ExoPAG Overview

1. Exoplanet Explorers (ExoExplorers) Seminar Series: Call for ExoGuides and ExoExplorers (Applications due October 12, 2023)

The Exoplanet Explorers (ExoExplorers) Seminar Series is soliciting both US and International “ExoGuides” and “ExoExplorers” for our 4th cohort which will run January-June 2024! Both ExoGuide nominations and ExoExplorer applications are due Thursday, October 12th at 6 PM PDT.

Read on below for additional information and nomination/application details for each call:

(1) Call for ExoGuide nominations

As an ExoGuide, we ask that you participate in a single, 2-hour meeting with the cohort (~30-minute seminar and ~90-min informal discussion) that speaks to your experiences as a scientist or engineer. The ExoExplorer organizers are eager to showcase broad, diverse perspectives and therefore encourage you to highlight any topic(s) you think may be of interest to the ExoExplorers.

ExoGuides should be faculty, staff, or equivalent career stage. We welcome both exoplanet and exoplanet-adjacent scientists and engineers (e.g., disks, stars, instrumentation) from any institution (US and international). Nominations should be submitted via this form.

by 6pm Pacific time on October 12th. Self-nominations are welcome. The organizers will review nominations and reach out to potential ExoGuides in mid-November. A complete nomination submitted by the deadline will be considered by the Organizing and Steering Committees for three (3) years (i.e. for this year's cohort, next year's cohort, and the year after that). You are welcome to reapply after those three years.

A copy of this call can be found on the ExoExplorers website:

https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/exopag/exoexplorers/exoexplorers-exoguide-call/

(2) Call for ExoExplorer applications

The ExoExplorers program, sponsored by NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program Office and the ExoPAG Executive Committee, will focus on the professional development of ~10 graduate student and/or postdoc researchers (“ExoExplorers”) at US and international¹ institutions. Each member of the cohort will be featured in a webinar that will be live-streamed to the exoplanet community, helping to increase their visibility within the field. The cohort will also learn from the experiences of established exoplanet researchers and engineers in the field (“ExoGuides”) via a combination of tailored presentations and small group discussions.

Members of this cohort, which will run from January 2024 to June 2024, will each give one 30-minute presentation on their research to the broader exoplanet community. Each of the ExoExplorers will receive $1,000 for the purchase of one presentation of their research results, presented as a part of the Science Series.

In addition, the ExoExplorers will be invited to participate in:

• Weekly interactions between members of the cohort
• Monthly informal group discussions with prominent scientists (“ExoGuides”) in the fields of exoplanet science and engineering
• One-on-one meetings with two to five researchers requested by the ExoExplorer, facilitated by the Organizing Committee
• Two to four professional development events on topics to be decided by the cohort, such as proposal writing, establishing inclusive collaborations, career building, and public speaking
• The development and/or execution of cohort-driven activities pertaining to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) and/or exoplanet science and engineering
• Mentorship opportunities with the organizers of the ExoExplorers program.

The activities described above will largely be shaped by the unique interests and needs of the cohort. Therefore, we seek applicants who are actively seeking to enrich and enhance their exoplanet science and DEIA² in the broader exoplanet community via engaging with each other, as well as with the ExoGuides and the ExoExplorer program organizers.

Candidates will be evaluated on the following three criteria:

• Your research and how it supports the broad themes outlined in the ExEP Science Gap List (and related exoplanet topics);
• Cohort activities you wish to lead / engage in, and goals related to the activities described above, with specific examples;
• How you would leverage your ExoExplorers experience to become leaders in exoplanet science and to increase DEIA2 in the broader exoplanet community.

The application will consist of the candidate’s CV and a 700-1000 word essay that addresses the three criteria. A candidate’s application will be evaluated based on how they address these three prompts. Competitive applicants would substantively address all of the above areas. Further application instructions can be found on the ExoExplorer page, linked below.

