Department News

(Jonathan Lunine has accepted the position of David C. Duncan Professor of Astronomy at Cornell.)

Dear LPL friends and colleagues,

As my departure from LPL for Cornell draws near, I would like to briefly reflect on the past and future of the institution. LPL and the Department of Planetary Sciences together are an extraordinary place; their historical importance to the field of planetary science cannot be overstated. The 50th anniversary celebration of LPL provided a chance to consider those accomplishments, which not by coincidence span the entire history of the planetary exploration program. Our students have made their own names in the field, profoundly shaping what is surely one of the most amazing endeavors of modern times. Besides our own former graduate students, I often encounter other people around the world who worked at or had some association with LPL, people not familiar but who nonetheless have an influence on space programs today. (An engineer in Rome at Thales Alenia is my most recent example---he was a SERC graduate.)

I see LPL's future to be as bright as its past, despite the clear challenges the State's budgetary and political situations present. Key to LPL's bright future is the ever-renewing nature of a vibrant academic organization, exemplified by the arrival of new faculty with fresh enthusiasm and original ideas; a LARGE crop of new graduate students who come to seek the imprimatur of LPL's faculty through their doctoral degrees; and the opportunities afforded to participate in or create new programs of research, which bring fresh talent in the form of postdocs, research scientists, and engineers. LPL's adaptability and camaraderie will serve it well as the environment around it continues to change.

My move comes not out of a desire to leave LPL, but because this particular new opportunity was just too enticing. I struggled with my decision, and I am sad to be leaving. Every opportunity in life comes with a price, and the price of this one is departure from what will always be my scientific and academic home. After announcing my decision, I was deeply moved by the kind wishes and goodwill of so many here, especially my senior colleagues some of whom helped woo me here 27 years ago. I will miss them, along with everything that is good about the American Southwest...from the wind in the mountain pines to the vast "empty" spaces of the stark desert floor. More than that need not be said, except the hope that goodbye really doesn't mean farewell...it only means we will see each other again wherever we are doing planetary science.

--Jonathan

Congratulations to John R. Weirich, who in February 2011 successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation on "Improvements to Ar-Ar Dating of Extra Terrestrial Materials." Tim Swindle was John's advisor. John will begin a post-doctoral position with Kip Hodges at Arizona State University's School of Earth and Space Exploration in August 2011.

Congratulations to Sarah M. Hörst, who successfully defended her Ph.D. dissertation titled "Post-Cassini Investigations of Titan Atmospheric Chemistry," on April 28, 2011. Sarah's advisor was Roger Yelle. Sarah has accepted a position as a NSF post-doctoral fellow with Maggie Tolbert at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences(CIRES) in Boulder.

On December 14, 2010, University of Arizona Professor Emeritus Don Hunten died after a long illness. During his last days, he was tended by his wife and UA Senior Research Associate Ann Sprague.

On February 25, 2011, LPL hosted a celebration of the life of Donald M. Hunten. Steven Bougher, Darrell Strobel, Mark Sykes, and many other colleagues, friends, and family members were in attendance.

Hunten's scientific career began with the study of physics at McGill University, where he obtained a doctorate in 1950. While a faculty member at the University of Saskatchewan, his research concentrated on the study of aurorae (natural light displays in the sky caused by the collision of charged particles directed by the Earth's magnetic field).

By 1963 however, the space age was starting in earnest. At the invitation of Joe Chamberlain, Hunten moved to Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson to join the newly-formed space research group and his main research interest switched to the study of planetary atmospheres. Thus, he joined the first group of pioneers in the scientific exploration of the solar system and he was to be a leading figure in this community for nearly half a century.

The accomplishments of these pioneers were remarkable, including the first characterizations of the atmospheres in our solar system along with development of the basic understanding of the structure and chemistry of these atmospheres and the experimental and theoretical tools used to study them. Many of the ideas developed during that time are still with us today and Hunten's contributions were central to their development.

A signature achievement during this phase of his career was an understanding of how odd hydrogen chemistry stabilized the atmosphere of Mars against destruction by photodissociation. Hunten moved to the UA's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory in 1974, and his involvement in planetary research continued unabated. He also taught numerous students and post-doctoral associates.

Hunten retired in 2001 but remained active until recently. He received many honors during his career, including induction into the National Academy of Sciences, the Kuiper Prize of the Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society and a Regents' Professorship at the UA.

