |
|
25-29 | 2011 Sagan Exoplanet Summer Workshop: Exploring Exoplanets with Microlensing, Pasadena, California | |
27-29 |
Rings 2011,
Ithaca, New York
This workshop will explore the present state of investigations into the structure, composition and dynamics of planetary rings, emphasizing recent results from the Cassini Mission to Saturn as well as current theoretical work and numerical simulations. The format will combine daily oral sessions with ample time for splinter meetings and informal discussion. Possible session topics include ring origins, ring composition and particle size distributions, gravitational over/instablities and accretionary phenomena, dynamics of ring-embedded objects, dusty ring features' interactions with the electromagnetic environment, and comparative studies of various ring/disk systems. |
|
29 |
Near-Earth Asteroids: Threats of Extinction, Opportunities for Exploration (Stanley G. Love, NASA JSC),
Lecture Hall
Tens of thousands of asteroids, ranging in size from meters to kilometers, have orbits that approach or cross the Earth's. An asteroid strike on the Earth could cause local or regional devastation, or even a global mass extinction. Unlike other natural disasters, however, asteroid impacts can be entirely prevented by judicious use of technology that exists today. The orbital properties that make near-Earth asteroids hazardous also make them interesting targets for future human exploration, comparable in difficulty to landing on the Moon. In this talk, I will review the population and character of near-Earth asteroids, survey methods for preventing them from hitting the Earth, and discuss some of the opportunities and challenges they present for human space flight. |
|
30-Aug 3 |
Connecting People to Science: The 2011 Education and Public Outreach Conference of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific,
Baltimore, Maryland
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific invites you to a national conference on science education and public outreach in conjunction with its 123rd annual meeting. The conference, with the theme of "Connecting People to Science," will be held at the Tremont Plaza Hotel in Baltimore, a few blocks north of the Inner Harbor in the city’s downtown area and close to restaurants and attractions. The conference proper will be held Monday through Wednesday, August 1-3, with special events the preceding weekend, July 30-31. Conference sessions will take place in the completely restored Baltimore Masonic Temple building, providing a unique and beautiful setting for learning what’s up, sharing our experience and results, improving our practice, and making connections with each other across science disciplines. Please mark your calendars for this "hands-on," intellectually stimulating meeting for everyone involved in science education and public outreach. Watch for announcements of special co-hosts, co-sponsors, speakers, events, and the call for abstracts between now and early 2011. We’re all about the business of connecting people to science -- with a variety of sciences in a variety of ways. Come to Baltimore next summer to connect with your colleagues and advance our combined efforts to create a science-literate and science-rich future! |
August 2011
1-5 |
6th Heidelberg Summer School: Characterizing Exoplanets --- From Formation to Atmospheres,
Heidelberg, Germany
The goals of the IMPRS Summer Schools are to (1) bring together research students of various fields for discussion and exchange of ideas; (2) encourage young researchers and advanced students to continue research in these fields; and (3) strengthen future interdisciplinary research in these areas. The focus of this school is to link current observations and theory from formation and detection of planets to explore their atmosphere and characterizing habitable environments. It will highlight the newest results in extra solar planet search in a cross-disciplinary environment, discuss different formation scenarios and observables, recently discovered super-Earths to potential habitability of rocky planets in a very interactive environment. |
|
7-12 | 12th Annual Summer School on Adaptive Optics, Santa Cruz, California | |
8-11 | AOGS2011 — Asia Oceania Geosciences Society, Taipei, Taiwan | |
8-11 |
Small Sat Conference,
Logan, Utah
Twenty-five years ago, faculty at Utah State University, led by Dr. Frank J. Redd, observed a growing interest in space missions that could be accomplished for low cost with small satellites. In the summer of 1986, Redd organized the first meeting, attended by approximately 50 people, of what would become the USU Conference on Small Satellites. Maverick elements of the military services, small businesses, and national and international universities were early champions for a new era of small space missions and corresponding technology development. From these modest beginnings, the AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites has emerged as a venue for international collaborative discussion on small satellite missions, systems, and technologies. In this twenty-fifth year of the conference, we will reflect on the progress we have made over the past two-and-a-half decades and explore the prospects for the future of smaller space missions. The conference will convene developers, visionaries, sponsors, and enthusiasts for a highly stimulating week of dialog and collaboration to continue the advances of small satellite missions. Keynote speakers representing a broad spectrum of global perspectives and knowledge will share their thoughts and insights on the future of small satellites. |
|
8-12 | 74th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society *, London, England, UK | |
10-12 |
Stars, Companions, and their Interactions: A Memorial to Robert H. Koch,
Villanova, Pennsylvania
The scientific and local organizing committees are pleased to announce a conference in honor of the many contributions of Robert. H. Koch to the field of stellar astronomy. Topics will include ground and space-based studies of binary systems (including polarization), stellar evolution, instrumentation (contemporary and historic), and extreme mass ratio systems (including exoplanets, brown dwarfs, and microquasars). |
|
10 |
Target Selection and Mission Analysis of Human Exploration Missions to Near-Earth Asteroids (Aline Zimmer),
Lecture Hall
