More info: https://www.scuolasuperiore.unich.it/node/7244
OBJECTIVES:
With the ARTEMIS exploration program bringing a new human crew to the lunar surface in 2026 as the first phase for the construction of a permanent human base, preparatory activities for the study of landing sites by combining multi-sensor data of different resolution and scale are fundamental for defining potential in situ resource utilization (ISRU). With this project we want to propose an integrated approach for data analysis aimed at detailed geological analysis for the definition and valorization of in situ resources for the ISRU through the production of a geological cartography with standardization of the units that allows the definition of guidelines for the characterization of the new landing sites planned in the south pole of the Moon.
Currently, thanks to the availability of better spatial resolution orbital data together with remote spectral data to determine the composition of the surface material, it has been possible to review the geological interpretation of the Apollo landing sites [1-4] providing new details on the stratigraphic evolution of rock units and their correlation with samples brought to Earth. Preliminary work on geological mapping applied to the ISRU [5] highlighted the potential of the Apollo 17 site thanks to the geological diversity and the type of rocks that can allow the successful extraction of hydrogen and methane.
For this reason, the research activities will focus on the Apollo 17 site following the cartographic approach of [1-4] adding both a morphological and stratigraphic study deriving from the photographic repertoire acquired by the astronauts, and the compositional information of the rock samples and soil brought to Earth and available in the NASA Curation Office archive.
Based on the study and the geothematic maps that will be produced, analyzes will be carried out on the potential of the mapped material for the ISRU. The integrated approach of different types of data (multimission - multisensor - multispectral) for detailed and standardized geological cartography is fundamental for future studies of lunar landing sites. The data will be processed and/or calibrated and then inserted into a GIS system for the analysis and creation of digital maps. This modus operandi will constitute a model that can be replicated in other sites.
The PhD student will spend 6-months abroad working at the Institut für Planetologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität in Münster (tutor C. van der Bogert) to familiarize with the lunar dataset and cartographic methods. This institute in Münster has a long experience on geological mapping of the Moon. In the final part of the project the student will work at the ASI-SSDC to upload the produced maps into the MATISSE online tool to make it accessible to the scientific community. MATISSE is the ASI-SSDC webtool dedicated to Solar System exploration missions, capable of showing the results both in classic two-dimensional visualizations, showing the data projected directly onto the three-dimensional shape of the selected target. In particular, this activity will be
integrated into the current development of the tool aimed at planetary geology, expanding the possibility of searching for data also on the basis of advanced information available from geological maps.
In summary, the activities to be carried out will be:
1. bibliographic research and review of available geological maps - 3 months
2. selection of the areas of interest to analyze in detail, data processing and project
preparation in the GIS environment of the study area – 6 months
3. period abroad to acquire knowledge of lunar geological cartography – 6 months
4. cartography of the chosen sites – 12 months
5. definition of guidelines for the classification of geological units and potential values
for the ISRU - 3 months
6. data entry in MATISSE - 3 months
7. thesis writing – 3 months
More info: https://www.scuolasuperiore.unich.it/node/7244
Bibliographic references:
[1] Iqbal W. et al. (2019) Geological mapping and chronology of lunar landing sites: Apollo 11, Icarus,
Volume 333, Pages 528-547
[2] Iqbal W. et al. (2020) Geological mapping and chronology of lunar landing sites: Apollo 12, Icarus,
Volume 352
[3] Iqbal W. et al. (2023) Geological mapping and chronology of lunar landing sites: Apollo 14, Icarus,
Volume 406
[4] Iqbal W. et al. (2024) New geological maps of Apollo 15 and Apollo 17 landing sites, LPSC, #1010