One of Hunten's most far-reaching achievements concerned the role of diffusion in atmospheric escape processes. "Don's Principle," as this is sometimes known, described how the escape rate was limited by diffusion of the escaping species through the background atmosphere.

Typical for him, the theory was formulated in response to an observation, the detection of molecular hydrogen in Titan's atmosphere, when it was expected to have a very low abundance because of rapid escape. The theory was developed in a series of papers between 1972 and 1974, including an application to the escape of hydrogen from the terrestrial atmosphere — one of the best examples of how studying other planets leads to a better understanding of our own.

Hunten was a major influence on the unmanned space program with involvement in the planning and execution of numerous NASA planetary missions including Pioneer Venus, Voyager, Galileo and Cassini. In fact, he was the godfather of so many missions that he was dubbed by his colleagues "The Don."

In addition to his direct involvement on the experiment teams, Hunten helped conceive these missions, argued for their funding, sat on (and often chaired) their planning committees, helped to define the scientific goals, and provided wise guidance during their execution.

Hunten was a scientist of extraordinary breadth. His expertise ranged across the planetary sciences from chemistry to remote sensing to thermal processes to studies of atmospheric evolution and he used a variety of tools including telescopic observations, spacecraft observations, and theoretical investigations. 

A talented tinkerer, Hunten could build a harpsichord in his garage, or repair a computer with the needle-nosed pliers and soldering iron that he kept in his office, all the while with gentle classical music playing in the background. He wrote nearly as many papers on electronics as he did on atmospheric evolution.

Throughout his career, Hunten went out his way to support and encourage younger scientists. As a result, he leaves behind legions of students and collaborators that he profoundly influenced. These intellectual disciples can be found in every planetary science research center on the globe.

Hunten's textbook, co-authored with Joe Chamberlain, "Theory of Planetary Atmospheres" was treasured by many of his colleagues. This pales though, in comparison to personal interactions, through which Hunten could more directly impart his common sense approach to planetary science.

LPL welcomes the 2009/2010 graduate student class!

Patricio Becerra, B.S. Physics, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Research interest: planetary surface processes (Byrne)

Ingrid Daubar-Spitale, M.S. Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona. Research interest: Mars impact cratering (McEwen)

Christopher Dietl, Visiting student, Fulbright travel grant (2009/2010), Physics/Computer Sciences, Ruprechts-Karls-Universität

Youngmin JeongAhn, B.S. Astronomy/Earth System Sciences, Seoul National University. Research interest: Asteroid dynamics (Malhotra)

Tiffany Kataria, B.S. Astronomy/Physics, State University of New York, Stony Brook. Research interest: Exoplanets, planetary interiors (Showman)

Juan Lora, B.S. Astronomy, University of Southern California. Research interest: Astrobiology, exoplanets (Lunine)

Chet Maleszewski, M.S. Applied Physics, Northern Arizona University. Research interest: Asteroids, KBOs, exoplanets (McMillan)

Jamie Molaro, B.S. Physics, San Francisco State University. Research interest: Planetary geophysics.

Robert Zellem, M.S. Space Sciences, University College London. Research interest: Planetary sciences.

Partly inspired by alum Nick Schneider's stories of success from the University of Colorado, five LPL faculty members are using "clickers" (classroom response systems) in the classroom for general education courses this year. The clickers contain an RF transmitter, and the faculty member has an RF receiver and associated software so that we can ask a question and instantaneously record responses.

Steve Kortenkamp, Hal Larson, Tami Rogers, Tim Swindle and Roger Yelle are the brave souls using PRS Interwrite clickers this semester. After nearly universal technical problems of various kinds for the first week, all have settled in and are trying various different kinds of questions and grading. Questions range from quizzes over material covered in the last five minutes to replacements for "what do you think would happen if..." queries designed to start class discussion. Scoring ranges from points for attendance to quiz-like scoring to no scoring. Even with only five instructors, the breadth of approaches attempted should lead to an interesting "lessons learned" session after the semester.

LPL Field Trips are alive and well! This past spring (spring 2009), Professors Shane Byrne and Adam Showman led the PTYS 594A field trip to California's Mojave desert in the region between Barstow and Needles. Field-trippers spent four days driving, camping and hiking to sites of geological interest. The sites visited included the Kelso sand dunes, Amboy crater and the Cima volcanic field.

Professor Rick Greenberg joined the group by flying a light plane to the town of Amboy, California (and landing just off route 66). The aerial photos proved a useful counterpart to the groundbased mapping of geologic features.

