Carl Sagan Center Activity Report May 2016

Dr. Nathalie A. Cabrol, Director

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Peer-Reviewed Publications 1. Abdul-Masih, M., Prsa, A., Conroy, K., Bloemen, S., Boyajian, T., Doyle, L. R., et al. 2016.

Kepler Eclipsing Binary Stars. VIII. Identification of False Positive Eclipsing Binaries and Re-extraction of New Light Curves. Accepted for publication to Astron. J.

2. Brown, A. J., W.M. Calvin, P. Becerra, and S. Byrne (2016), Martian North Polar Cap Summer Water Cycle Icarus, Accepted for publication in Icarus. Accessed June 1, 2016. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2016.05.007.

3. Bishop J. L. & Rampe E. B. (2016) Evidence for a changing Martian climate through Al/Si clay unit at Mawrth Vallis. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 448, 42-48, in press.

4. Cabrol, N. A., Alien Mindscapes – Perspective on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Astrobiology, in press.

5. Esposito, T.M. et al., (Marchis F., co-author), 2016. Bringing “The Moth” to Light: A Planet-Sculpting Scenario for the HD 61005 Debris Disk. eprint arXiv:1605.06161. Available at: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016arXiv160506161E

6. Fenton, L. K., Bishop, J. L., King, S., Lafuente, B., Horgan, B., Bustos, D., Sarrazin, P. (2016) Sedimentary differentiation of aeolian grains at the White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, USA, in press at Aeolian Research, doi:10.1016/j.aeolia.2016.05.001.

7. Geissler, P. E., Fenton, L. K., Enga, M.-T., Mukherjee, P. (2016). Orbital monitoring of Martian surface changes, in press at Icarus, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2016.05.023.

8. Gorti, U., Liseau, R. , Sandor, Z., and Clarke C., 2016. Disk Dispersal: Theoretical understanding and observational constraints, Space Science Reviews, DOI: 10.1007/s11214-015-0228-x.

9. Kostov, V. B., Orosz, J. A., Welsh, W. F., Doyle, L. R., Fabrycky, D. C., Haghighipour, N., Quarles, B., et al. 2016. Kepler-1647 : the largest and longest-period Kepler transiting circumbinary planet. Accepted for publication to Astrophys. J.

10. Kostov, V. B., Orosz, J. A., Welsh, W. F., Doyle, L. R., Fabrycky, D. C., Haghighipour, N., Quarles, B., et al. 2016. Kepler-1647 : the largest and longest-period Kepler transiting circumbinary planet. Accepted for publication to Astrophys. J.

11. Naidu, S.P., Benner, L.A.M., Margot, J.L., Busch, M.W., Taylor, P.A., 2016. "Capabilities of Earth-based radar facilities for near-Earth asteroid observations", Astronomical Journal, in press.

12. Nicholson, P., D. French, Richard G., M. Tiscareno, S. Murray, C. D. Evans, Michael W., McGhee French, C., M. M., Hedman, and J.A. Burns, Janus’ orbital swap affects the edge of Saturn’s A ring. Icarus, in press (arXiv:1510.00434). http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/author_form?author=French,+R&fullauthor=French,%20Richard%20G.&charset=UTF-8&db_key=PRE

13. Rameau, J. et al., (Marchis, F. co-author), 2016. Constraints on the architecture of the HD 95086 planetary system with the Gemini Planet Imager. The Astrophysical Journal, 822(2), p.L29. Available at: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016ApJ...822L..29R =

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14. Rodriguez, J. Alexis P., Alberto G. Fairén, Kenneth L. Tanaka, Mario Zarroca, Rogelio Linares, Thomas Platz, Goro Komatsu, Hideaki Miyamoto, Jeffrey S. Kargel, Jianguo Yan, Virginia Gulick, Kana Higuchi, Victor R. Baker & Natalie Glines. Tsunami waves extensively resurfaced the shorelines of an early Martian ocean. Sci. Rep. 6, 25106. doi:10.1038/srep25106 (2016).

15. Scheeres, D.J., S. Hesar, S. Tardivel, M. Hirabayashi, D. Farnocchia, J. McMahon, S. Chesley, O. Barnouin, R.P. Binzel, W.F. Bottke, M.G. Daly, J. Emery, C. Hergenrother, D.S. Lauretta, J. Marshall, P. Michel, M. Nolan, K.J. Walsh. The Geophysical Environment of Bennu. Icarus, accepted, May 2016.

16. Smith, J., R. Morris, J. Jenkins, S. Bryson, D. Caldwell, and G. Forrest, Finding Optimal Apertures in Kepler Data, Article reference: PASP-100089.R2, 2016.