[5] van der Bogert et al. (2021) Science-rich Sites for In Situ Resource Utilization Characterization and End- to-end Demonstration Missions, Planet. Sci. J., 2 84
FAST4Future October Seminar
“Terrestrial field analogues for planetary research: some examples from the African continent”
Presenter: Prof. Fulvio Franchi
Affiliation of presenter: Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università di Bari – Aldo Moro (Italy)
Email of FAST4Future: info [at] cesst [dot] org Oct 22, 2024 10:00 AM Harare, Pretoria (CAT)
Join Zoom Meeting https://eu01web.zoom.us/j/66926213523?pwd=TaBmBHnNwPe7obdKWHBkUaSN4QrGqy.1
Meeting ID: 669 2621 3523
Passcode: 109735
Biography
After 9 years as Lecturer and Professor at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), I moved back to Italy where I am holding the position of Associate Professor at the Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università di Bari – Aldo Moro (Italy). I also have an Honorary Professorship at the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa). After my PhD in Earth Science studying the astrobiological potential of Devonian carbonate mounds in the Moroccan Sahara, I have pursued a career at the crossroad between planetary science and carbonate sedimentology with a clear interest for biogeochemical pathways and astrobiology. Ever since my PhD in 2009 all my projects were deeply rooted in Africa working toward the creation of a Planetary Science community. In the past 5 years I have been awarded, as Coordinator (P.I.), two EC-funded projects, the Pan African Planetary and Space Science Network (PAPSSN) and FAST4Future (Focus on Africa Space Science for Future Development). I have successfully participated in two NERC projects and led my institution into the Europlanet 2024 Research Infrastructure funded by INFRAIA under Horizon2020. I coordinate the planetary field analogue Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana as part of the Europlanet2024 Transnational Access and successfully organized more than 20 field trips in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
FAST4Future Online Seminar via Microsoft Teams
Topic: Recent Developments in Blazar Unification
Presenter: Prof. F.C. Odo
Affiliation of presenter: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Nigeria
Email address of the presenter: finbarr [dot] odo [at] unn [dot] edu [dot] ng (finbarr[dot]odo[at]unn[dot]edu[dot]ng)
Moderator: Prof. Taye Demissie (University of Botswana)
Email of FAST4Future: info [at] cesst [dot] org (info[at]cesst[dot]org)
August 29, 2024, 15:00 CAT
Abstract
The distributions of observed γ-ray properties, as well as orientation parameters of a sample of Fermi-LAT AGNs were used to investigate the hypothesis that γ-NLS1 objects are beamed sources with γ-ray emitting axes inclined at close angles to the line of sight. Based on these parameters we investigate the relationship between γ-NLS1s and other subclasses of γ-ray emitting jetted AGNs. Results show that γ-NLS1s are more highly beamed than both FSRQs and BL Lacs with mean value of core-dominance parameter Rγ ~ 9507. γ-NLS1s and jetted Seyfert galaxies are continuous in distribution of the orientation parameter with average cone angles ϕm ~ 8o and 44o respectively. Furthermore, the spectral energy distribution of γ-NLS1 is comparable to those of FSRQs and BL Lacs suggestive that γ-NLS1s and blazars form a continuous spectral sequence. There is a significant anti-correlation (r ~ -0.9) between the γ-ray dominance (Dγ) and γ-ray luminosity. There is a strong dependence of Dγ on redshift (r ~ -0.7) suggestive that Dγ is more sensitive to environmental factors than intrinsic γ-ray luminosity. The results suggest that γ-NLS1s are highly beamed γ-ray sources whose de-beamed counterparts can be found among Seyfert galaxy populations.
Biography
Finbarr Chidi, Odo is a professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka He earned his B.Sc (Physics) in 1998, M. Sc (Astrophysics) in 2006 and PhD (Astrophysics) in 2012, with specialty in radio astronomy and cosmology. Between 2006 and 2008, Finbarr served as a lecturer at the Federal College of Technical Education, Umunze, Nigeria and later as a Research Fellow at National Centre for Energy Research and Development, Nsukka. In 2016, Prof. Odo joined University of Nigeria, Nsukka as a Senior Lecturer and rose to Professor in 2023. Finbarr is a regular instructor at the Pan-African Summer School for Emerging Astronomers and a member of the Consortium board of Africa off-Earth Network.
