January February 2009 Issue 144 A Publication for the members of the American Astronomical Society

NEW President’s Column ISSUE!!!!! John Huchra, [email protected]

Well well well! “The times they are a’changin’“ (B. exoplanet imaging results. Wow! Fomalhaut! 3 Dylan, 1964, followed by almost every paper in the I had not expected to see images of objects orbiting Hubble country, November 2008). We are watching massive other stars until SIM or TPF flew. The power of Status changes in the direction the new administration is adaptive optics and the power of apodization in taking with regard to science. Serious prospective space won the day. Phoenix was shut down by the appointments are being named almost every day Martian winter after finding water on Mars. Fermi 5 (yesterday’s was Nobel Prize winning physicist is beginning to fulfill its promise with gamma-ray Steve Chu to head the Department of Energy) by images of the sky. NASA and DOE can indeed Honored President Obama’s transition team. As I write this work together. Discover magazine has posted its top Elsewhere column, there is an expectation that a real budget 100 science stories of 2008. Astronomy captured for Federal fiscal year 2009 will be passed—not a 12 of the spots with our top slot, #6, going to Continuing Resolution. This is very good news for Phoenix and ice on Mars, followed by Messenger’s 6 both the NSF and DOE’s Office of Science, but images of Mercury in the #22 spot, and the link bad news for NASA science and physical science between the Milky Way’s central black hole and Member education in the Department of Education. In a star formation at #23. Near the tail end of this Anniversaries turn I did not expect, Obama’s transition team distribution, at #97, is the IAU’s designation of have taken a direct and immediate interest in Trans Neptunian Dwarf Planets as “Plutoids.” A the science agencies plans and operations. We name I expect that will go down in infamy. 11 can expect timely changes in leadership, and, in NSF a few cases, reaffirmation of the existing team. I In the same issue is a story about one of my personally hope this is a strong signal of the return astronomical heroes, Fritz Zwicky. Think about Mentoring of science in appropriately informing legislative your own careers in astronomy. If you have been Requirement and regulatory decisions, something that has not lucky, you will have interacted with someone who happened for the better part of eight years. is a dynamo. Someone spewing forth new and interesting ideas, or fighting the good fight against 12 There is a downside for astronomy. We are still not static science, or building institutions that help us considered an integral part of the competitiveness Committee all and advance the field, often against heavy odds. initiative, despite the strong place astronomy holds Fritz was one of those, especially in the new ideas News in broad science education throughout K-16. The and the battling the “high priests” modes. economic downturn coupled with the increase in both the public and governmental interest I was lucky, as a very wet behind the ears grad Back Page in climate and sustainability is sure to lead to student, to share office space with his blink Washington strong targeted support for Earth science and comparator in the sub-sub-basement of Robinson alternative energy. This is appropriate, or as I like to Lab at Caltech. While he railed against the senior, News paraphrase, “Render unto Congress that which is often very stodgy, community, he always had a kind Congresses’,” but it will likely hurt those fields less and inspiring, and usually insightful word for the directly related to the immediate societal problem. young whippersnappers. He taught me to look to the sky for the truth. I miss him. There is other good news though. ESA has gotten a very strong vote of confidence from the European Finally, I just note that the January AAS meeting ministers who thoroughly supported a 10 billion kicks off our next Decadal Survey. This one will Euro new spending package and a multi-year 3.5%/ start with science priorities and use them to produce per annum increase in the space science budget. a program for projects and facilities. It is extremely This kind of support and long term planning is one important that we all be involved. The AAS can of the reasons other countries can get ahead of the help provide venues for input and interaction with US, where the spending for almost every agency the Survey Committee and its panels, but it can and project is approved only year by year. not provide input or ideas for new science or new A A projects. That’s up to you, the community. As they There is also good news on the science front. say in my home town (Jersey City), speak early and S I have been incredibly impressed by the latest speak often. Go to it! AAS Officers and Councilors John P. Huchra, President J. Craig Wheeler, Past-President Robert W. O’Connell, Vice-President From the Executive Office Lee W. Hartmann, Vice-President Christine Jones, Vice-President Kevin B. Marvel, Executive Officer, [email protected] Hervey (Peter) Stockman, Treasurer John A. Graham, Secretary Richard F. Green, Publications Board Chair This year we will all celebrate the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first studies with Timothy F. Slater, Education Officer Stephen P. Maran, Press Officer a telescope. It is fitting that we also start the next of our field’s Decadal Surveys. The astronomers have come together every decade since the 1950s to rank our Councilors scientific funding needs and deliver a unified request to our government. Although Megan Donahue Margaret M. Hanson Chryssa Kouveliotou Felix J. Lockman we used to be nearly unique in carrying out this exercise, other disciplines and even Nancy Morrison Marc Postman sub-disciplines within our field now carry out more or less the same process. These Nicholas B. Suntzeff C. Megan Urry efforts can only be effective when they represent true consensus. The reports can only Charles E. Woodward represent consensus when everyone participates. Increased participation is a goal of Executive Office Staff this Decadal Survey and chair Roger Blandford is truly committed to increasing the Kevin B. Marvel, Executive Officer participation in the process. Tracy Beale, Membership Services Administrator Chris Biemesderfer, Journals Manager Laronda Boyce, Meetings & Exhibits Coordinator The AAS will be supporting the Decadal Survey in several ways. First, our public Lisa Brown, Financial Assistant policy fellow, Marcos Huerta will be attending all public sessions this coming year Kelly E. Clark, Chief Financial Officer and keeping the community posted through Informational Emails and his interesting Scott Garvey, Administrative Assistant Kelli Gilmore, Director of Meeting Services Policy blog (available on the AAS public policy web pages). We will be hosting special Scott Idem, Systems & Network Manager activities at the Pasadena meeting coming up this June. The new convention space Chris W. Irwin, Assistant Systems & Web Admin. in Pasadena will be well suited to expanded town hall and other session types as the Judith M. Johnson, Deputy Journals Manager Faye C. Peterson, Manager, Membership Services Decadal Survey committee requests. We will be capturing the sessions in Pasadena Crystal M. Tinch, Communications & Development and making them available online in a cost effective audio/presentation slide format Pamela D. Wallace, Meetings Manager (along with the prize and invited talks, as we are doing for the Long Beach meeting). The AAS Newsletter (ISSN 8750-9350) Finally, the Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy and the entire AAS Council is published bi-monthly by the American will be discussing and following the progress of the survey and providing input on Astronomical Society, 2000 Florida Avenue, NW, behalf of the Society at appropriate times. I am also helping President Huchra with Suite 400, Washington, DC 20009-1231; Tel: 202-328-2010, Fax: 202-234-2560, some demographic data and analysis for a portion of the survey report. [email protected]; www.aas.org. The ongoing financial crisis is causing concern for us all. Organizations across the The $141.00 annual membership dues for the American Astronomical Society include $3.00 country, including non-profit societies like the AAS are taking actions to reduce that is applied toward a subscription to the AAS expenses in anticipation of reduced revenues. The AAS Council meets at each June Newsletter. Periodical postage paid at Washington, DC. meeting to approve the budget for the coming fiscal year (e.g. the 2009 AAS budget POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AAS, was approved at the June 2008 AAS council meeting), but the budget is not a fixed 2000 Florida Ave, NW, Suite 400, Washington, document. As the year progresses we present Council and especially our Treasurer, DC 20009-1231. Peter Stockman, with regular reports on the status of the Society’s finances. We Items of general interest to be considered for tighten our belts as we go along and take every possible measure to only spend when publication in the AAS Newsletter should be we must. Our largest financial risk continues to be our meetings, where substantial sent to [email protected]. Appropriate pictures are welcome. For information about deadlines and expenses must be offset through registration fees from attendees, who vary in number submitting articles, see www.aas.org/ for opaque reasons from year to year. publications/newsletter.php. Items submitted to the AAS Newsletter are not automatically included in the AAS Electronic Announcements I am taking a conservative approach, especially for 2010, and the proposed budget I or vice versa. Submit electronic announcement will present to Council in June will reflect this. However, recession aside, the Society items to [email protected]. must continue to serve its members' needs. We will continue to publish our journals Judith M. Johnson, Editor and to grow them technologically while preserving their content for the longer Crystal M. Tinch, Associate Editor term. We will continue to organize the annual meetings of the Society to foster Jeff Linsky, U. Colorado, Associate Editor, Letters communication and collaboration in our field. We will continue to be active in public Manuscript Submissions Using AASTeX policy and education, while providing career advice and employment resources to The AJ and ApJ accept manuscripts electronically astronomers at all career levels. Finally, we will follow the vision and leadership of the that are prepared using the AASTeX manuscript Council, who, as your elected leaders, are ultimately responsible for what the Society package. Following are some important addresses for obtaining information about AASTeX and is, what it does and its long term financial stability. electronic submission.

AASTeX Homepage: aastex.aas.org The AAS has been here for more than 100 years. We will be here as long as the User Support: [email protected] community we serve, astronomy and closely aligned fields, has a need for the services Journal Homepages/Manuscript Submission: journals.aas.org we provide. Those needs do not fluctuate with the stock market and our level of service will not fluctuate either. The AAS is your Society and I welcome your thoughts AAS Email Policy and input at any time on any topic. Enjoy the International Year of Astronomy and To unsubscribe from AAS emails, contact [email protected] help celebrate it by reaching out to non-astronomers as you travel this year or in your daily research life. Let’s all work together to bring a bit of the wonder of astronomy For address changes, email [email protected] to our fellow citizens, which in the current financial climate, may be just what we all need to cheer us up a bit.