17. Weitz C. M. & Bishop J. L. (2016) Stratigraphy and Formation of Clays and Other Hydrated Minerals within a Depression in Coprates Catena. J. Geophys. Res., 121, in press.

18. Wray J. J., Murchie S. L., Bishop J. L., Ehlmann B. L., Milliken R. E., Wilhelm M. B., Seelos K. D. & Chojnacki M. (2016) Orbital evidence for more widespread carbonate-bearing rocks on Mars. J. Geophys. Res., 121, 652–677.

Abstracts of Conferences 1. Beegle, L. W., et al. (Sobron, P. co-author), SHERLOC: An investigation for Mars 2020. .

Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments Conf., Tahoe (May 16-18, 2016).

2. Bishop J. L. & Englert P. A. J. (2016) Antarctic Dry Valley Sediments as Analogs for Microbial Systems in a Cold Mars-Like Environment. Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments, Abstract #2017, May 16-18, 2016, Tahoe.

3. Bonaccorsi, R., A. G. Fairen, L. Baker, C. P. McKay, D. Willson., 2016. Pizza or Pancake? Formation Models of Gas Escape Biosignatures in Terrestrial and Martian Sediments, [Paper #2084]; Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments, May 16-18, 2016, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

4. Busch, M.W., 2016. "Internal structures of near-Earth asteroids from ground- and space-based observations", CAS-NAS Forum for New Leaders in Space Science, Irvine, CA, USA.

5. Bywaters, K. F., C. P. McKay, A. F. Davila, and R. C. Quinn, In situ life and biosignature detection at Mars analog sites using the Oxford Nanopore Minion Sequencer. . Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments Conf., Tahoe (May 16-18, 2016).

6. Cuk, M., "Did the Kozai Resonance Help Form Small Moons of Pluto?", presented at the 46th DDA meeting, Nashville, TN, May 23, 2016.

7. Faucher, B. F., D. L. Lacelle, A. D. Davila, W. P. Pollard, and C. P. McKay, Abundance, distribution and cycling of organic carbon and nitrogen in University Valley- Permafrost soils with differing ground thermal and moisture conditions: Analogue to C-N cycle on Mars.

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Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments Conf., Tahoe (May 16-18, 2016).

8. Gayathri Kamakolanu, U., and F. Freund, Matrix Embedded Organic Synthesis (MEOS). in Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments I: Paleo-Hydrothermal Systems, May 16-19, 2016, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA. (Poster No: 2082, Poster Presentation).

9. Glass, B., A. Davila, V. Parro, R. Quinn, P. Willis, W. Brinckerhoff, J. DiRuggiero, M. Williams, D. Bergman, and C. Stoker, Atacama rover biology drilling studies: Roving to find subsurface preserved biomarkers. Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments Conf., Tahoe (May 16-18, 2016).

10. Gulick, V.C., Glines, N.H., and Hargitai, H.I. 2016. Gully Formation And Seasonal Flows On Mars: Revisiting Water Flow Processes As A Formation Mechanism On Recent And Current Mars. GSA Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, May 18-19, 2016.

11. Hargitai, H.,I., Gulick, V.C., Glines, N.H. 2016. Streamlined Islands Of Mars. GSA Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, May 18-19, 2016.

12. Janke, L. L., M. N. Parenteau, and J. D. Farmer, Organic biomarker preservation in silica-rich hydrothermal system with implications to Mars. . Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments Conf., Tahoe (May 16-18, 2016).

13. Lorber, K. N., A. D. Czaja, and P. Lee, Variations in biosignature preservation: Geochemical analysis of kerogen comparing two Mars analogs. . Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments Conf., Tahoe (May 16-18, 2016).

14. Parenteau, M. N., et al. Preservation of organic compounds in circumneutral iron deposits. . Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments Conf., Tahoe (May 16-18, 2016).

15. Quinn, R. C., Radiolytic alteration of biosignatures on Mars. Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments Conf., Tahoe (May 16-18, 2016).

16. Skok, J. R., et al., Seeking signs of life in ancient martian hot springs with Icelandic analogs. Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments Conf., Tahoe (May 16-18, 2016).

17. Smith J., et al., ADASS XXVI, annual Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems conference in Trieste Italy, Oct 2016: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: The Success of the Kepler Transit Finding Pipeline and its Adaptation to the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)”.

18. Sobron, P., D. T. Andersen, and W. H. Pollard, In situ exploration of habitable environments and biosignatures in Arctic cold springs and Antarctic paleolakes. Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments Conf., Tahoe (May 16-18, 2016).

19. Tiscareno, M. S., “Propeller peregrinations: Ongoing observations of disk-embedded migration in Saturn’s rings”, presented at the 46th DDA meeting, Nashville, TN, May 26, 2016.