Microsoft Teams: Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 364 352 358 93
Passcode: MKNQg
https://teams.microsoft.com/v2/?meetingjoin=true
August 29, 2024, 15:00 CAT
The PhD is funded by the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (the Italian Space Agency), and the title of the project is "The astrobiological potential of authigenic clays from hypersaline environments".
The deadline for applications is the 22nd of July 2024.
The call document can be found here: https://www.uniba.it/en/phd-courses/phd-1/40th-cycle/call-phd-selection-a-y-2024-2025/xl-ciclo?set_language=en
Below is an outline of the research activities and the qualifications required. Please do not hesitate to contact me in case you need more details.
PhD Scholarships for joint PhDs in Astrophysics for 2024/2025 Funded under the Joint Chair for Computational Astronomy at Stellenbosch University, South Africa and the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
DEADLINE: 7th August 2024
Criteria We seek excellent students with a strong background in (astro)physical, engineering, or computer sciences, depending on the specific projects, who desire to obtain a Joint-PhD degree from a top-ranked European and a top-ranked South African university. To be eligible to apply, a candidate must hold a Master's or equivalent degree in Physics, Astronomy, Engineering, or Computer Science by the starting date of the enrolment (1 January – 31 March 2025). Previous research experience and skills will be important criteria for selection. English is the common language spoken at both institutes, and proficiency in English is a requirement for acceptance. For more details, see: UG Admission Criteria.
Submit your application here.
PhD SCHOLARSHIP VALUES and DURATION: Programme structure: The PhD students will be registered at both SU and UG. The students will defend their PhD thesis at the University of Groningen and obtain a JointPhD degree from both universities. All PhD positions are fully funded for four years at the level appropriate for their stays in South Africa (~3 years) and the Netherlands (~1 year). Stipend: In accordance with the regulations while resident at Stellenbosch University and while resident at the University of Groningen. The scholarship value is R200,000 per year for four consecutive years. During the visiting period at UG (6-12 months), the student will receive an additional monthly top-up to align with the local standard for PhD students in the Netherlands. Degree: Students will be registered at the graduate schools of both universities. They will defend their PhD thesis at Groningen University and receive a joint degree from Groningen University and Stellenbosch University. Travel: Students will be encouraged and supported to present and participate in national and international conferences Publication: Candidates are expected to publish at least two peer-review journal papers by the end of their studies. Application deadline and Selection process Publication Start Date: 17 June 2024 Application Deadline: 7 August 2024 (at midnight (23:59 SAST/CEST)). Short-listing of candidates will continue until all positions are filled. Interviews of shortlisted candidates are expected to start by 26 August 2024. Final acceptance of the candidates will be completed by early October 2024.
The High Energy Astrophysics in Southern Africa 2024 (HEA
SA 2024) conference will be proudly hosted by the School of Physics, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) at the Wits Rural Facility from October 2nd to October 4th, 2024.
After the successful tenth conference in the annual series, High Energy Astrophysics in Southern Africa 2023 (HEASA 2023) held in Mtunzini, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, the eleventh conference, HEASA 2024, will continue its mission of uniting scientists from the Southern African region, the African continent, and around the world who share an interest in high-energy astrophysical phenomena.
The topics to be discussed at HEASA 2024 include theoretical aspects, multi-wavelength observations, and multi-messenger studies of astrophysical sources. These sources encompass a wide range, such as active galactic nuclei (AGNs), galaxy systems, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), X-ray/gamma-ray binaries, supernovae and supernova remnants, neutron stars, pulsars, pulsar wind nebulae, and cataclysmic variables (CVs). Additionally, the conference will explore modern aspects of Astro-particle physics. More information can be accessed from: https://indico.cern.ch/event/1418852/overview