" F R I N G E S " S P A C E I N T E R F E R O M E T R Y M I S S I O N N E W S L E T T E R Number 42, February 22, 2008 CONTENTS 1. SIM Lite 2. Call for SIM Planet-Finding Astrometry Analysis Teams Proposals are due by *March 17, 2008* 3. SIM paper published in PASP 4. AAS Division on Dynamical Astronomy Meeting, Boulder, Apr 28-May 1 Note: *March 3, 2008* deadline for DDA Student Stipend Awards 5. Exoplanets Task Force Report 1. SIM Lite The SIM PlanetQuest Project team has begun to study variants on SIM, keeping the same architecture, and retaining the same overall science objectives, but changing some of the instrument and mission design parameters with a view, primarily, of reducing mission cost. This activity is motivated by a desire to find the most cost-effective astrometric interferometer mission for NASA to pursue. The trade space being explored is quite large. Cost is the main driver, but we are taking a critical look at the instrument requirements, with a view to retaining (if possible) all of the original science objectives. The result of the initial study is termed "SIM Lite", to distinguish it from the full mission "SIM PlanetQuest" which has been described in many previous Newsletters. As the design matures, we will provide more information on SIM Lite in this Newsletter, and on the SIM website. It is important to be clear on the capabilities of SIM Lite. This is *not* a planets-only (i.e. narrow-angle astrometry) mission. SIM Lite retains the full suite of science competitively selected via a NASA AO in 2000. Essentially, SIM Lite maintains the astrometric precision required to address these science questions, but accepts a significant decrease in throughput. For most members of the Science Team, this means observing fewer targets, compared with the full SIM PlanetQuest. This makes their preparatory work on target selection, currently underway, all the more important. 2. Call for SIM Planet-Finding Astrometry Analysis Teams The Space Interferometry Mission-PlanetQuest (SIM/PQ) project at JPL is seeking one or two external teams of scientists to participate in a demonstration of SIM/PQ's astrometric analysis of multiple-planet exoplanet systems. With synthetic SIM/PQ astrometric data supplemented by synthetic RV data, the project wishes to perform data analysis experiments to demonstrate SIM/PQ's ability to detect and characterize the orbits of multiple-planet systems. The successful proposal team(s) will be funded to work in parallel with the SIM/PQ Science Team in this effort, compare results of the completed analysis, and work toward understanding SIM/PQ's potential in studying the architecture of nearby multiple-planet systems. The first experiments are due to be completed in July 2008, but the prospects of follow-on work on this subject are excellent, contingent on available funding and successful completion of the first study phase. Proposals are due by *5PM PST March 17, 2008* and must be submitted to the Michelson Science Center in electronic (PDF, PS, or Word) format through the MSC on-line submission portal. For more information and complete instructions on responding to this opportunity, please see: http://msc.caltech.edu/missions/SIMPQ/SIMCall/index.html 3. SIM paper published in PASP A large paper describing SIM's scientific capabilities has been published in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (PASP), January 2008, Vol 120, pp. 38-88. This refereed paper was assembled by SIM Deputy Project Scientist Steve Unwin from contributions provided by every member of the SIM Science Team, and a number of other interested astrometrists - 36 authors in all. http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/525059 This paper covers the breadth of science that SIM is capable of, and we hope that it inspires novel and exciting uses of the instrument. There will be a Guest Observer (GO) opportunity to use this truly unique facility for astrophysics, and we hope this paper will be a useful reference for proposers. 4. AAS Division on Dynamical Astronomy Meeting, Boulder, Apr 28-May 1 Finally, a plug for one of my personal favorite meetings of the year, the annual DDA Meeting (OK, I am past-Chair of the DDA, so I am biased!). The 2008 Meeting of the DDA will be held April 28 through May 1, 2008, in Boulder, Colorado. The annual DDA Meeting brings together top researchers in astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science and astrodynamics for in-depth and stimulating discussions and talks on all aspects of dynamics in the space sciences. The DDA meeting features invited talks on a range of topics, contributed talks (with no parallel sessions), and posters that usually can be displayed throughout the entire meeting. The deadline for submitting an abstract for a talk is *March 21, 2008*. More information can be found at the DDA web site: http://dda.harvard.edu/ To encourage students to attend, the DDA offers two competitively-awarded student stipends for the meeting. The deadline for applications is midnight EST on *March 3, 2008*. See the 'Student Stipend Awards' link on the above website for more information. 5. Exoplanets Task Force Report The Exoplanets Task Force (ExoPTF) has released (in almost final form) its report to the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC). The ExoPTF was established as a subcommittee to advise NSF and NASA on the future of the ground-based and space-based search for and study of exo-planets, planetary systems, Earth-like planets and habitable environments around other stars. In its 160-page Report, the ExoPTF recommended a 15-year strategy to detect and characterize exo-planets and planetary systems, and their formation and evolution, including the identification of nearby candidate Earth-like planets. The (draft) Report may be found at http://www.nsf.gov/mps/ast/exoptf.jsp. A major finding of the Report is that astrometry is a critical technique for advancing the field, in the medium time frame of 6-10 years. This is because astrometry at the microarcsecond level is the only viable technique for surveying a large sample of nearby stars for planets as low as an Earth mass, orbiting in the habitable zone. Astrometry determines which stars have such planets, measures the masses of those planets, and provides accurate ephemerides essential to future direct-detection missions. SIM's planet-finding program, described in several previous Newsletters, is well matched to the recommendations in the Report. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Unwin, Editor stephen.unwin'at'jpl.nasa.gov You are subscribed to the list 'sim-announce'. To unsubscribe from this list, please go to the 'SIM Newsletter' link on the SIM web page, where you can also find back issues of the Newsletter: http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/Navigator/library/sim_newsletter.html