Missions to NearEarth Asteroids (NEAs) offer a wide range of possibilities for space exploration, scientific research, and technology demonstration. In particular, manned missions to NEAs represent the perfect environment to gain experience in deep space operations, an indispensable prerequisite for human missions to Mars. Additionally, since human missions are designed as round-trip missions, they provide the ideal platform for sample return. As past robotic missions to asteroids have shown that the environment of an asteroid is highly uncertain before the rendezvous, robotic precursor missions with the objective to characterize NEAs well ahead of the actual human mission are essential. The selection of target asteroids for such precursor missions is directly governed by the target selection for the subsequent human missions. As a starting point for the analysis of human missions to NEAs, an accessibility model for NEAs is developed allowing pre-selection of promising asteroid targets based on the combination of their orbital elements. In the next step, the possibilities of mission abort are examined considering a “free” return scenario and an anytime abort. The “free” return option, characterized by a long return duration and a low ∆v, is found to be feasible for all missions under study. The anytime abort, allowing a comparatively fast return to Earth at a ∆v penalty, is observed to be an option only on short duration missions. Which abort scenarios are possible on a certain mission must be studied on a case-by-case basis. While these abort scenarios apply primarily to human missions, free return and alternative trajectories can assist in the assurance of sample-return mission completion, as motivated by the challenges of the Hayabusa mission. In the scope of the previous investigations,all calculations were based on departures from lowEarth orbit. Current work expands this analysis by assessing Sun-Earth Lagrange (SEL) points as staging locations, potentially reducing onboard fuel and subsequently increasing available payload mass. Both scientific and human missions are considered. In the human scenario, the crew departs directly from low-Earth orbit on their trajectory to the asteroid and rendezvous with cargo, which was previously stationed at a Lagrange point, in the vicinity of the Earth along the outbound trajectory. To achieve this, the feasibility of connecting halo orbits around SEL1 and 2 to the interplanetary trajectories of the spacecraft via invariant manifolds is presently investigated. Biography: Aline Zimmer received a M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She has been an associate researcher and Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of Space Systems of the University of Stuttgart since 2009 and presently works at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. |
|
14-19 | Goldschmidt 2011, Prague, Czech Republic | |
20-31 | Formation, Detection, and Characterization of Extrasolar Habitable Planets, Beijing, China | |
22-25 |
Magnetic Fields in Stars and Exoplanets,
Potsdam, Germany
The investigation of magnetic fields of stars and exoplanets is benefiting greatly from recent advances in high-resolution spectroscopy and polarimetry as well as high-performance computing. This conference will bring together active researchers involved in theoretical and observational studies of stellar and exoplanetary magnetic fields. In the tradition of Potsdam Thinkshops, the conference will offer an efficient exchange of latest results and enough room for discussions of future approaches in between the presentations. The meeting focuses in particular on the stimulation of collaborations among the participants. |
|
23 |
Building Bridges: Cooperation of UK and Iranian Astronomers,
Keele, United Kingdom
Following in the footsteps of famous ancient Persians, astronomers in modern Iran enjoy a renaissance of their science. It is popular with students, who enjoy growing opportunities of postgraduate studies. A prestigious institute for astronomy has been founded, and a national observatory is being constructed on a central-Iranian mountaintop. A one-day meeting is being organised, to bring together astronomers from Iran and from the UK, but also anyone else who are interested in collaboration or in Iranian science or its rich and diverse culture. |
|
25-26 | Fifth Meeting of the NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group, Pasadena, California | |
26 |
Investigating the Evolution of Lunar Impactors with New Crater Distributions (Michelle Kirchoff, SWRI),
Lecture Hall
The Moon is the only solar system body that we have both crater size-frequency distributions (SFDs) and absolute ages of known terrains. These are keystones for understanding the impact rate through time, not only for the Moon but also the Earth, which has had much of its record erased by geologic activity. Previous work constraining the changing lunar impact rate is decades old. New imaging from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) and results from dynamical calculations of evolution of plausible impactor populations encourage a reevaluation. Therefore, we are compiling the crater SFDs for different lunar terrains (which will later be combined with dynamical research) to understand the evolution of impactor populations and the changing impact rate. Our preliminary data indicates that the SFD of external impactors has likely changed with time, but interpretations of crater SFDs may be considerably affected by unrecognized secondaries. |
|
29-Sep 1 |
Conference on Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing (CALCON),
Logan, Utah
Calibration is becoming increasingly more challenging as measurement requirements for many of today's remote sensing applications become more stringent. The Annual Conference on Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing provides a forum for scientists, engineers, and managers to present, discuss, and learn. Experts in the calibration community offer relevant knowledge and suggestions about calibration, characterization, and radiometric issues within the microwave, IR, visible, and UV spectrums. Individuals developing measurement requirements for today and future sensor systems are encouraged to participate and help close the gap between expectations and real world experiences. The continuity and advancement of our calibration community depends on your participation. |
|
30-31 |
New Horizons Workshop on Icy Surface Processes,
Flagstaff, Arizona
The principal objective of this workshop is to review the state of knowledge and present new ideas pertaining to the geological and geochemical processes that operate on the surfaces of icy worlds, with the goal of aiding our understanding of the Pluto system during the first reconnaissance in 2015 by NASA's New Horizons mission. |
|
30-Sep 1 |
Ninth VEXAG Meeting and Venus Science Conference,
Washington, DC
The Ninth VEXAG meeting will be 1-1/2 days beginning on Tuesday, August 30th and continuing on Wednesday morning, August 31, 2011. A VEXAG sponsored Venus Science Conference will be 1-1/2 days beginning on Wednesday afternoon, August 30, and continuing on Thursday, September 1. All scientists interested in Venus are invited to present their findings from Ground-based Observations of Venus, Results from the Venus Express Mission and Observational Strategies for Future Exploration of Venus. Abstracts for the Science Conference can be submitted through August 10, 2011. There are no registration fees for this Science Symposium. There will be travel support for students. |