Applications are due Thursday, October 12th, 2023 at 6 PM PDT.

For more information about the ExoExplorers program, including a copy of this call and application instructions, please see our website.

And if you have questions on either call, please see our FAQ page.

-- The ExoExplorer steering and organizing committees

¹ NASA places restrictions on interactions with several countries: Iran, Syria, North Korea, and China. If you are a citizen of one of these countries or are currently affiliated with an institution in one of these countries, please see our FAQ page for additional details/restrictions on applying.

² For examples of how NASA defines DEIA, please see the NASA inclusion plan resources for researchers and this NASA policy statement on DEIA for NASA’s Workforce and Workplaces. For some examples of existing NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) DEIA efforts, please see the SMD Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility page.

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2. NOIRLab Call for Proposals for Semester 2024A, including NN-EXPLORE Proposals Invited for the WIYN 3.5m and MINERVA-Australis (Deadline October 2, 2023)

NN-EXPLORE Proposals Invited for the WIYN 3.5m and MINERVA-Australis in 2024A

NOIRLab Proposal Call: https://noirlab.edu/science/observing-noirlab/proposals/call-for-proposals/

NN-EXPLORE 2024A Informational Session: https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/NNExplore/nn-explore-2024A-info/

The NASA-NSF Exoplanet Observational Research (NN-EXPLORE) program seeks to advance the understanding of exoplanets and exoplanetary systems in areas of mutual interest to NASA and NSF. Every semester, this program makes approximately 40 nights of telescope time available on the WIYN telescope, and 300 hours (equivalent to 30 nights) on the MINERVA-Australis observatory.

NN-EXPLORE solicits observing proposals targeted to general exoplanet-related research, with emphasis on supporting observations for NASA missions, including but not limited to Kepler, K2, TESS, HST, and JWST. The scope of the NN-EXPLORE Program includes observations to:

• Confirm or validate exoplanet candidates
• Characterize known exoplanets and exoplanetary systems
• Characterize the (exozodiacal) dust environments of exoplanet-hosting or potentially-exoplanet-hosting stars
• Explore the formation, evolution, and diversity of exoplanetary systems

Stellar observations to characterize stellar properties and search for background eclipsing binaries fall within the scope of the NN-EXPLORE Program, provided that the relevance of the proposed work to the exoplanet-research focus of the Program is clearly established.

NN-EXPLORE proposals will be evaluated by a special Time Allocation Committee (TAC). The same TAC will evaluate WIYN and MINERVA-Australis proposals.

For further information see Section 3.5 of the proposal call: https://noirlab.edu/science/observing-noirlab/proposals/call-for-proposals

At the time of writing, NN-EXPLORE time on the SMARTS 1.5-m will NOT be available in 2024A.

Presentation slides from the NN-EXPLORE 2024A Informational Session that was held August 9, 2023 are now posted at: https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/NNExplore/nn-explore-2024A-info/

The NN-EXPLORE Program - David Ardila (JPL)
The High-Resolution Imaging Program - Steve Howell (Ames Research Center)
The NEID spectrometer - Sarah Logsdon (NOIRLab)
The SMARTS/CHIRON spectrometer - Todd Henry (RECONS)
The MINERVA-Australis spectrometer - Rob Wittenmyer (USQ Aus)

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3. ExoPAG 28: Agenda Posted (October 1, 2023, San Antonio & hybrid)

The 28th Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group Meeting (ExoPAG 28)

The Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group is organizing its 28th meeting on October 1st, 2023. This event will be held at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter and will be offered in both in-person and hybrid formats.

https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/events/461/exopag-28/

The draft agenda has been posted at the website. Please register at the website if you plan to attend either in person or virtually.

The ExoPAG28 meeting will be an integral part of the 2023 Division for Planetary Sciences splinter sessions. It will include a community forum on science topics related to exoplanet and solar system synergies with the goal of strengthening the connections between the astronomy and planetary science communities. A status of the Exoplanet Program, review of urgent questions from the Planetary and Astrobiology decadal surveys, and an interactive business meeting will also be held.