2 American Astronomical Society aas.org Hubble Status Rodger Doxsey, STScI

With Space Shuttle Atlantis on the launch pad and ready to The STScI has solicited Cycle 16 Supplemental Proposals go, her cargo bay packed with new equipment destined for the to select observing programs to fill the bulk of the extra Hubble Space Telescope, it was sharply disappointing to all to time prior to SM4. A total of 283 proposals were received see Servicing Mission 4 (SM4) delayed. On 27 September by the deadline on 8 December. The 60 proposals using there was a failure in the Science Instrument Command & NICMOS will be held in reserve until we know whether Data Handling (SIC&DH) unit on Hubble. Among other the NCS will restart. The 223 proposals that do not use things, this unit is responsible for gathering and routing NICMOS request over 14,000 orbits of observing time. scientific data from the Hubble instruments to the systems We expect to select programs that provide ~1200 orbits, so that transmit the data to the ground. The on-board back- the over-subscription is quite high. A Telescope Allocation up SIC&DH was turned on in mid-October and is working Committee (TAC) with 27 members and chaired by Rob properly. However, Hubble now has no further backup Kennicutt has been constituted and the proposals have been capability in this crucial area. One failure in the backup unit, sent to them for review. Given the time constraints and the or in associated data system modules, could result in no ability season, the TAC will not meet physically, but will operate to retrieve science data from the telescope. This situation was electronically and possibly via teleconference. Our goal is apparent the weekend that the failure occurred, and by that to notify selected PIs by 13 January 2009, go through the Monday NASA Administrator Mike Griffin had made the Phase II process in 2-3 weeks, and start these observations by decision that SM4 should be delayed until a replacement unit mid-February at the latest. In the mean time, we have a pool with full redundancy could be readied and included in the of Astrometry, WFPC2, and ACS/SBC Cycle 16 GO, Snap, mission. NASA recently announced a target launch date of 12 and DD programs that will be scheduled. Cycle 16 NICMOS May 2009 for SM4. programs will be included, if the NCS works adequately. We have identified two community service DD programs for This unfortunate turn of events has everyone in the HST use in January, especially if the NICMOS cannot be used program scrambling. At the STScI we have been focusing or it takes a little longer to get the supplemental programs on keeping Hubble busy with a full schedule of observations in place. Data from these community service programs will during the additional seven months before SM4. By October, be immediately available to the community via the archive. we had nearly exhausted our pool of WFPC2 and NICMOS One will provide WFPC2 F606W and F814W imaging of the central portion of the Lockman Hole (program 11967) observations from Cycle 16, anticipating the start of Cycle and the other will obtain WFPC2 UV images of a subset of 17 and the use of the new Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) and galaxies from the Spitzer Space Telescope SINGS Legacy Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS), and repaired ACS and program (program 11966). STIS instruments. The situation was further complicated by an unrelated problem with the NICMOS Cooling System Since the SIC&DH failure in September, the engineers, (NCS), which may have failed. This system was installed scientists, and managers at the HST Program at Goddard during SM3B in 2002 and ran continuously, cooling the have been working hard to prepare the spare SIC&DH unit detectors in the NICMOS to their operational temperature. for flight on SM4. The hardware has been restored to flight Barring a future “Eureka!” moment, a final attempt to get the configuration, inspected, and is being completely retested. NCS running well enough to re-cool NICMOS will be made Records of the assembly, test, and use of the unit since its on Tuesday, December 16. delivery over 17 years ago have been reviewed to ensure that the equipment is flight worthy. Electromagnetic interference, [NICMOS update added in press by kbm: NICMOS / NCS vibration, and thermal vacuum testing of the spare unit will Safing Anomaly and Status December 23, 2008 begin soon. Support equipment is being modified to include the SIC&DH in the cargo carried up to Hubble in Atlantis’ On Friday 19 December 2008, the NICMOS Cooling System cargo bay. The priorities, timelines and procedures for SM4 (NCS) safed once again, after having been cooling for about activities are being modified to include installation and check 4 days since its restart. The safing event this time was not due out of the spare SIC&DH during the first Extravehicular to the circulator/compressor loop which had been behaving Activity (EVA) day of the mission. Although introduction nominally, but was instead caused by a lower speed limit of the SIC&DH replacement task makes an already full EVA violation of the Turbo Alternator which helps to maintain the timeline even more packed, in the “best case scenario” it can be included without the need to remove other high priority proper flow rate of the Neon refrigerant through one of the tasks from the plan. Of course this outcome cannot be three cooling loops. The cause of the lower than expected guaranteed, but the Hubble Program and the Space Shuttle speed is presently unknown but is under investigation. Over Program are working toward that objective. The astronauts the next week, systems engineers at GSFC will be collecting have started training on the procedures for installing the and analyzing telemetry from this event and past startups. SIC&DH, which fortunately was one of the telescope systems The NCS Anomaly Review Board will then examine the designed with servicing in mind. information and make a recommendation on a forward plan of action some time in the first week of the new year. It is We are all hopeful that a successful SM4 will have taken place presently unclear when NICMOS will be available for science by the time of the AAS meeting in June, and that early results observations, but it is unlikely to be any earlier than mid-late from the most capable Hubble ever will be highlights of the February.] meeting in January, 2010.

January/February 3 Get Involved in IYA

One of the most common—and most important!—  grad students questions that we receive about the International Year of  planetaria, and large observatories and science centers Astronomy (IYA) is how people can learn more about and  small observatories and science centers participate in IYA programs. We have created information These information sheets may be viewed online, as well as sheets, with nine different flyers tailored to specific audiences, downloaded for emailing and printing, at: to answer this “How to Get Involved in IYA” question for: http://astronomy2009.us/getinvolved/  the general public Please help us distribute these flyers, either by email or  amateur astronomers hardcopy, to spread the word about the wide range of  teachers opportunities for everyone to get involved in IYA!  home schoolers  families  professors and research scientists

Announcements

Arecibo Call for Proposals— NSO Observing Proposal Deadline 1 February 2009 is the next deadline for submitting proposals The current deadline for submitting observing proposals for Arecibo. Proposals submitted at this deadline are for using to the National Solar Observatory is 15 February 2009 for the 305 m telescope in the eight months beginning 1 June the second quarter of 2009. Information is available from 2009 (i.e. valid for two trimesters). the NSO Telescope Allocation Committee at P.O. Box 62, Sunspot, NM 88349 for Sacramento Peak facilities (sp@ We draw attention to the 1.1-10 GHz continuous frequency nso.edu) or P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, AZ 85726 for Kitt coverage on offer. This capacity was recently used to detect Peak facilities ([email protected]). Instructions may be found numerous molecular and hydrogen recombination lines from at http://www.nso.edu/general/observe/. A web-based Arp 220 and other ULIRGS, using our WAPP spectrometers observing-request form is at http://www2.nso.edu/cgi-bin/ that offer a single pixel 640 MHz bandwidth facility (Salter et nsoforms/obsreq/obsreq.cgi. Users’ Manuals are available at al AJ 136, 389). We anticipate a 1 GHz bandwidth capacity http://nsosp.nso.edu/dst/ for the SP facilities and http:// being available by June. In addition, we commissioned a nsokp.nso.edu/ for the KP facilities. An observing-run cryogenic 327 MHz receiver in 2008. evaluation form can be obtained at ftp://ftp.nso.edu/ observing_templates/evaluation.form.txt. Proposal submission details, and a web-based cover sheet, can be found at http://www.naic.edu/~astro/proposals. Proposers are reminded that each quarter is typically A guide for new-users to the telescope is at http://www. oversubscribed, and it is to the proposer’s advantage to naic.edu/~astro/guide. Other user-related information is at provide all information requested to the greatest possible http://www.naic.edu/~astro/astronomy.htm. extent no later than the official deadline. Observing time at National Observatories is provided as support to the Radio sources with declinations between about -1 and +37.5 astronomical community by the National Science deg are visible from Arecibo, and can be tracked over the Foundation. range of zenith angles between ~1.1 and 19.7 deg.

4 American Astronomical Society aas.org Honored Elsewhere Member Deaths The Society is saddened to learn of the deaths of Veilleux Wins 2008 Humboldt Research Award the following members, Sylvain Veilleux (University of Maryland, College Park) received a Humboldt Research former members and affiliate Award for Senior U.S. Scientists from the Alexander von Homboldt Foundation on 12 members: November 2008. This award is given to “outstanding scientists and scholars from all disciplines from abroad whose fundamental discoveries, new theories, or insights have had Ian Bartky a significant impact on their own discipline and who are expected to continue producing Frank Edmondson cutting-edge achievements in the future.” Steve Ostro Ed Salpeter Veilleux, an optical/infrared astronomer whose research focuses on active and starburst galaxies, joined the Maryland faculty in 1995. He is known for his work on the spectral classification of emission-line galaxies, the origin and evolution of nuclear activity driven by upermassive black holes, and the nature of galaxy-scale winds and their impact on the extragalactic environment. Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor on Veilleux will be using this award to undertake research on infrared-selected galaxies in current issues of importance collaboration with Prof. Reinhard Genzel and colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for to astronomers are welcomed. Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching, Germany. Letters must be signed and should not exceed 250 words. Send to Jeff Linsky, Associate Einstein Prize Awarded to Hartle Editor, Letters, (jlinsky@jila. The 2009 Einstein Prize was awarded to Jim Hartle (University of California, Santa colorado.edu; 303-492-7838 Barbara). The citation reads “For a broad range of fundamental contributions to relativistic phone; or 303-492-5235 stars, quantum fields in curved spacetime, and especially quantum cosmology.” fax) one week prior to the James B. Hartle was educated at Gilman School, Princeton University (AB, 1960), and the AAS Newsletter deadline. California Institute of Technology where he completed a Ph.D. in 1964 with Murray Gell- Letters may be edited for Mann. He has held positions at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University, clarity/length (authors will and the University of Chicago. He is currently Research Professor and Professor of Physics be consulted) and will be Emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara and an external faculty member of published at the discretion of the Santa Fe Institute. His scientific work is concerned with the application of Einstein’s the Editors. relativistic theory of gravity—general relativity—to realistic astrophysical situations, especially cosmology. He has contributed usefully to the understanding of gravitational waves, relativistic stars, and black holes. He is currently interested in the quantum origin Opting In and Out of the universe and the earliest moments of the big bang where the subjects of quantum mechanics, quantum gravity, and cosmology overlap. He has been an Alfred P. Sloan of AAS Publications Fellow, a NATO Senior Science Fellow, and a John Simon Guggenheim Fellow. He is a If you would no longer like fellow of the American Physical Society, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and to receive paper copies of Sciences, a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, and a founder and past the AAS Newsletter, the AAS director of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics. Membership Directory, or the AAS Calendar, please send an email to [email protected] or Schechner Wins Hazen Prize log into your member record The Joseph H. Hazen Prize Committee of the History of Science Society has awarded the at aas.org. 2008 prize to Sara Schechner, David P. Wheatland Curator of the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments in the Department of History of Science at Harvard University. To unsubscribe from AAS Schechner’s educational activities have been extraordinarily broad, encompassing many emails, contact of the categories suggested for the Hazen Prize. She is involved in museum work, the organization of educational programs, writing, innovation in instruction and pedagogical [email protected] materials, and public outreach. The members of the Prize Committee were impressed with how Schechner “creates hands on experiences with technology from the past, thus giving material and tactile access to the history of science in this way,” how she has shown “great creativity and broad outreach in sharing the Collection for Historical Scientific Instruments,” and the amount of energy she has devoted “to a great range of successful educational activities in relatively short time frame.”