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20. Wilhem, M. B. A. F. Davila, et al., Xeropreservation of functionalized lipid biomarkers in hyperarid soils in the Atacama desert, Chile. . Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments Conf., Tahoe (May 16-18, 2016).

Invitation to Speak (Professional and Public Talks) 1. Beyer, R. SETI Talks about Charon: http://www.seti.org/weeky-lecture/charon-plutos-

fascinating-moon-new-horizons

2. Busch, M. "Strange New Worlds" - panel discussion on recent planetary science results at the BayCon science fiction convention, San Mateo, CA, 2016 May 29. https://sites.grenadine.co/sites/baycon/en/2016/items/104/Strange+New+Worlds

3. Cabrol, N. A. Invited Talk – Biosignature Preservation and Detection Conference, Tahoe (May 16-18) Comparison of Environmental Habitability: Evolution and Preservation in Time.

4. Cuk, M., "Orbital Evolution of the Moon from a High-Obliquity High-Angular-Momentum Earth". Presented at the LPL colloquium series, May 17th, 2016.

5. Gorti, U., "Resolving planet formation in the era of ALMA and extreme AO", ESO, Santiago, Chile, May 16-20, 2016. Invited review on Photoevaporation.

6. Harp, G. Invited talk, “The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence at the SETI Institute.” 5/10/16.

7. Harp, G., Shostak, S. “Humans Need Alien Life.” Breakthrough Radio. 8. John Marshall: Gave Bill Diamond, his son Chris, and Debbie Kolyer, an hour-long tour of

the Planetary Aeolian Laboratory at Ames, which houses the Mars and Titan wind tunnels. Value and potential usage for SETI projects was discussed.

9. Race, M. Spoke at Burkhalter School, Oakland, CA-- Astrobiology and planning human missions

10. Shostak, S. “When Will We Find Life in Space?”, panel discussion organized by SETI Institute at Microsoft, Mountain View, CA 5/3/2016

11. Shostak, S. “The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence,” Institute for High Energy Physics, Frascati, Italy 5/10/2016

12. Shostak, S. Interview by KHOI radio, Ames Iowa about SETI 5/13/2016 13. Shostak, S. Interview about SETI, Dr. J. Radio 5/16/2016

14. Shostak, S. “When Will We Find ET?”, public talk, Santa Barbara, CA 5/18/2016 15. Shostak, S. SETI on “On Point”, NPR radio show out of WBUR (Boston) 5/19/2016

16. Shostak, S. “SETI”, colloquium at Las Cumbres Observatory, Goleta, CA 5/19/2016 17. Shostak, S. Interview, Wolfgang Radio (London), 5/23/2016

18. Shostak, S. Interview, Australian Radio, 5/24/2016

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19. Shostak, S. Interview, Packman Show (television), 5/25/2016 20. Shostak, S. Astrobiology class lecture on SETI, Santa Clara University, 5/25/2016

21. Shostak, S. Weekly Space Hangout (web TV show), 5/27/2016 22. Shostak, S. “SETI Update”, Baycon, San Mateo, CA 5/28/2016

23. Shostak, S. “SETI”, Mythic internet radio 5/31/2016 24. Shostak S. “Dark Thirty” radio show, 5/31/2016

25. Mark Showalter: Public talk: "The New Horizons Flyby of Pluto…An Insider’s View” to San Francisco Amateur Astronomers, May 17. http://www.sfaa-astronomy.org/lecture-17-may-the-new-horizons-flyby-of-pluto-insiders-view-by-mark-showalter-phd/

26. Mark Showalter: Public talk: Same talk as above to the Geological Society of Nevada, May 20. (See attached photo of the crowd wearing their 3-D glasses!)

27. Mark Showalter: Scientific talk at the Division for Dynamical Astronomy Meeting of the

AAS in Nashville on May 25, "Orbital and Rotational Dynamics of Pluto's Small Moons”. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016DDA....4730302S

28. Tarter, J. May 9-13 - Madrid Spain, media interviews and press conference to promote Starmus 3 Festival in Tenerife June 27-July 2.

29. Tarter, J. May 27 - Filming with Neil deGrasse Tyson for episode of StarTalk on Nat Geo. 30. Tiscareno, M. 5/18/16: Propeller peregrinations: Ongoing observations of disk-embedded

migration in Saturn’s rings (SADL Seminar, SETI Institute). 31. Tiscareno, M. 5/26/16: Propeller peregrinations: Ongoing observations of disk-embedded

migration in Saturn’s rings (DDA Meeting, Nashville TN).

Intellectual Property N/A

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Significant Events and Activities

1. Busch, M. contributed some tabling and one-on-one discussions with attendees at the BayCon science fiction convention, advertising the Institute's research, education, and public outreach activities.