The exoplanet community is invited to send proposed findings and/or suggestions to the ExoPAG Executive Committee for review prior to the meeting via these anonymous online forms:

Findings:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScjAUiemQTbgjnMAtMnqlawJtBM_hs8DsQtfu5KE2G5mHa02w/viewform

Suggestions:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeToJmgMF6CZREHP693BghljMKMF8MOhVs3A2d7j2j1zkummA/viewform

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4. ExoPAG SAG 23: Workshop on The Impact of Exo-Zodiacal Dust on Exoplanet Direct Imaging Surveys (September 15, 2023; Baltimore & hybrid)

Workshop on The Impact of Exo-Zodiacal Dust on Exoplanet Direct Imaging Surveys
Friday, September 15, 2023 (hybrid)
Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)
3700 San Martin Drive
Baltimore, MD 21218

The ExoPAG SAG 23 comprises interdisciplinary scientists, who study dust throughout the Solar System and Galaxy. Its aim is to review the gaps in our current knowledge of exo-zodiacal dust, particularly focussing on how this dust could impact future exoplanet-imaging efforts. The intent is to identify areas of exozodi and debris-disk science that should be prioritized in the coming years.

This workshop will bring together both SAG 23 members and researchers in the community. Its aims are to showcase the progress of the SAG efforts so far, and to get community input into its future direction. The meeting will be held without any registration fee and immediately following The First Year of JWST Science Conference at STScI.

If you plan to attend the meeting, in person or online, please fill out the form at: https://forms.gle/Tw11Rf8G6ZqUHWcZ8

The registration will be open until Aug 1 for in-person participants. The registration will remain open for remote participants after Aug 1.

If you would like to give a presentation on a subject relevant to the SAG (either as a talk or poster), then please add a short title with a 150-200 word abstract when filling out the registration form. Please note that the meeting will be very time-limited and we cannot guarantee individual presentations from all the participants.

For more information about this workshop, please visit the following website: https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/events/475/workshop-on-the-impact-of-exo-zodiacal-dust-on-exoplanet-direct-imaging-surveys/

For more information about SAG 23, please visit our website: https://sites.google.com/view/sag23-exozodiacaldust/home

Questions? yasuhiro.hasegawa@jpl.nasa.gov

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5. Exoplanets 5 (June 16-22, 2024, Leiden)

"Dear colleagues,

We are happy to announce that the Exoplanets 5 website is now live: https://exoplanets5.org

Registration will open September 18

The Exoplanets Conference Series (Davos 2016; Cambridge 2018, Heidelberg 2020, Las Vegas 2022) has developed into one of the most important and largest meetings in the field, with 750 participants expected in Leiden. The conference will cover all aspects of exoplanet science, from detection methods and demographics to planet interiors and atmospheric characterization, from planet formation and evolution, to star-planet interactions and exoplanet instrumentation. There will be special attention to the newest and most exciting JWST results.

Leiden is a charming university town, in the heart of western Europe, well connected by rail and Amsterdam airport. The conference will take place in de Stadsgehoorzaal, in the middle of Leiden’s historic center with its many 17th-century canals and cobblestone streets. Since meetings like these have a large impact on the environment, we encourage everyone to look at combining your visit with other meetings, work visits, or holidays. We will have an action-packed week of presentations, in addition to a very exciting list of invited keynote speakers. Equally important, there will be plenty of time to meet and interact with all your colleagues of our global exoplanet community. Do not forget the Welcome Reception on Sunday, and the Big Exoplanets 5 Solar-Solstice Party™ in the Botanic Gardens on Thursday night!