January/FebruaryJanuary/February 5 5 AAS Member Anniversaries

We could not have done it without you! Thank you for your committment to the Society. As we begin 2009 what better time to acknowledge those who have been members of the AAS for 25 years or more. If your name was excluded please contact Crystal Tinch ([email protected]). Members are current as of 1 December 2008. Let us know if you think you re listed incorrectly.

25-34 years

Adler, David Becker, Walter Burns, Michael Coon, James Durisen, Richard Fresneau, Alain Gurman, Joseph Ake, Thomas Beckwith, Steven Burrows, Adam Cooper, R. Glenn Duvall, Thomas Friel, Eileen Gustafson, Bo Albert, C. Elise Beers, Timothy Burton, Wilgus Corbally, Dwek, Eli Friend, David Habbal, Shadia Christopher Albrecht, Rudolf Beichman, Charles Bushouse, Howard Eastwood, Kathy Friesen, Larry Haber, Deborah Alcock, Charles Bennett, Philip Byrd, Gene Corbin, Thomas Degioia Frisch, Priscilla Hackwell, John Alissandrakis, Bhavsar, Suketu Cabot, William Cordes, James Edberg, Stephen Fry, James Hagen, John Constantine Biermann, Peter Cadmus, Robert Cornett, Robert Eder, Jo Ann Frye, Glenn Haisch, Bernard Allen, Mark Bignami, Giovanni Caillault, Jean- Coroniti, Ferdinand Edwards, Suzan Fukui, Yasuo Hakkila, Jon Allison, Michael Bignell, Carl Pierre Cowan, John Eilek, Jean Fullerton, Halbedel, Elaine Ambruster, Carol Binney, James Caldwell, Nelson Crutcher, Richard Einasto, Jaan Alexander Halliwell, Michael Anderson, Edwin Birkinshaw, Mark Calvet, Nuria Cutri, Roc Eisenhardt, Peter Gallagher, John Hammer, Reiner Anderson, Kurt Bjorkman, Karen Campbell, Murray Czyzak, S. J. Elitzur, Moshe Garcia, Michael Hanes, David Anthony-Twarog, Blanford, George Campins, Da Costa, Gary Elliot, James Garwood, Robert Hanisch, Robert Barbara Humberto Bleiweiss, Max Dabrowski, Jan Elliott, Denis Gary, Dale Hankins, Timothy Antiochos, Spiro Carlberg, Raymond Blitz, Leo Dame, Thomas Ellis, H. Benton Gatewood, George Hansen, J. Richard Applebaum, David Carlson, Eric Blizard, Jane Danford, Stephen Elmegreen, Debra Gatley, Ian Hansen, Stanley Apruzese, John Carpenter, Kenneth Bogart, Richard Daunt, Stephen Elvis, Martin Gautier, Thomas Hardee, Philip Argon, Alice Carpenter, Roland Boice, Daniel Davidson, J. P. Emslie, A. Gordon Geary, John Harding, Alice Armstrong, John Carroll, Bradley Bonnet, Roger- Davies, Roger England, Martin Geballe, Thomas Harmon, John Arnold, Clifford Carswell, Robert Maurice Davis, Donald Erickson, Edwin Gehrels, Neil Harms, Richard Athanassoula, E. Cash, Webster Bord, Donald Davis, Sumner Erickson, Richard Geller, Margaret Harpaz, Amos Augensen, Harry Cashdollar, Kenneth Boroson, Todd Dawson, Dennis Esposito, Larry Genzel, Reinhard Harris, Alan Azzopardi, Marc Castelaz, Michael Borucki, William De Pater, Imke Fabbiano, Gergely, Tomas Harris, Hugh Baan, Willem Catacosinos, Paul Giuseppina Bosma, Albert De Robertis, Ghigo, Frank Hartig, George Backman, Dana Caton, Daniel Michael Fabricant, Daniel Boss, Alan Giampapa, Mark Hartkopf, William Bahcall, Neta Cecil, Gerald Deguchi, Shuji Fairman, Rita Boughn, Stephen Gierasch, Peter Hathaway, David Bai, Taeil Paul Centrella, Joan Dejaiffe, Rene Fanelli, Michael Gies, Douglas Hathaway, William Bailey, Wayne Bowell, Edward Cernuschi, Felix Deming, Drake Fant, Ali Gilliland, Ronald Hawley, John Baker, Neal Bower, Gary Chan, Kwing Dennis, Brian Federman, Steven Gioia, Isabella Hayes, Jeffrey Baldwin, Jack Bradley, Richard Charles, Philip Dere, Kenneth Feigelson, Eric Giovanardi, Carlo Haynes, Martha Baliunas, Sallie Bradstreet, David Chen, James Dermott, Stanley Felten, James Gisler, Galen Heacox, William Bally, John Branch, David Chester, Thomas Deupree, Robert Ferland, Gary Glackin, David Heck, Andre Balonek, Thomas Brasunas, John Cheung, Cynthia Dewdney, Peter Fesen, Robert Glassgold, Alfred Heckert, Paul Band, David Braun, Douglas Chiu, Hong-Yee Dickey, John Fich, Michel Glueck, Vivian Heckman, Timothy Bangert, John Bregman, Joel Choi, Kyu Hong Dickman, Robert Fienberg, Richard Godfrey, C. P. Heiligman, Gary Bania, Thomas Briotta, Daniel Christian, Carol Dinerstein, Harriet Filippenko, Alexei Goebel, John Held, Ronald Barbuy, Beatriz Brodie, Jean Christy, James Djorgovski, Fischer, Jacqueline Goguen, Jay Stanislav Helfand, David Barker, Timothy Brown, Bryan Ciardullo, Robin Fisher, Paul Goldberg, Bruce Dobias, Jan Helou, George Barnard, John Brown, David Clarke, John Flasar, F. Michael Goldreich, Peter Doepke, Lawrence Henden, Arne Barsony, Mary Brown, Jeffery Claussen, Mark Fleck, Robert Gordon, David Dones, Henry Henkel, Christian Bartel, Norbert Brown, Robert Cliver, Edward Fleming, Thomas Gott, J. Richard Doxsey, Rodger Henry, Gregory Barvainis, Richard Brucato, Robert Cochran, William Foltz, Craig Graber, James Dragon, John Henry, Richard Basri, Gibor Brunish, Wendee Coffey, Helen Fontaine, Gilles Gradie, Jonathan Draine, Bruce Herbert, Floyd Basu, Dipak Bruzual - A., Cohen, Martin Ford, Holland Graf, Werner Gustavo Drake, Stephen Herbst, Eric Batuski, David Cohn, Haldan Forman, William Graham, William Bryan, James Dressel, Linda Herter, Terry Bauer, Wendy Combi, Michael Forrest, William Green, Daniel Bryant, Light Dressler, Alan Hertz, Paul Bautz, Mark Comins, Neil Fraknoi, Andrew Green, Elizabeth Buff, James Drummond, Jack Hester, Jeff Beall, James Cominsky, Lynn Fraquelli, Dorothy Greenhouse, Buffington, Andrew Hildebrand, Roger Bechis, Kenneth Connolly, Leo Duncan, Douglas Freedman, Wendy Matthew Buie, Marc Hill, Frank Beck, Sara Conrath, Barney Dundee, David French, Howard Greyber, Howard Burke, Edward Hill, John Becker, Robert Cook, John Dunham, Edward French, Linda Griese, John Burns, Jack Himer, James Becker, Stephen Cook, Kem Dupree, Samuel French, Richard Griffiths, Richard