2. Cabrol, N. A. was a member of the Science Organizing Committee for the Biosignature Preservation and Detection on Mars Conference in Tahoe (May 16-18). She gave one of the introduction presentations. Title: Comparison of Environmental Habitability: Evolution and Preservation in Time.

3. Gulick G. helped organize a special session at the GSA Rocky Mountain Section meeting on T1. Megafloods, Paleohydrology, and Fluvial Processes on Earth and Beyond: In Recognition of the Scientific Contributions of Victor R. Baker.

4. Gulick G. participated in in the GSA pre-meeting field trip 1. Pleistocene Megaflood Landscapes of the Channeled Scabland. May 14-17, 2016.

5. Marshall, J. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has just been delivered to the Cape for launch in September (J. Marshall is a Regolith Scientist for OSIRIS). Currently compiling a guess list for launch viewing at Kennedy. Bill, some trustees, and other SETI folks will likely be involved.

6. Quinn, R. (SETI Institute NAI Team Deputy PI) represented N. A. Cabrol at the NAI Executive Meeting Council that took place in Palm Spring. Richard presented the activity report for the NAI Biosignature Detection Working Group. The SI team Chairs the Working Group (JPL, Co-Chair). The report was very well received by NAI Central who encouraged the WG to continue to expand its ties to missions.

7. Richards, J. New ATA website with highly detailed SETI observational details and dynamic plug-in on seti.org.

8. Zalucha, A. - Fourth and final letter of the year written to a middle-schooler in “Letters to a Pre-scientist” program

9. Commissioned 2-year SETI Survey of 20,000 Red Dwarf Stars

10. Tiscareno, M. S., Currently serving on the AAS/DDA Committee. 11. Tiscareno, M. S., Currently serving on the AAS/DPS Subcommittee on Professional Culture

and Climate.

Potential Highlights for the Website and/or PR Bishop, J. The EPSL paper will be published in the August issue. It might be nice to do a blog

highlight for this. The Bishop & Rampe paper in EPSL identified nanophase aluminosilicates in the uppermost

clay strata at Mawrth Vallis that indicate a change in climate on early Mars. These poorly crystalline materials mark an end to abundant liquid water in the region. This study also represents the first analysis where VNIR and TIR spectra from Mars orbit agree on the surface composition.

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Contributed by Busch M. The National Science Foundation is organizing a series of public

meetings and taking comments from interested parties regarding potential future changes to Arecibo Observatory operations: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-05-23/pdf/2016-12036.pdf . As detailed in the Naidu et al. paper linked above, Arecibo's continued operation as a research facility is crucial to current efforts to track and characterize potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids - among a wide range of other astronomy, aeronomy, and planetary science projects. Perhaps the Institute could submit a statement in support of continued research operations at Arecibo to NSF before the deadline for public comments on June 23?

Ginny Gulick and Natalie Glines: Organized and hosted the yearly visit of 7th and 8th graders and their teacher Mr. Dennis Mitchell from Evergreen Middle School, Cottonwood, CA. (see attachment next page).

Ginny Gulick and Natalie Glines: Article attached for the SETI website on our Mars Tsunami paper.

Zalucha, A. Quora: Most Viewed Writer: Meteorology, Weather Forecasts; Answer published in Forbes: “What Do We Know About Pluto's Atmosphere?” http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2016/04/04/what-do-we-know-about-plutos-atmosphere/#507aec651e0d

Tarter, J. Submitted new foreword for Murmurs of Earth that is being translated into Chinese by editor Alexei LU Fei.

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Evergreen Middle School Visit to Ames May 25, 2016

Ginny Gulick and Natalie Glines: Organized and hosted the yearly visit of 7th and 8th graders and their teacher Mr. Dennis Mitchell from Evergreen Middle School, Cottonwood, CA. Gulick and Glines organized a visit of the Ames wind tunnel, a chat with a local astronaut and talked with the students about their HiRISE image analysis work along with NPP Henrik Hergitai. Gulick also discussed and answered questions about the HiRISE images with the students that were acquired and analyzed by the students. The students in turn gave a formal presentation of their 7th and 8th grade projects to Ames scientists.

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Carl Sagan Center

Research Thrust Chair Co-Chair

Astronomy and Astrophysics Paul Estrada Uma Gorti Astrobiology Richard Quinn Janice Bishop Climate & Geoscience Dale Anderson Adrian Brown Exoplanets Franck Marchis Doug Caldwell Planetary Exploration Ginny Gulick Lori Fenton SETI Gerry Harp (co-chair) Eliot Gilum (co-chair) Advisor

Mark Showalter

Advisor Margaret Race Young Scientist Michael Busch