We hope to welcome you in Leiden in June 2024.
Ignas Snellen,
On behalf of the SOC and the Netherlands exoplanet community"

1. ExoPAG 28 (October 1, 2023, San Antonio & hybrid)

• The 28th Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group Meeting (ExoPAG 28)
• October 1, 2023
• San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter (hybrid)
• https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/events/461/exopag-28/

Please register at the website if you plan to attend either in person or virtually.

The ExoPAG28 meeting will be an integral part of the 2023 Division for Planetary Sciences splinter sessions. It will include a community forum on science topics related to exoplanet and solar system synergies with the goal of strengthening the connections between the astronomy and planetary science communities. A status of the Exoplanet Program, review of urgent questions from the Planetary and Astrobiology decadal surveys, and an interactive business meeting will also be held.

The exoplanet community is invited to send proposed findings and/or suggestions to the ExoPAG Executive Committee for review prior to the meeting via these anonymous online forms:

• Findings: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScjAUiemQTbgjnMAtMnqlawJtBM_hs8DsQtfu5KE2G5mHa02w/viewform
• Suggestions: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeToJmgMF6CZREHP693BghljMKMF8MOhVs3A2d7j2j1zkummA/viewform

The agenda will be posted in the near future at the ExoPAG 28 website: https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/events/461/exopag-28/

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2. Call for Proposals to Use NASA Keck Time for the 2024A Observing Semester (Proposal deadline September 14, 2023)

• Call for Proposals to Use NASA Keck Time for the 2024A Observing Semester
• https://nexsci.caltech.edu/missions/KeckSolicitation/
• Solicitation Title: 2024A NASA Keck Call for Proposals
• Fiscal Year: 2023
• Released: 07/20/2023

General Observing, Mission Support, and Key Strategic Mission Support Proposal Due Date: 09/14/2023

Key Strategic Mission Support (KSMS) Notice of Intent Due Date: 08/16/2023

Notice of Intent not required for General Observer and Mission Support proposals.

Announcement Document: 2024A NASA Keck Call for Proposals: https://nexsci.caltech.edu/missions/KeckSolicitation/

Other Documents: Keck Instrument Availability (available in mid-August for 2024A): https://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/observing/instavail.html

The NASA Exoplanet Science Institute is soliciting proposals to use NASA’s portion of time on the two 10m Keck Telescopes for the 2024A observing semester (February 1 - July 31, 2024).

In addition to General Observer and Mission Support proposals, this semester also includes a call for Key Strategic Mission Support (KSMS) proposals. KSMS proposals directly support the science goals and requirements of NASA missions and are not just larger versions of general science programs.

KSMS projects may support past, present, and/or future NASA-led missions or missions with significant NASA partnerships. Highest priority will be given to operating missions or missions approaching launch, with lower priority given to past missions (e.g., Kepler, WISE) or more distant future missions (e.g., Habitable Worlds Observatory). Required but non-binding Notices of Intent to submit a KSMS proposal are due by August 16.

The opportunity to propose as a Principal Investigator for NASA time on the Keck Telescopes is open to all U.S.-based astronomers. Investigators from institutions outside of the U.S. may participate as Co-Investigators on proposals for NASA Keck time.

NASA intends the use of the Keck telescopes to be highly strategic in support of on-going space missions and/or high priority, long-term science goals. Proposals are sought in the following discipline areas: (1) investigations in support of EXOPLANET EXPLORATION science goals and missions; (2) investigations of our own SOLAR SYSTEM; (3) investigations in support of COSMIC ORIGINS science goals and missions; and (4) investigations in support of PHYSICS OF THE COSMOS science goals and missions. Direct mission support proposals in any of these scientific areas are also encouraged.