6 American Astronomical Society aas.org Hinkle, Kenneth Kawaler, Steven Lites, Bruce Meegan, Charles Owen, Frazer Rosner, Robert Sion, Edward Hintzen, Paul Kay, Laura Littmann, Mark Meier, David Owocki, Stanley Ross, Randy Sitko, Michael Hirshfeld, Alan Kazanas, Locke, Maureen Melia, Fulvio Pacharin-Tanakun, Rossano, George Skelton, Dennis Ho, Paul Demosthenes Long, Knox Melnick, Gary Pornchai Rothschild, Skillman, Evan Hodge, Philip Keel, William Lonsdale, Carol Melsheimer, Frank Paciesas, William Richard Smartt, Raymond Hodson, Stephen Keeley, Douglas Lord, Steven Merilan, Michael Packer, Irene Rots, Arnold Smethells, William Hoeksema, Jon Keil, Stephen Loren, Robert Merrill, K. Michael Parker, Gary Roy, Jean-Rene Smith, Dale Kelley, Richard Patterson, Alan Rudnick, Lawrence Hoff, Darrel Loughlin, Jane Merritt, David Smith, David SPD News continued Hoffer, James Kelton, Phillip Low, Boon Mewaldt, Richard Patterson, Robert Rudy, Richard Smith, Horace Hoffman, G. Lyle Kemic, Stephen Lubow, Stephen Meyer, David Pauls, Thomas Rumpl, William Smith, Paul Holberg, Jay Kemper, Edward Luck, R. Earle Mielbrecht, R. Pearson, Timothy Rumstay, Kenneth Smith, Peter Hollabaugh, Mark Kennicutt, Robert Lucke, Robert Miller, Glenn Pedelty, Jeffrey Russell, Jane Smith, Verne Hollenbach, David Kent, Stephen Lugger, Phyllis Mink, Douglas Pence, William Russell, Ray Smyth, William Holman, Gordon Kenyon, Scott Lumme, Kari Misconi, Nebil Percival, Jeffrey Ryan, James Sneden, Hough, David Kielkopf, John Lynch, John Modali, Sarma Perley, R. A. Ryter, Charles Christopher Kim, Yong Hak Peters, William Saar, Steven Snell, Ronald Howard, Sethanne Ma, Chopo Molnar, Lawrence Kimble, Randy Peterson, Bradley Safko, John Snider, Joseph Howell, Steve Macalpine, Gordon Monet, Alice Howland, Robert Kingham, Kerry Maccacaro, Peterson, Ruth Saio, Hideyuki Snodgrass, Moody, Elizabeth Herschel Hrivnak, Bruce Kipp, Steven Tommaso Petre, Robert Sakai, Jun-Ichi Moore, Marla Snowden, Steven Hu, Esther Klein, Richard Maccallum, Piccirillo, John Sakimoto, Philip Crawford Morabito, David Socker, Dennis Huenemoerder, Klimchuk, James Pickles, Andrew Sakurai, Takashi Macgregor, Keith Morgan, John Soderblom, David David Knapp, Gillian Pier, Jeffrey Salzer, John Mackenty, John Morgan, Thomas Spangler, Steven Huggins, Patrick Knight, Frederick Pierce, James Sandell, Goran Macneil, Paul Mouschovias, Sparke, Linda Hughes, John Kohl, John Pilcher, Carl Sanders, David Madejski, Grzegorz Telemachos Spear, Gordon Hulse, Russell Kohman, Truman Mumma, Michael Plambeck, Richard Sarazin, Craig Huntley, James Kolena, John Magalhaes, Sargent, Anneila Spencer, John Antonio Mushotzky, Pollock, Joseph Hurford, Gordon Konigl, Arieh Sato, Makiko St. Cyr, Orville Magnani, Loris Richard Pomphrey, Richard Hurlburt, Neal Kostiuk, Theodor Saulson, Peter Stachnik, Robert Malina, Roger Mutel, Robert Preston, Robert Hut, Piet Kowalski, Michael Saumon, Didier Stahler, Steven Malkan, Matthew Mutschlecner, Priedhorsky, Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) Icke, Vincent Krisciunas, Kevin Joseph William Scalo, John Stark, Antony Maloney, Frank Richard P. Binzel, Chair, [email protected] Illingworth, Garth Kriss, Gerard Myers, Philip Prince, Thomas Schatz, Dennis Stauffer, John Malumuth, Eliot Imamura, James Krolik, Julian Nakano, George Pritchet, Schechter, Paul Stebbins, Robin Mansfield, Roger Impey, Chris Kuan, Pui Nations, Harold Christopher Scherrer, Philip Steffes, Paul Marcaide, Juan- Probst, Ronald Iwasaki, Kyosuke Kulkarni, Shrinivas Maria Naylor, David Schloerb, F. Peter Steigman, Gary Pryor, Carlton Jackson, Peter Kwitter, Karen Marcy, Geoffrey Neff, James Schmelz, Joan Steiman-Cameron, Pudritz, Ralph Thomas Jaco, Clint Kwok, Sun Mariska, John Neff, Susan Schmidtke, Paul Puetter, Richard Stencel, Robert Jacoby, George Kylafis, Nikolaos Marsh, Kenneth Neidig, Donald Schmitz, Marion Radick, Richard Stephens, Sally Jaffe, Daniel Lacasse, Marc Marshall, Herman Nelson, Jerry Schneeberger, Ratner, Michael Timothy Stern, Robert Jakobsen, Anne Lacy, John Martins, Donald Newell, Robert Raymond, John Schneider, Donald Stevenson, David Jakobsen, Peter Laird, John Martonchik, John Newman, William Jenkner, Helmut Lamb, Richard Nicholson, Philip Reasenberg, Schombert, James Stiennon, Michael Matese, John Robert Jennings, Mark Lange, Gunther Nolan, Patrick Schreur, Barbara Stier, Mark Mather, John Reid, Mark Jensen, Eric Langer, Steven Noland, Michael Schroeder, Daniel Stiff, Thomas Mathieu, Robert Retterer, John Jewell, Philip Langer, William Noll, Keith Schuster, William Stocke, John Matson, Dennis Reynolds, Stephen Jewitt, David Larosa, Theodore Nolt, Ira Schwartz, Richard Stockman, Hervey Matthews, Jaymie Rhodes, Edward Johnson, C. B. Larson, Stephen Nomoto, Ken'ichi Schweighauser, Stoeger, William Matthews, Larryl Richards, Mercedes Charles Jones, Burton Lattimer, James Nordsieck, Stone, Remington Mauche, Kenneth Ricker, George Seab, C. Gregory Jones, Christine Lauer, Tod Christopher Stoner, Jeff Norman, Colin Robb, Russell Sebok, William Jones, Terry Lawrence, Charles Max, Claire Stoner, Ronald Nousek, John Roberge, Wayne Seitzer, Patrick Junkkarinen, Vesa Lea, Susan Mazurek, Streeter, Jean Thaddeus Novacek, Greg Roberts, David Sellgren, Kristen Jurgens, Raymond Lee, Martin Stringfellow, Guy Mccall, Marshall Nuth, Joseph Roberts, George Shao, Michael Kaitchuck, Ronald Lester, Daniel Strong, Keith Mcconnell, Mark O'brien, George Roberts, Wm. Shapiro, Paul Kalata, Kenneth Lesyna, Larry Struble, Mitchell Mccutcheon, O'dell, Stephen Robinson, Edward Shara, Michael Kalinowski, J. Leventhal, Marvin Suess, Steven Robert Odenwald, Sten Robinson, Jack Shaya, Edward Kallman, Timothy Levine, Alan Sumners, Carolyn Mcdavid, David Oka, Takeshi Rodriguez, Luis Sherrill, Thomas Kaluzienski, Louis Levison, Harold Suntzeff, Nicholas Mcewen, Alfred Oliversen, Nancy Roellig, Thomas Shields, Gregory Kamel, Osman Levy, David Sutton, Edmund Mcgimsey, Ben Oliversen, Ronald Romanishin, Shull, Peter Kaplan, George Liebovitch, Larry William Svestka, Zdenek Mcnamara, Olson, Randy Silverberg, Robert Karpen, Judith Lin, Robert Bernard Romney, Jonathan Swank, Jean Hebb Orton, Glenn Simon, Theodore Katz, Andrew Linfield, Roger Medford, Ronald Rose, Louis Sweigart, Allen Ostlie, Dale Simpson, Richard Kaufmann, Pierre Lissauer, Jack Meech, Karen Sweitzer, James Rosen, Warren Sinha, Rameshwar