One of the great things about the Mojave is the amount of remote-sensing data that exist for the region (taken by aircraft and spacecraft). Comparing these data with the actual site provides the experience needed to interpret spacecraft data of other planetary surfaces (where field trips aren't so common).

This semester (Fall 2009), the PTYS 594A field trip will be led by professor Shane Byrne, with assistance from former LPL graduate students Joe Spitale, Dave O'Brien, and Colin Dundas. Destination: the Geronimo volcanic field and the Chiricahua mountains in south-eastern Arizona.

Congratulations to the department's newest Ph.D. recipients!

Maria Banks, Ph.D.(Geosciences), 2009, McEwen. Glacial processes and morphologies in the southern hemisphere of Mars.
Post-doc (RA), Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, National Air and Space Museum, CEPS, National Air and Space Museum.

Colin Dundas Ph.D., 2009, McEwen.
Geomorphology of Martian surface features.
Post-doc (RA), HiRISE project, LPL.

Brian Jackson Ph.D., 2009, Greenberg. Tidal evolution of extra-solar planets.
Post-doc (RA), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Kelly Kolb Ph.D., 2009, McEwen.
Investigating evidence for geologically recent liquid water on Mars.
Teacher, The Village School (Houston).

Yuan Lian Ph.D., 2009, Showman.
Numerical simulations of atmospheric dynamics on the giant planets.
Research Associate, Ashima Research (Pasadena, CA).

David Minton Ph.D., 2009, Malhotra. Dynamical history of the asteroid belt and implications for terrestrial planet bombardment.
Post-doc (RA) Southwest Research Institute (Boulder).

Eric Palmer Ph.D., 2009, Brown. Volatiles on solar system objects: Carbon dioxide on Iapetus and aqueous alteration in CM chondrites.

Paulo Penteado Ph.D., 2009, Griffith. Study of Titan's methane cycle.
Post-doc (RA), Astronomy Dept., Universidade de Sao Paolo (Brazil).

FACULTY POSITIONS: ASSISTANT, ASSOCIATE, OR FULL PROFESSOR

The Department of Planetary Sciences/Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona expects to fill up to three tenure track faculty positions. Candidates in all areas of planetary science are encouraged to apply. Current faculty and research staff are involved in the scientific exploration of the Solar System including the Sun and heliosphere, comparative planetary studies, exoplanetary systems, origins of planetary systems, and inquiry into the presence of life elsewhere in the cosmos. They employ tools such as theoretical studies and data analysis, laboratory and field investigations, telescopic observations, remote sensing, spacecraft instrumentation, and spacecraft mission development and operations. The faculty, research staff, and graduate student body are drawn from the diverse backgrounds of planetary science, astronomy, chemistry, geology, physics, and engineering. Additional information concerning the Department/Laboratory is available on LPL's site.

Duties and Responsibilities: Successful candidates will teach at all levels, from freshman through advanced graduate classes. They will establish and maintain a distinguished research program and will supervise graduate students.

Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. in a related field. To be considered for an appointment above the rank of Assistant Professor, candidates must have an internationally recognized record of distinguished scientific achievement, leadership, and teaching ability in the planetary sciences. To be considered for appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, candidates must demonstrate clear promise of such achievement.

Review of materials will begin immediately (October 2009) and will continue until positions are filled. Full position details and online application are available on HR's site; reference job #43641. Applicants MUST apply through the above URL, but should also send an original set of application materials (including a curriculum vitae, letter of interest, and statement of research and teaching interests) to: Professor Michael J. Drake, Head and Director, Department of Planetary Sciences/Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, 1629 E. University Blvd., The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0092. The University of Arizona is an AA/EEO/ADA employer - M/W/D/V.

On Friday, October 23, 2009, members of the International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA) exhibited their work in the Kuiper Space Sciences Building Atrium.

The "Visions of the Cosmos" exhibit was held in celebration of the 50th anniversaries of both the National Astronomy Observatory (1958-2008) and The University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (1960-2010).

Some of the art on display was very new; IAAA artists spent October 18-22 at Kitt Peak National Observatory creating new works to celebrate the National Observatory's anniversary. Three IAAA exhibitors were Arizona artists: Dr. William K. Hartmann (alumnus of The University of Arizona and Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute), Michelle Rouch, and John Clark. Other exhibitors traveled to Tucson from California, Florida, New Hampshire, and Quebec, Canada.

Only $630K, reduced from $699K. Those of you who remember Hawthorne House should take a look at the new (improved) Hawthorne House.