Website: http://nexsci.caltech.edu/missions/KeckSolicitation/index.shtml
Contact: KeckCFP@ipac.caltech.edu

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3. Workshop on The Impact of Exo-Zodiacal Dust on Exoplanet Direct Imaging Surveys (September 15, 2023; Baltimore & hybrid)

Workshop on The Impact of Exo-Zodiacal Dust on Exoplanet Direct Imaging Surveys
Friday, September 15, 2023 (hybrid)
Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)
3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218

The ExoPAG SAG 23 comprises interdisciplinary scientists, who study dust throughout the Solar System and Galaxy. Its aim is to review the gaps in our current knowledge of exo-zodiacal dust, particularly focussing on how this dust could impact future exoplanet-imaging efforts. The intent is to identify areas of exozodi and debris-disk science that should be prioritized in the coming years.

This workshop will bring together both SAG 23 members and researchers in the community. Its aims are to showcase the progress of the SAG efforts so far, and to get community input into its future direction. The meeting will be held without any registration fee and immediately following The First Year of JWST Science Conference at STScI.

If you plan to attend the meeting, in person or online, please fill out the form at: https://forms.gle/Tw11Rf8G6ZqUHWcZ8

• The registration will be open until Aug 1 for in-person participants.
• The registration will remain open for remote participants after Aug 1.

If you would like to give a presentation on a subject relevant to the SAG (either as a talk or poster), then please add a short title with a 150-200 word abstract when filling out the registration form. Please note that the meeting will be very time-limited and we cannot guarantee individual presentations from all the participants.

For more information about this workshop, please visit the following website: https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/events/475/workshop-on-the-impact-of-exo-zodiacal-dust-on-exoplanet-direct-imaging-surveys/

For more information about SAG 23, please visit our website: https://sites.google.com/view/sag23-exozodiacaldust/home

Questions? yasuhiro.hasegawa@jpl.nasa.gov

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4. Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory Guest Investigator - Cycle 20 (Deadline September 28, 2023)

• https://swift.gsfc.nasa.gov/proposals/swiftgi.html

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5. JWST Cycle 3 Call for Proposals (Deadline October 25, 2023)

• https://jwst-docs.stsci.edu/jwst-opportunities-and-policies/jwst-call-for-proposals-for-cycle-3
• https://www.stsci.edu/jwst/science-planning

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6. NASA Astrobiology Town Hall (September 8, 2023, 1pm-4pm EDT/10am-1pm PDT)

The NASA Astrobiology Program is hosting a live Town Hall to share some exciting updates and take your questions about astrobiology at NASA HQ, the Research Coordination Networks, and future Mars missions!

Visit the Town Hall event page (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfqFBkuVXBM) to setup a notification for the live broadcast, and be sure to subscribe to the NASA Astrobiology YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@nasaastrobiology) for future updates and exciting astrobiology content.

NASA ASTROBIOLOGY TOWN HALL:

https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/events/astrobiology-town-hall/

The Astrobiology Town Hall will be held September 8, 2023, from 1:00 to 4:00pm Eastern time. The meeting will be divided into three main topics:

• Updates from the NASA Astrobiology Program
• Updates from the NASA Research Coordination Networks
• Updates on Astrobiology-Relevant Future Mars Missions & Planning

Please check the NASA Astrobiology website (https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/events/astrobiology-town-hall/) for updates and a link to the detailed agenda when it becomes available.

Have questions for the NASA Astrobiology Program?

Use the YouTube Live chat feature to ask them, and we will cover as many questions as possible during the Q&A periods. If you would like to submit a question ahead of time, or if you missed the live broadcast, please submit it by email to hq-astrobiology@mail.nasa.gov.

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7. Habitability: The Astrophysical, Atmospheric, and Geophysical Implications (May 21 – June 14, 2024, Garching, Germany; Application Deadline: September 23, 2023)

Habitability: The Astrophysical, Atmospheric, and Geophysical Implications
May 21 – June 14, 2024
MIAPbP, Garching, Germany

Dear Colleagues,

It gives us the greatest pleasure to announce the 2024 planetary habitability program at the Munich Institute for Astro-, Particle, and Bio-Physics (MIAPbP). This four-week residential workshop aims to bring together scientists from all areas related to planetary habitability including stellar astrophysics, planetary science, planetary dynamics, atmospheric science, geology, and geophysics to discuss fundamental questions regarding the formation, characterization, and detection of habitable planets.