January/February 7 Sykes, Mark Thuan, Trinh Unwin, Stephen Veverka, Joseph Wasatonic, Richard Whitmore, Bradley Woodward, Charles Szkody, Paula Timothy, J. Gethyn Uomoto, Alan Victoria, Ulises Wasserman, Ira Wiedenbeck, Mark Wootten, Al Taam, Ronald Tohline, Joel Uson, Juan Vinti, John Wasserman, Wiita, Paul Worek, Thaddeus Lawrence Takahara, Fumio Toller, Gary Valdes, Francisco Vishniac, Ethan Wilbur, Jay Worrall, Diana Wawak, Stephen Talent, David Tonry, John Valeriani, Gino Vitello, Peter Wilkerson, Susan Wright, Edward Alfonso Weaver, Thomas Tarbell, Theodore Torrence, Geoffrey Vallee, Jacques Wilkes, Belinda Yanagita, Shohei Vogel, Stuart Webbink, Ronald Tarter, C. Bruce Trauger, John Valtonen, Mauri Wilking, Bruce Yang, Chao Vogt, Steven Wegner, Gary Taylor, David Trinchieri, Ginevra Van Ballegooijen, Williams, Barbara Young, Judith Teegarden, Troland, Thomas Adriaan Vrba, Frederick Wehrle, Ann Williams, Glen Zapolsky, Harold Bonnard Tsuruta, Sachiko Van Der Hulst, J. Vrtilek, Jan Weiler, Edward Willson, Robert Zeilik, Michael Teem, John Tueller, Jack Van Pelt, David Vrtilek, Saeqa Weinstein, Arthur Wilson, James Zelle, Joseph Telesco, Charles Turner, Jean Van Riper, Kenneth Wachmann, Arthur Weisberg, Joel Wilson, Robert Zinn, Robert Tennyson, Peter Turner, Michael Van Steenberg, Wade, Richard Welch, Douglas Winget, Donald Ziurys, Lucy Teukolsky, Saul Michael Twarog, Bruce Waldron, Wayne Wells, William Winkler, P. Frank Zizka, Eugene Thompson, David Vanderspek, Tyson, J. Anthony Walker, Constance Wende, Charles Wolfire, Mark Zotov, Natalia Thompson, Ian Roland Ubertini, Pietro Wallace, William West, Robert Wolfson, C. Jacob Zweibel, Ellen Thompson, Laird Varshni, Yatendra Walter, Frederick Uchimoto, Eijiro Whipple, Arthur Wolfson, Richard Zych, Allen Thompson, Vestrand, W. Ward, Martin Thomas Ukita, Nobuharu Thomas White, Nicholas Wollman, Eric 35-44 years Aannestad, Per Belton, Michael Campbell, Donald Cox, Donald Epps, Harland Glaspey, John Hauser, Michael Ables, Harold Benedict, G. Fritz Carbon, Duane Coyne, G. V. Erskine, Fred Golden, Lawrence Havlen, Robert Adams, Ronald Benner, D. Chris Carleton, Craft, Harold Etzel, Paul Goldsmith, Donald Hawley, Steven Nathaniel Adelman, Saul Benson, Neil Craine, Eric Evans, Charles Golub, Leon Hayes, Donald Carney, Bruce A'hearn, Michael Benz, Arnold Crampton, David Evans, John Gordon, Mark Henry, J. Patrick Caroff, Lawrence Ahluwalia, Harjit Berg, Richard Crane, Patrick Evans, Nancy Gorenstein, Paul Herbst, William Carruthers, George Ahmad, Imad Berge, Glenn Crane, Philippe Evans, Neal Goss, W. Miller Hess, Fred Carson, T. Aizenman, Morris Bergstralh, Jay Cruikshank, Dale Faber, Sandra Gottesman, Hesser, James Cassinelli, Joseph Stephen Aksnes, Kaare Berry, Charles Culver, Roger Fekel, Francis Hilgeman, Castelli, John Gottlieb, Carl Theodore Albert, Donald Bieging, John Dalgarno, A. Feldman, Paul Catura, Richard Gow, Charles Hill, Henry Allen, Marc Blaha, Milan Davis, John Feldman, Paul Cavaliere, Alfonso Graham, John Hills, Jack Aller, Hugh Boeshaar, Patricia De Young, David Fenkart, Rolf Chaffee, Frederic Grandi, Steven Hine, Alice Aller, Margo Bohlin, Ralph Delsemme, Fink, Uwe Chaisson, Eric Armand Green, Richard Hobbs, L. M. Altenhoff, Wilhelm Bologna, Joseph Finzi, Arrigo Altschuler, Martin Chambliss, C. Devorkin, David Fishman, Gerald Greenberg, Hoffman, Alan Bond, Howard Chapman, Clark Dickinson, Dale Richard Hoffman, Jeffrey Anderson, John Fix, John Bopp, Bernard Gregory, Philip Anderson, Kinsey Chapman, Gary Dinger, Ann Hoffmann, William Bowyer, C. Stuart Forman, Miriam Gregory, Steve Angel, J. Roger Chen, Peter Dodd, Jack Hollis, Jan Boyle, Robert Foukal, Peter Grindlay, Jonathan Argo, Harold Chevalier, Roger Dolan, Joseph Holt, Stephen Bozyan, Elizabeth Franklin, Fred Groom, Donald Arny, Thomas Chubb, Talbot Donivan, Frank Honeycutt, R. Bradt, Hale Van Freedman, Richard Groth, Edward Arons, Jonathan Chupp, Edward Doschek, George Huchra, John Dorn Freeman, Kenneth Gudehus, Donald Arpigny, Claude Clark, Frank Downes, Dennis Hudson, Hugh Brecher, Kenneth Friedlander, Guetter, Harry Audouze, Jean Clark, George Downs, George Michael Huebner, Walter Brooks, Neil Guinan, Edward Clark, T. Alan Doyle, Robert Avrett, Eugene Brosterhus, Elmar Frogel, Jay Hull, Anthony Dravins, Dainis Gulkis, Samuel Baars, Jacob Brown, G. Stanley Clayton, Donald Fujimoto, Mitsuaki Hunter, Drilling, John Hagyard, Mona Christopher Backer, Donald Brown, Larry Clement, Maurice Fukuda, Ichiro Dryer, Murray Hammond, Hunter, James Baird, Scott Brown, Robert Cochran, Vance Galatola, A. Gordon Dudek, David Hutchings, John Balick, Bruce Brown, Robert Cocke, William Gaposchkin, Peter Hanner, Martha Dufour, Reginald Ianna, Philip Ball, John Brownlee, Donald Coffeen, David Garmany, Hanson, Robert Dukes, Robert Iben, Icko Bardeen, James Bruenn, Stephen Cohen, Judith Catharine Haramundanis, Dulk, George Ingersoll, Andrew Barker, Edwin Bruhweiler, Colvin, Jeff Garmire, Gordon Kathryn Barnes, Aaron Frederick Conklin, Edward Dunham, David Garrett, Henry Hardebeck, Harry Innanen, Kimmo Barnes, Thomas Bruning, David Conner, Jerry Dunham, Joan Garrison, Robert Harnden, Frank Israel, Martin Itoh, Naoki Basart, John Bunner, Alan Conti, Peter Dunn, Anne Geldzahler, Barry Harper, Doyal Jacoby, Margaret Baym, Gordon Burkhead, Martin Contopoulos, Dupree, Andrea Geyer, Edward Harris, Allen Burns, Joseph George Janes, Kenneth Becklin, Eric Durgin, Harold Gezari, Daniel Harris, Gretchen Burton, Butler Corbett, Joseph Durney, Bernard Harris, William Janiczek, P. M. Beckman, John Giacconi, Riccardo Butcher, Harvey Corey, Brian Hartman, Robert Janssen, Michael Beebe, Herbert Earl, James Gilman, Peter Cahn, Julius Corwin, Harold Hartmann, William Jenkins, Edward Bell, Morley Elmegreen, Bruce Giovanelli, Belserene, Emilia Caldwell, John Costero, Rafael Elvius, Aina Riccardo Harvey, Paul Johnson, Torrence

8 American Astronomical Society aas.org Johnson, W. Neil Littleton, John Moore, Ronald Poss, Howard Savage, Blair Spangenberg, Weekes, Trevor Johnston, Kenneth Litvak, Marvin Moorhead, James Potter, Andrew Scarfe, Colin William Weiler, Kurt Jones, Harrison Lo Presto, James Moos, H. Warren Prata, Stephen Scargle, Jeffrey Spinrad, H. Weis, Edward Jones, Thomas Lockman, Felix Moran, James Press, William Scherb, Frank Stein, Robert Weisskopf, Martin Jordan, Stuart Lockwood, G. Morris, Mark Preston, George Schild, Rudolph Stetson, Peter Weitenbeck, Joseph, Robert Lucke, Peter Murray, Stephen Price, P. BUford Schlesinger, Barry Stone, Edward Anthony Joss, Paul Luebke, William Namba, O. Primini, Francis Schmidt, Edward Straka, William Wells, Donald Joyce, Richard Luhmann, Janet Nelson, Robert Proctor, Deanne Schmitt, John Strittmatter, Peter Welther, Barbara Kafatos, Menas Lutz, Julie Nesterczuk, Ptak, Roger Schreier, Ethan Strong, Ian Werner, Michael Karp, Alan Lynch, David George Racine, Rene Schwartz, Daniel Stull, Mark Wertz, James Kawabata, Kiyoshi Lynds, Beverly Newsom, Gerald Raimond, Ernst Schwarz, Joseph Sturch, Conrad West, Mary Lou Kayser, Susan Madore, Barry Nichols, Joy Rakos, Karl Schweizer, Francois Sullivan, Woodruff Wheaton, William Keay, Colin Maffei, Paolo Nickas, George Ramsey, Lawrence Scott, Roger Takebe, Hisao Wheeler, J. Craig Kellogg, Edwin Mahoney, William Nicolas, Kenneth Rankin, Joanna Scoville, Nicholas Terrell, N. James Whitaker, William Kennedy, H. D. Manchester, Noerdlinger, Peter Rappaport, Saul Seaquist, Ernest Thaddeus, Patrick White, Nathaniel Kennedy, James Richard Noyes, Robert Rather, John Seeds, Michael Thomas, John White, R. Stephen Kennedy, John Maran, Stephen O'connell, Robert Reed, George Seidelmann, P. Thomas, Roger White, William Khare, Bishun Margon, Bruce Oegerle, William Reynolds, Ray Serlemitsos, Peter Thompson, Wickes, William Rodger Kiewiet De Jonge, Margrave, Thomas Oertel, Goetz Reynolds, Ronald Seward, Frederick Widing, Kenneth Thorne, Kip Joost Marks, Dennis Oliver, John Rich, John Sgro, Anthony Will, Clifford Thronson, Harley Kirkpatrick, R. C. Marlborough, J. Ormes, Jonathan Richards, David Shaffer, David Williamon, Richard Title, Alan Kirshner, Robert Marschall, Osmer, Patrick Richer, Harvey Shapiro, Stuart Williams, Carol Laurence Tolbert, Charles Kliore, Arvydas Ostriker, Jeremiah Richstone, Douglas Share, Gerald Williams, James Martin, Robert Toomre, Juri Knacke, Roger Ouellette, Gerald Rickett, Barney Shawl, Stephen Williams, Robert Kniffen, Donald Mathews, William Pacini, Franco Torres-Peimbert, Willner, Steven Ridgway, Stephen Sheeley, Neil Silvia Koch, David Mayfield, Earle Page, Arthur Wills, Derek Riegler, Guenter Shelus, Peter Trasco, John Kormendy, John Mcalister, Harold Pang, Kevin Wing, Robert Rieke, Marcia Sher, David Travis, Larry Kovach, William Mccammon, Dan Pankonin, Vernon Wingert, David Roger, R. Shu, Frank Trimble, Virginia Kowal, Charles Mccarthy, Donald Pasachoff, Jay Witt, Adolf Rogers, Alan Shuart, Ross Tucker, Wallace Krienke, O. Karl Mccook, George Pataki, Louis Wolf, George Rogers, Ernest Shulman, Seth Tully, R. Brent Kronberg, Philipp Mccray, Richard Peale, Stanton Wolfe, Arthur Rood, Robert Silk, Joseph Twigg, Laurence Krupp, E. C. Mcgraw, John Peebles, P. J. E. Wolff, Sidney Rosendhal, Jeffrey Simoda, Mahiro Usher, Peter Kulsrud, Russell Mckee, Pelling, Michael Wooden, William Christopher Rosenkilde, Carl Simon, Michal Van Flandern, Tom Kurkowski, Jerome Penhallow, William Woodgate, Bruce Mcneil, Raymond Ross, Hazel Simonson, S. Vanden Bout, Paul Kutner, Marc Percy, John Christian Woolf, Neville Mechler, Gary Rountree, Janet Vila, Samuel Kutter, G. Siegfried Peters, Geraldine Simpson, Erik Woosley, Stan Meszaros, Peter Routledge, David Lacy, Claud Peterson, Charles Simpson, Janet Vilkki, Erkki Wu, Chi-Chao Metzger, A. E. Lamb, Don Peterson, Cynthia Rubin, Robert Slabinski, Victor Waddington, C. Wysocki, Mark Michaud, Georges Lamb, Frederick Petro, Larry Rubin, Vera Slade, Martin Wagener, C. Yahil, Amos Michel, F. Curtis Larson, Richard Petrosian, Vahe Rust, Bert Smith, Diane Wagoner, Robert Yeomans, Donald Mickelson, Michael Latham, David Pettengill, Gordon Rust, David Smith, Edward Walborn, Nolan York, Donald U.S. National Committee for the IAU Lebofsky, Larry Mickey, D. L. Pfleiderer, Jorg Rybicki, George Smith, Haywood Walker, Gordon Young, Andrew Roger Chevalier, Chair Lecar, Myron Miller, Hugh Phillips, Mark Rybski, Paul Smith, Howard Walker, Robert Yuan, Chi Leckrone, David Millis, Robert Phillips, Perry Rydgren, A. Smith, Lindsey Wannier, Peter Zappala, R. R. Lee, Vincent Milone, Eugene Phillips, Thomas Sakurai, K. Smith, Myron Wardle, John Zuckerman, Ben Legg, Thomas Mintzer, David Pierce, Sam Sanders, Walter Smithson, Robert Warren, Wayne Levine, J. Mitalas, Romas Pipher, Judith Sanders, Wilton Snowden, Michael Webb, David Light, Edward Moffat, Anthony Poland, Arthur Sandford, Maxwell Snyder, Lewis Webber, John Lillie, Charles Moffett, Thomas Polidan, Ronald Sandlin, Glenn Soberman, Robert Webster, William Linsky, Jeffrey Molnar, M. R. Pomerantz, Martin Saslaw, William Soifer, B. Thomas Weedman, Daniel 45-54 years Acton, Loren Bartko, Frank Bookmyer, Beverly Burbidge, Geoffrey Clark, Barry Cudaback, David Elste, Guenther Altrock, Richard Baschek, Bodo Boyce, Peter Burke, J. Anthony Cohen, Howard Dahn, Conard Epstein, Eugene Anders, Edward Bash, Frank Bracher, Katherine Carr, Thomas Cohen, Marshall Dent, W. A. Erickson, William Anderson, Howard Batten, Alan Breckinridge, Castor, John Colgate, Stirling Dickel, Helene Eryurt-Ezer, Angione, Ronald Beckers, Jacques James Cayrel, Roger Collins, George Dickel, John Dilhan Fazio, Giovanni Bahng, John Bless, R. C. Bremenkamp, Chamberlain, Cowley, Anne Dietz, Richard Victor Fernie, J. D. Barnhart, Philip Bodenheimer, Joseph Cowley, Charles Doherty, Lowell Barrow, Colin Peter Broten, N. W. Chou, Kyong Crawford, David Edwards, Terry Fiala, Alan

January/February 9 Field, George Hogg, David Kumar, Shiv Morton, Donald Raff, Malcolm Sparks, Warren Wagner, William Fisher, Philip Holmberg, E. Kundu, Mukul Mulholland, John- Rea, Donald Starrfield, Sumner Walker, Russell Fitch, W. S. Howard, William Landolt, Arlo Derral Rickard, James Stecher, Theodore Wallerstein, George Fliegel, Henry Hunten, Donald Larsson-Leander, Mumford, George Roberts, Morton Stone, Sidney Wampler, E. Franz, Otto Irvine, William Gunnar Neff, John Rodman, James Sturrock, Peter Joseph Fredrick, Laurence Jackson, E. S. Liebenberg, Neupert, Werner Roemer, Elizabeth Swenson, George Wehinger, Peter Donald Gaizauskas, V. Jefferies, John Nishida, Minoru Rose, William Tandberg-Hanssen, Welch, William Lindenblad, Irving E. Wentzel, Donat Galt, John Johnson, H. R. Nishimura, Shiro Saito, Sumisaburo Livingston, W. C. Terzian, Yervant West, Frederick Gauss, F. Stephen Jones, Charles Olsen, Kenneth Sandmann, William Low, Frank Teske, Richard Gaustad, John Olson, Edward Sargent, Wallace Westerhout, Gart Jugaku, Jun Macconnell, Scheer, Donald Thomas, Norman Westerlund, Bengt Gibson, James Kaftan-Kassim, Darrell Parker, James Thompson, A. Gould, Robert May Parker, Robert Schmidt, Maarten Westerman, Malville, J. McKim Richard Cynthia Gray, D. F. Kaler, James Parsons, Sidney Schorn, Ronald Marsden, Brian Toomre, Alar Weymann, Ray Haddock, Fred Karshner, Gary Parthasarathy, R. Seielstad, George Martin, William Trafton, Laurence Williams, John Kaufman, Michele Shane, William Halliday, Ian Mathis, John Partridge, R. Bruce Truran, James Shao, Cheng-Yuan Wilson, Robert Hapke, Bruce Kinman, T. D. Maxwell, Alan Pascu, Dan Shawcross, William Tull, Robert Wilson, Robert Hartwick, F. Kissell, Kenneth Mcilwain, Carl Peery, Benjamin Sherman, Nevin Turner, Kenneth Wolff, Charles Harvey, J. W. Klemola, A. Mcintosh, Patrick Peimbert, Manuel Shorthill, Richard Ulmschneider, Wolstencroft, Harwit, Martin Klock, Benny Meisel, David Peters, James Peter Ramon Simkin, Susan Heeschen, David Kovalevsky, Jean Menon, T. K. Peterson, Laurence Van Altena, Wm. Wooley, Jon Simon, George Heiles, Carl Kozai, Yoshihide Mertz, Lawrence Pierce, David Van Den Bergh, Zirker, Jack Sofia, Sabatino Sidney Henriksen, S. W. Kraft, Robert Mihalas, Dimitri Poveda, Arcadio Solomon, L. H. Vandervoort, Peter Henry, Richard Krause, Helmut Miller, Richard Price, Stephan Solomonides, Vandervort, Henze, William Kuhi, Leonard Moore, Elliott Protheroe, William Panos Gordon

55-59 years

Arp, Halton Burbidge, E. Gingerich, Owen Mccarthy, Martin Seligman, David Athay, R. Grant Cameron, Winifred Gleim, James Motz, Lloyd Skumanich, Andrew Baum, William Cox, Arthur Johnson, Fred Parker, Eugene Smith, Bradford Bell, Barbara Davis, Robert Johnson, Hugh Pecker, Jean-Claude Tifft, William Blanco, Victor Dennison, Edwin Liller, William Sawyer, Constance Wade, Campbell Boggess, A. Fujita, Yoshio Linnell, Albert Schatzman, Evry Wehlau, Amelia Boggess, Nancy Garstang, R. H. Locke, J. L. Schiffmacher, Edward Weston, Edwin Brownlee, Robert Ghaffari, A. Malitson, Harriet Schmidt, Gary Yoss, Kenneth

60-64 years

Bidelman, William Horak, Henry Mathews, Robert Roman, Nancy Duncombe, R. Jaffe, M. W. Mcnamara, D. Savedoff, Malcolm Herbig, George Lippincott, Sarah Meinel, Aden Wilson, Albert

65+ years

Steel Lillibridge, Helen

10 American Astronomical Society aas.org News from NSF Division of Astronomical Sciences Eileen D. Friel, Executive Officer, Division of Astronomical Sciences, [email protected]

New Proposal requirements for Postdoctoral Mentoring • True intellectual collaboration with foreign We remind all PI’s that beginning 5 January 2009, NSF research partner (Foreign partner’s 2-pg biosketch requires that all proposals that request funding to support & communication outlining project role must be postdoctoral researchers include a separate section describing included. If foreign institution will provide resources, the mentoring activities that will be provided. This new also include an endorsement letter from the foreign requirement is a result of the America COMPETES ACT, institution.) signed into law in August 2007. The Grant Proposal Guide • New international collaborations, as opposed to has been revised to reflect this requirement: well-established ones; • Clear benefit to U.S. science/engineering community “Each proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral from expertise, facilities, or resources of the foreign researchers must include, as a separate section within the collaborator; and 15-page project description, a description of the mentoring • Active research engagement of U.S. students and activities that will be provided for such individuals. … The junior researchers at the foreign site. proposed mentoring activities will be evaluated as part of the Please see the OISE web site, at http://www.nsf.gov/oise, merit review process under the Foundation’s broader impacts for a description of all programs and contact information by merit review criterion. Proposals that do not include a region and program. separate section on mentoring activities within the Project Description will be returned without review.” Upcoming Deadlines for funding: Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry The Grant Proposal Guide can be found as part of the Proposal (GOALI) (NSF 09-516). GOALI promotes university- and Award Policies and Procedures Guide at: http://www. industry partnerships by making project funds or fellowships/ nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf091. traineeships available to support industry-university linkages. Special interest is focused on affording the opportunity for: OISE Program Summary • Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students to conduct NSF’s Office of International Science and Engineering research and gain experience in an industrial setting; (OISE) supports innovative awards and supplements that • Industrial scientists and engineers to bring industry’s promote research through new international collaboration perspective and integrative skills to academe; and and that develop the next generation of globally engaged • Interdisciplinary university-industry teams to conduct scientists and engineers. OISE funds international research research projects. and education activities in all NSF-supported disciplines involving any region of the world. GOALI will target high-risk/high-gain research with a focus on fundamental research, new approaches to solving generic OISE has a number of solicitations for programs fostering problems, development of innovative collaborative industry- international collaboration, including those for undergraduate university educational programs, and direct transfer of new and graduate students (International Research Experiences knowledge between academe and industry. GOALI proposals for Students, Doctoral Dissertation Enhancement Projects, are accepted at any time. See the program announcement East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes), postdoctoral at http://nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09516/nsf09516.htm for scholars (International Research Fellowships Program), and more information. international planning visits and workshops. The Partnerships for International Research and Education program (PIRE AST seeking reviewers – NSF 09-505) fosters the development of innovative Learn about the review process at NSF and gain insights into models for long-term, international research and education what it takes to write a successful proposal by participating in the proposal review process. Reviewers perform an essential partnerships by funding institution-to-institution, cutting service for NSF and the community. They also see a wide edge research conducted by US universities in collaboration range of proposals, both successful and unsuccessful, read with foreign counterparts. about current science, exchange ideas with colleagues on the panel and at NSF, and learn about the process of panel review. Investigators may also include international components The experience is one of the best ways to prepare for writing in proposals submitted to any relevant NSF program, or your own proposal. request supplemental funding for projects already supported by NSF. Investigators are encouraged to consult early in If you would be interested in serving on a review panel at NSF, the application process with both the disciplinary program please let us know, by contacting a program officer (Nigel manager and OISE program manager for that country. Sharp ([email protected]), Linda Sparke ([email protected]), OISE works with all NSF areas to co-fund new awards and Brian Patten ([email protected]), Don Terndrup (dterndru@ supplements that meet these criteria: nsf.gov) or Eileen Friel ([email protected])).