The main goal of the program is to facilitate interactions among participants and create an environment that would enable new collaborations and initiatives. The structure of the program is informal. Every participant will be given an office space and resources necessary to carry out research. While the focus is on interactions and collaborations, there will be daily gathering for discussing specific topics, presenting new results, and brain storming. There will also be ample time for independent research. For more details, please see the program website at https://www.munich-iapbp.de/habitability

To attend, please apply using the program website. The program is open to scientists of all geographic areas and of all career levels including junior and early-career researchers, as well as advanced graduate students. We strongly encourage applications by female scientists, and scientists from minorities and underrepresented groups.

Financial support is available at the rate of EUR 80 per day for accommodation and local expenses. Additional financial support for attendees with family and children, and for graduate students is also available. Please see the details at https://www.munich-iapbp.de/for-visitors/financial-support

The application deadline is September 24, 2023. When applying, please note that MIAPbP requires attendance for at least two weeks (10 working days).

Please share this announcement with your colleagues, students and postdocs, and encourage them to apply.

We look forward to receiving your applications.
Nikolaos Georgakarakos, Nader Haghighipour, Dimitri Veras, Rolf-Peter Kudritzki

Special note regarding participation of scientists from Russia:
Regretfully, due to the current regulations by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, MIAPbP is unable to admit scientists from Russia as well as the nationals of other countries who are currently working in Russia or are employed by the Russian Federation. However, due to the temporary nature of the ban, we strongly encourage these scientists to submit applications before the deadline so that we can consider their participation should the ban be lifted prior to the start of the program.

1. ExoPAG 28 (October 1, 2023, San Antonio & hybrid)

The 28th Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group Meeting (ExoPAG 28)

The Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group is organizing its 28th meeting on October 1st, 2023. This event will be held at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter and will be offered in both in-person and hybrid formats.

The ExoPAG28 meeting will be an integral part of the 2023 Division for Planetary Sciences splinter sessions. It will include a community forum on science topics related to exoplanet and solar system synergies with the goal of strengthening the connections between the astronomy and planetary science communities. A status of the Exoplanet Program, review of urgent questions from the Planetary and Astrobiology decadal surveys, and an interactive business meeting will also be held.

The exoplanet community is invited to send proposed findings and/or suggestions to the ExoPAG Executive Committee for review prior to the meeting via these anonymous online forms:

Findings:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScjAUiemQTbgjnMAtMnqlawJtBM_hs8DsQtfu5KE2G5mHa02w/viewform

Suggestions:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeToJmgMF6CZREHP693BghljMKMF8MOhVs3A2d7j2j1zkummA/viewform

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2. ExoPAG SIG2 Exoplanet Demographics: New Co-chairs + Invitation to Join and Collaborate! (Next meeting August 9, 2023, 1:00pm EDT/10:00am PDT)

"We would like to announce the appointment of two new co-chairs for SIG2, Dr. Rachel Fernandes and Dr. Samson Johnson, and advertise the always-open invitation to join SIG2 on Exoplanet Demographics.

As we build a roadmap forward, we would appreciate your feedback and ideas for collaboration fronts including:

• A report on Eta-Earth considerations for the Habitable Worlds Observatory
• Exploring exoplanet demographics opportunities with the Roman Space Telescope
• Synthesizing demographics across multiple detection techniques
• We would also love to hear any new ideas that you have!

Recruiting New SIG2 Members:
We believe that collaboration and diversity are key to advancing scientific understanding. As such, we would like to invite scientists at any career stage, including graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, staff scientists, etc., who work in exoplanet demographics (and related fields) to join SIG2. Whether you are an early-career scientist, an established researcher, or a data expert, your expertise is valuable to us. Furthermore, in order to create a safe space for ideas and collaborations, we are currently working on a code of conduct for SIG2 and would love to hear any input you may have.