January/February 11 Committee on Employment

Choosing a Graduate School: Some Things to on how well each program matches with your interests, your Think About needs, and your abilities.

Author: AAS Employment Committee You will need a solid list of perhaps 5-10 graduate schools to which you will apply. Each school should to be a place In a career as an astronomer, few decisions matter more than you would seriously consider going, with at least one or the choice of graduate school. Graduate school is the place two potential advisors. It is important to include a range where you turn into a full-fledged and fully qualified member of programs, including 1-2 “safety” schools that you will of the profession. A great experience can set you on your way definitely get into, several schools that you are very interested with a whole lot of momentum and enthusiasm. For many in attending, and a “stretch” school or two. Personal contacts years after you get your degree, your graduate advisor will may help you identify which schools belong in which be your strongest supporter. And, more than likely, you will categories. spend at least half a decade in the locale you choose. Making the Choice Researching Institutions After you find out whether you are admitted to the schools Creating a list of all of the graduate programs in astronomy on your list, you will likely be faced with a difficult choice. is relatively straightforward, although some schools that There are many aspects of each program to consider; a list offer research opportunities in astronomy can be harder to of good questions to ask graduate programs and current identify because they include their astronomy program inside graduate students is located at http://www.astro.indiana. a physics department. The American Institute of Physics edu/grad_questions.shtml. Your decision making process maintains a comprehensive directory of graduate programs should include consideration of research opportunities, in physics and astronomy which can be accessed from their academic requirements, and personal issues, such as location, website (http://www.aip.org/) or from the convenient web funding, and quality of life. Visiting schools you are serious page, http://www.gradschoolshopper.com/. about is also extremely important, so that you can get a real feel for what they are like; most schools will pay for at least Sorting through this enormous list of grad programs can be part of a trip. daunting, however. Our best advice is to talk with professors and postdocs at your institution, to learn about the schools During your visit, you should talk with several faculty they recommend for you in your subfield(s) of interest. members, some of whom you might envision working with. If you do not know any professional astronomers, ask the Ultimately, finding an advisor with whom you can work members of the physics faculty at your institution for any productively is key to success during and after graduate contacts in astronomy that they may have. Or you can school. It is important to identify more than one person contact astronomy professors at one of the schools you are you can work with at your school of choice, however, as considering and ask for advice given your particular interests personality conflicts and funding problems can occur. You and background. In addition, one potentially effective should also talk with the current students to hear their method to identify appropriate schools is to work backwards perspectives on the department and its environs. Both the — identify researchers who have jobs like the one you want intensive experience within your graduate program and the and find out where their degrees came from. broader setting outside of your department will play big roles in your life. Department websites and personal contacts are key sources of information. You can also consult ranked lists of departments In the end, there is no one school that is perfect for everyone. and research programs from places like the National Research The ultimate goal is to find a place where you, personally, Council (NRC) and the US News & World Report. These have great opportunities. reports order departments based on various criteria such as scholarly achievement of the faculty and the availability of resources. General rankings are always controversial among astronomers, however, because people legitimately disagree about the relative importance of various factors. Use of citation indices and other statistical measures of the research impact of a department may also be informative (e.g. http://arXiv.org/abs/0811.0311), but citations are usually 5-10 years out of date and the status of up-and-coming departments changes more rapidly. Also, the best researchers do not always make the best advisors. In the end, the most relevant ranking is that which you derive on your own, based

12 American Astronomical Society aas.org Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy Geoffrey Clayton, CSWA Chair, Louisiana State University, [email protected]

The 3rd International Women in Physics Conference First International Conference on Women in Physics was held AAS members Hannah Jang-Condell (University of Maryland/ in Paris in 2002. The Second conference was hosted by Rio de NASA-GSFC), who contributed this article, Emily Freeland Janeiro in 2005. Since the first conference most countries have (University of Wisconsin), Nicholas Murphy (University of made some progress in attracting girls to physics, increasing Wisconsin) and Yilen Gómez Maqueo Chew (Vanderbilt the proportion of physics degrees to women, and promoting University/Villanova) recently attended the Third International women physicists. However, the proportion of physicists who Conference on Women in Physics (ICWIP2008) in Seoul, are women is well below 20% in nearly all countries—too few to South Korea. They were among over 330 scientists from nearly have maximum benefit for society. 70 countries from all corners of the world. Delegates came from African, Asian, European, Latin American, North American, The representatives assembled in Seoul unanimously and island nations. Jang-Condell, Freeland, and Murphy were recommend the following actions to the IUPAP 26th General members of the US delegation while Gómez Maqueo Chew Assembly in Tsukuba, Japan: represented Mexico. The meeting, held 7 to 10 October, was dedicated to celebrating the physics achievements of women 1. Promote through the IUPAP Liaison Committees and throughout the world, networking toward new international physical societies the formation of additional regional collaborations, gaining skills for career success, and aiding or national working groups for women in physics. These the formation of active regional working groups to advance working groups would assist worldwide in the efforts to women in physics. Each country presented information about increase the participation of women, while being a resource to its statistics and its activities to increase women’s participation. attract, retain, and advance women in physics. 2. Publicize site visits as an effective tool for improving “I enjoyed this meeting and the chance I had to compare my the “climate” of physics workplaces, and encourage their experiences in astronomy with those of women in physics,” implementation to help the workplaces become more said Freeland. “I had extremely interesting conversations supportive of both women and men. For a site visit, an with women from Brazil, Canada, and South Africa, as well institution or physics department invites a team of physicists to as my fellow US delegation members. Overall, the meeting assess the work environment for women and to give advice for helped reinforce, in my mind, the importance of role models, improvements in gender equity. mentoring, and flexible family leave policies for both parents, 3. Actively encourage organizers of IUPAP-sponsored as necessary conditions for increasing the number of women conferences to provide, associated with the conference scientists.” Jang-Condell said, “this meeting was a terrific program (a) professional development workshops for opportunity to share stories with women in physics from attendees and (b) outreach activities aimed at the public around the world. Seeing so many successful women physicists and to engage both girls and boys from an early age in the from around the globe and hearing their stories was very excitement of physics. empowering. One of the successes of this meeting was bringing 4. Charge the IUPAP Working Group on Women in us all together to share ideas and resources to help women Physics (a) to oversee the administration of a global survey in physics around the world.” Dr. Youngah Park, a physicist of physicists in 2009, (b) to continue to assess the progress who chairs the conference organizing committee, was recently of women in physics, (c) to make useful resources available elected to the Korean National Assembly from her district. She globally through the internet, (d) to organize the 4th told the assembled participants, “I believe the positive effect of International Conference on Women in Physics in 2011, ICWIP2008 will go beyond the physics community and will and (e) to report at the 27th IUPAP General Assembly in have a strong effect on women leaders in all fields of science 2011. and technology.” 5. Urge IUPAP Liaison Committees and physical societies to take the leadership in their countries to encourage broad Worldwide fewer than 15% of physicists are women. More than participation of their members in the global survey of 80% of the conference attendees were women. It was clear physicists. that the scarcity of women in physics, especially in leadership positions, is a problem for many countries. They cannot Update on the Longitudinal Study of Astronomy benefit fully from women’s ideas and approaches to improve Graduate Students their economic competitiveness or solve difficult problems, Contributed by Rachel Ivie and Susan White (Statistical such as energy, health, and global sustainability. Women, Research Center, American Institute of Physics (AIP) men, institutions, and governments need to work together to encourage, educate, recruit, retain, advance, and promote Data collection was recently completed for the first phase more girls and women in physics and other science and of the AAS/AIP longitudinal survey of astronomy graduate technology professions. To that end, the conference participants students. The project, which began in early 2007, was unanimously approved a resolution presented at the 26th the result of recommendations made at the 2003 Women General Assembly International Union of Pure and Applied in Astronomy Conference. Eventually, the study will track Physics (IUPAP) in Tsukuba Japan on 15 October 2008. The astronomy graduate students over the course of several years.

January/February 13 Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy continued

The study has several purposes: to collect data on people who Telescope Science Institute in 1992 and the Pasadena meeting obtain graduate degrees in astronomy, to compare attrition hosted by Caltech in 2002. The topics include; 1) statistics rates for men and women, to collect data on people who leave on the state of the field, establishing trends over the last 15 the field of astronomy, and to collect data on astronomers who years including the “longitudinal studies” of age vs. makeup of work outside the traditional employment sectors of academe the field and identifying areas for celebration or for concern; and the observatories. During the first wave of data collection, 2) research on the impact of gender/generational/cultural we received more than 1100 responses that are useable for the differences in the science workforce, and 3) issues concerning analyses. Approximately 700 men and more than 400 women the work environment and best practices for success of scientists responded, representing 148 different graduate programs. Our in a diverse work force and 4) a special session on issues of preliminary analyses show that women and men who have been minorities in science, and women in Earth Science. There is in the program more than three years are: less likely to agree evidence for considerable success in increasing the percentage that the environment in the department is welcoming, more of women in the field of science and so we aim here to focus on likely to believe they lack ability, and are less confident in their issues concerning the success of those in the field. This meeting careers. Final results will be available in the fall. will highlight best practices to help the diverse scientific work force to succeed, and will address both the junior members Women in Astronomy and Space Science: Meeting the of the field, as well as those who mentor and manage today’s Challenges in an Increasingly Diverse Scientific Work Place diverse scientific workforce. Information on this meeting will Goddard Space Flight Center, together with the University of be available at http://wia2009.gsfc.nasa.gov. Maryland, are hosting a meeting on 21-23 October 2009, at the University of Maryland Conference Center on the topic of CSWA web site women in astronomy and space science with a focus on not only We are continuing to upgrade the CSWA’s presence on the gender but generation and minorities. This meeting follows web. We plan more improvements in the coming. You can find up on the “Women in Astronomy” meeting hosted by Space us at, www.aas.org/cswa.