Forming a Steering Committee:
We are also looking for motivated individuals to join the SIG2 steering committee and advise the new co-chairs. This committee will work closely with the co-chairs to steer SIG2's activities, provide valuable input, and play a pivotal role in shaping the group’s future direction. Please reach out to the ExoPAG Executive Committee if this opportunity interests you.

If you are interested in joining SIG2 or know someone who would be a great addition to our team, please reach out to Jennifer Gregory at jgregory@jpl.nasa.gov. Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, August 9th at 10 am PT/1 pm ET, and we would be delighted to have you on board!

We would especially like to thank Dr. Jessie Christiansen and Dr. Michael Meyer for all their work as they step down from being the co-chairs for SIG2.

We look forward to collaborating with you via SIG2,
Rachel Fernandes and Samson Johnson"

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3. NN-EXPLORE Fall Informational Session (August 9, 2023, 4-5pm PDT/7-8pm EDT)

"For the observing season from February to July 2024, NASA and NSF are making available to the astronomical community about 100 nights of telescope time, exclusively for exoplanet research. To describe this opportunity, the NASA-NSF Exoplanet Observational Research (NN-EXPLORE) program will host an informational session on August 9th, 2023, 4:00-5:00pm PDT/7:00-8:00pm EDT at https://jpl.webex.com/meet/ardila.

NN-EXPLORE opportunities (https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/NNExplore/) include access to the NEID high resolution spectrometer at the WIYN telescope in Kitt Peak, High Resolution Speckle imaging at WIYN, Gemini-North and Gemini-South, and access to radial velocity facilities in the Southern Hemisphere (SMARTS-1.5m/CHIRON and MINERVA-Australis).

This session will be useful to observational astronomers interested in exoplanet research who are affiliated or have collaborators in US institutions. The session will describe the resources available to users preparing proposals, the performance of the instruments, and types of observations that benefit most of these instruments. Note that the deadline for observing proposals is early September 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact the NN-EXPLORE manager: David R. Ardila (david.r.ardila@jpl.nasa.gov)."

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4. Starlight Suppression Workshop Introductory Talks (July 25, August 1 & 4, 2023)

In the lead-up to the August 8-10, 2023 Starlight Suppression Workshop, we will be offering a few online introductory talks that might be helpful for new members in the field as well as future engineers and scientists supporting NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory. These will be recorded for later viewing.

• Terrestrial Exoplanets 101 (Giada Arney, NASA/GSFC): July 25, 2023 9am Pacific time
• Coronagraphy 101 (Jeremy Kasdin, Princeton): August 1, 2023 10am Pacific time
• Starshades 101 (Jeremy Kasdin, Princeton; Stuart Shaklan, JPL): August 4, 2023 9am Pacific time

See the ExEP Technology Colloquium Webpage for more details: https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/technology/tech_colloquium/

Please register here for the Starlight Suppression Workshop: https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/events/457/towards-starlight-suppression-for-the-habitable-worlds-observatory-workshop/

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5. Call for Proposals to Use NASA Keck Time for the 2024A Observing Semester (Key Strategic Mission Support (DSMS) Notice of Intent deadline 8/16/2023; Proposal deadline September 14, 2023)

https://nexsci.caltech.edu/missions/KeckSolicitation/

Call for Proposals to Use NASA Keck Time for the 2024A Observing Semester

Solicitation Title: 2024A NASA Keck Call for Proposals
Fiscal Year: 2023
Released: 07/20/2023

• General Observing, Mission Support, and Key Strategic Mission Support Proposal Due Date: 09/14/2023
• Key Strategic Mission Support (KSMS) Notice of Intent Due Date: 08/16/2023
• Notice of Intent not required for General Observer and Mission Support proposals.
• Announcement Document: 2024A NASA Keck Call for Proposals: https://nexsci.caltech.edu/missions/KeckSolicitation/
• Other Documents: Keck Instrument Availability (available in mid-August for 2024A):https://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/observing/instavail.html

The NASA Exoplanet Science Institute is soliciting proposals to use NASA’s portion of time on the two 10m Keck Telescopes for the 2024A observing semester (February 1 - July 31, 2024).