Washington News continued from back page addressed in appropriations in the spring. The AAS will the convention center along with the rest of the conference. continue to advocate strongly that conference attendance In addition, audio from Dr. Blandford’s presentation to the is a vital component of scientific collaboration, and that the astronomy department chairs meeting, sponsored by the AAS, restriction on conference spending as written has numerous is available on our public policy blog—blog.aas.org. negative consequences for the scientific community. The Next Budget Decadal Survey One difficulty in assessing the budget atmosphere for the Roger Blandford, of Stanford University, is the chair of decadal committee is the uncertainty in the budget for Astro2010, the next Astronomy & Astrophysics decadal survey. 2010, and the yet unresolved problem of FY 2009. We are The decadal surveys are produced by the National Research currently operating under a continuing resolution for FY 2009, Council of the National Academies of Sciences. The committee continuing the funding levels of FY 2008, which has meant for will “survey the field of space- and ground-based astronomy a continuation of the flat science budgets of the past. It’s yet and astrophysics, recommending priorities for the most unclear how the FY 2009 budget will be handled by the new important scientific and technical activities of the decade 2010- congress and new administration, but a large omnibus budget 2020.” Rounding out the executive committee are, Martha is certainly a strong possibility. Haynes (Vice Chair – Science Frontiers), Cornell University, John P. Huchra (Vice Chair – State of the Profession) Harvard For the FY 2010 budget, which must be introduced by law in University, Marcia Rieke (Vice Chair – Program Prioritization), February of 2009, the release will only be a minimal budget University of Arizona and Lynne Hillenbrand (Executive outline, containing the top-line spending level for each agency Officer), California Institute of Technology. and a few policy details for a few key priorities. The budget of a new president usually is a fulfillment of campaign pledges, A presentation by Dr. Blandford is scheduled for the AAS so expect to see a budget that echoes what President-elect meeting in Long Beach, as is a town hall meeting to discuss Obama promised in the campaign. However, the full policy the survey. Meetings of the committee in DC and around budget will not be released until April of 2009; with full details the country often contain open sessions. You can check the from every government agency. How any large government decadal survey web site for more information, as well as see spending package to stimulate the economy fits into the normal the full membership. (http://www7.nationalacademies.org/ budget cycle remains to be seen—but it is likely that the new bpa/Astro2010.html). Our Pasadena meeting in June will administration will seek to quickly pass an emergency economic feature many decadal survey components. Plans include public rescue plan outside the normal budget / appropriations meetings of the decadal committee and panels to be held in process.

14 American Astronomical Society aas.org Calendar

AAS & AAS Division Meetings *Recent Directions in Astrophysical Unveiling the Mass: Extracting and Quantitative Spectroscopy and Interpreting Galaxy Masses, and a DDA Meeting Radiation Hydrodynamics Celebration of Vera Rubin’s Career 2-5 May 2009, Virginia Beach, VA 30 March-3 April 2009, Boulder, CO 15-19 June 2009, Kingston, Ontario http://dda.harvard.edu/ Contact: Keith MacGregor (kmac@ Contact: Stephane Courteau hao.ucar.edu) ([email protected]) http://www.hao.ucar.edu/events/ SPD Meeting dimitri-fest/ 14-18 June 2009, Boulder, CO *Second Exeter Astronomy spd.aas.org/navbar_meetings.html Intermediate-Mass Black Holes: Conference from First Light to Galactic Nuclei 21-26 June 2009 DPS Meeting 1-3 April 2009, Irvine, CA Contact: John A. Blackwell 4-9 October 2009, Fajardo, Puerto Contact: Aaron Barth ([email protected]) Rico ([email protected]) http://www.exeter.edu/ http://dps.aas.org/meetings/ http://www.physics.uci.edu/IMBH Astronomy/4380_4634.aspx

HEAD Meeting Missions for Exoplanets: 2010 - 2020 *The Many Faces of Centaurus A 21-23 April 2009, Pasadena, CA 1-4 March 2010, Big Island, HI 28 June - 3 July 2009, Sydney, Contact: Michael Devirian Contact: John Vallerga Australia ([email protected]) ([email protected]) exep.jpl.nasa.gov Contact: Ilana Feain www.confcon.com ([email protected]) www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com/ The Search for Life in the Universe http://www.atnf.csiro.au/research/ 4-7 May 2009, Baltimore, MD cena/ Other Events Contact: Marc Postman ([email protected]) *Supernova Remnants and Pulsar 2009 IAU Symposia, Special www.stsci.edu/institute/conference/ Wind Nebulae in the Chandra Era Sessions and Joint Discussions spring2009 8-17 July, Cambridge, MA http://www.astronomy2009.com.br/ Contact: Paul Green (snr09@cfa. CASCA 2009: Annual Meeting of harvard.edu) *Exoplanets and Disks: Their the Canadian Astronomical Society http://cxc.harvard.edu/cdo/snr09/ Formation and Diversity 26-29 May 2009, Toronto, Canada 9-12 March 2009, Kailua-Kona, HI Contact: Ray Jayawardhana Contact: Dr. Tomonori Usuda ([email protected]) astro.utoronto.ca/casca09 *New or revised listings ([email protected]) http://www.naoj.org/SubaruConf09/ *IAU Symposium No. 261 Note: Listed are meetings or other Relativity in Fundamental events that have come to our attention. Commemoration of Edwin E. Salpeter Astronomy 14 March 2009, Cornell University Due to space limitations, we publish 27 Apr-1 May 2009, Virginia Beach, VA notice of meetings 1) occurring in http://astro.cornell.edu/events/ Contact: Sergei A. Klioner (sergei. North, South and Central America; 2) salpetercommemoration/index.html [email protected]) www.aas.org/divisions/meetings/iau/ meetings of the IAU; and 3) meetings Wild Stars in the Old West II: The as requested by AAS Members. 14th North American Workshop on *Stellar Pulsation, Challenges for Meeting publication may only be Cataclysmic Variables and Related Theory and Observation assured by emailing [email protected]. Objects 31 May-5 June, Santa Fe, NM Meetings that fall within 30 days of 15-19 March 2009, Tucson, Arizona Contact: Joyce Guzik ([email protected]) publication are not listed. http:///www.lanl.gov/conferences/ Contact: Steve B. Howell stellar_pulsation ([email protected]) A comprehensive list of world-wide astronomy meetings is maintained by www.noao.edu/meetings/wildstars2/ The Monster’s Fiery Breath: Liz Bryson, Librarian C-F-H Telescope Feedback in Galaxies, Groups, and in collaboration with the Canadian *Beyond JWST: The Next Steps in Clusters UV-Optical-NIR Space Astronomy 1-5 June 2009, Madison, WI Astronomy Data Centre, Victoria, BC. 26-27 March 2009, Baltimore, MD Contact: Sebastian Heinz The list may be accessed and meeting Contact: Marc Postman ([email protected]) information entered at cadcwww.hia. ([email protected]) www.astro.wisc.edu/feedback nrc.ca/meetings.

January/February 15 American Astronomical Society Periodical A A 2000 Florida Avenue, NW, Suite 400 Postage S Washington, DC 20009-1231 Paid Washington DC Newsletter 144 January/February 2009

Washington News Marcos Huerta, John Bahcall Public Policy Fellow [email protected] Inauguration mania has gripped Science, and NIST. These are the agencies that were included Washington. Voters in 2008 expanded in the America COMPETES Act and the President’s American the Democratic majorities in the House Competitiveness Initiative. and Senate, and elected Barack Obama the 44th President of the United States. Nobel-prize winning physicist Stephen Chu has been appointed The mood on election night on the to run the Department of Energy. While DOE is not a big player streets of Washington, which voted 93% in astrophysics funding, the inclusion of a prominent scientist for Barack Obama, was quite celebratory. in Obama’s cabinet suggests that the Obama administration Now, the city and its residents brace for will place a high value on science and scientific advice and 2-4 million people expected to visit for expertise, especially when it comes to developing new and the inauguration on January 20th. Tickets to various inaugural alternative energy sources. Meanwhile, the Orlando Sentinel balls are going for $1000 or more. Metro is warning that the reported tension between the NASA transition team and NASA subway can not possibly accommodate the transportation needs administrator Mike Griffin. Griffin, however, disputed the of the crowds on Inauguration day. DC residents are posting Sentinel’s characterization of the discussion, and says NASA is ads on Craigslist, hoping to rent out their apartments or homes “fully cooperating” with the transition. for hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Thankfully, the AAS Executive Office will be closed on January 20th. I certainly do NASA Travel not envy any commuters who are expected to show up at work I sent an Informational Email on the provision in the NASA that day. Authorization Act concerning restrictions on NASA conference travel, which affects NASA civil servants at headquarters or The Transition at NASA centers. NASA has permitted FY 2008 money to be President-elect Obama has been rounding out his cabinet spent on travel through the end of 2008 calendar year. The and other appointments, with the focus of the transition on AAS continues to work to address this issue on Capitol Hill. the economy. Some form of economic stimulus, through large government spending is widely expected; focusing on From what I have learned, the language of the authorization act infrastructure and energy. It is possible that science could be is not binding on the appropriations 16included American in the Astronomical stimulus—most Society likely aas.org for NSF, DOE Office of process, and that this issue can be continued on page 14