In addition to General Observer and Mission Support proposals, this semester also includes a call for Key Strategic Mission Support (KSMS) proposals. KSMS proposals directly support the science goals and requirements of NASA missions and are not just larger versions of general science programs.

KSMS projects may support past, present, and/or future NASA-led missions or missions with significant NASA partnerships. Highest priority will be given to operating missions or missions approaching launch, with lower priority given to past missions (e.g., Kepler, WISE) or more distant future missions (e.g., Habitable Worlds Observatory). Required but non-binding Notices of Intent to submit a KSMS proposal are due by August 16.

The opportunity to propose as a Principal Investigator for NASA time on the Keck Telescopes is open to all U.S.-based astronomers. Investigators from institutions outside of the U.S. may participate as Co-Investigators on proposals for NASA Keck time.

NASA intends the use of the Keck telescopes to be highly strategic in support of on-going space missions and/or high priority, long-term science goals. Proposals are sought in the following discipline areas: (1) investigations in support of EXOPLANET EXPLORATION science goals and missions; (2) investigations of our own SOLAR SYSTEM; (3) investigations in support of COSMIC ORIGINS science goals and missions; and (4) investigations in support of PHYSICS OF THE COSMOS science goals and missions. Direct mission support proposals in any of these scientific areas are also encouraged.

Website: http://nexsci.caltech.edu/missions/KeckSolicitation/index.shtml

Contact: KeckCFP@ipac.caltech.edu

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6. Applications to Host the Next Exoclimes Conference in 2025 (Deadline November 17, 2023)

"Dear Exoplanet Community,

The Exoclimes Steering Committee (Hannah Wakeford, Caroline Morley, Ray Pierrehumbert, and David Sing) are welcoming applications to host the next Exoclimes conference in 2025; with a preference for North American locations with flexibility on timing/season. Exoclimes is a conference series devoted to understanding the climates and evolution of exoplanets. Exoclimes is normally a week-long conference with morning and evening sessions and plenty of time in the day for extended discussions and events. We expect conference attendance to be capped at 200 attendees, with all events and accommodation held on the same site to better facilitate discussion and collaboration.

This year Exoclimes VI was held at the University of Exeter (back where it began in 2010), and in addition to the conference we hosted the first Exoclimes Summer School (ExoSLAM). This was held for 3 days prior to the conference for 50 ECRs to become familiar with climate topics and get to know their international cohort in the field. To minimize the carbon footprint of our attendees and maximise the reach of ERC members of the community we also facilitated Exoclimes Connect which put ECRs in touch with various University departments in the UK who would be open to people visiting and giving presentations while they were in the UK. Each of these additional programs were a great success for our ECRs and Exoclimes. We would be open to discussing the possibility of running the Summer School or any other aspects of Exoclimes VI with the proposed host.

To find out more information about Exoclimes VI and the associated events please head to https://exoclimes.org/index.html

If you would like to apply to host Exoclimes VII at your institution/location in 2025 (season optional) please send a 1-page document detailing the proposed venue (conference facilities, accommodation, etc.), lead/core organisers at that location, rough costing, and your vision for Exoclimes VII, to hannah.wakeford@bristol.ac.uk by November 17th 2023.

We're happy to schedule a meeting with some of the steering committee members to discuss proposed venues and answer questions prior to the due date. To support the organization of Exoclimes VII and associated events members of the steering committee will be available to serve on the SOC and as advisors when requested.

We look forward to hearing from you.
All the best,
The Exoclimes Steering Committee"