Sponsors — Conveners —
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MEETING LOCATION AND DATE |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Workshop on Venus Geochemistry: Progress, Prospects, and New Missions will be held February 23-24, 2009, at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), located in the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) building, 3600 Bay Area Boulevard, Houston, Texas. The workshop will be held prior to the general VEXAG meeting, planned for Wednesday, February 25. |
KEY POINTS: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
INTRODUCTION | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Although Venus is the “Terra Incognita” of the inner solar system, it is supremely important for understanding the formation and evolution of terrestrial planets. Venus, which is Earth’s twin in size (and possibly bulk composition), is fundamentally different in its surface geology, tectonics and internal processes, and atmosphere composition and dynamics. These differences contain clues to the evolution of Earth’s geology/climate system, Earth’s current habitability, and the detectability and habitability of planets circling other stars. Our understanding of Venus’ origins and evolution is hampered by the dearth of data about its surface. The few images and chemical analyses from the Venera and VEGA landers (crucial but limited) show that Venus’ lowland plains are basaltic, with some unusual (and unexplained) compositions. To date, we know nothing of the geochemistry of Venus’ highlands, central volcanos, coronae, domes, etc. Venus’ atmosphere provides significant constraints on its history (e.g., noble gases and light isotopes), but its chemical interactions with surface materials are poorly constrained. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PURPOSE AND SCOPE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Given the limited knowledge about Venus’ geochemistry, along with NASA’s interest in Venus, as demonstrated in the recent Venus Science and Technology Definition Team study, the Venus Geochemistry workshop has several objectives:
To support these objectives, the workshop sessions will focus on:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WORKSHOP FORMAT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The workshop will include invited and contributed talks and contributed poster presentations. Oral presentations will be limited to 15 minutes including discussion. Plenary lectures will be 30 minutes including discussion. Oral sessions will start Monday morning, February 23, and continue through Tuesday, February 24. On Monday evening there will be a reception and poster session. Posters will be displayed during the entire workshop. A general VEXAG meeting is planned for Wednesday, February 25, 2009. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FUTURE ANNOUNCEMENTS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
INDICATION OF INTEREST | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To subscribe to a mailing list to receive electronic reminders and special announcements relating to the meeting via e-mail, please submit an electronic Indication of Interest form by October 21, 2008. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CONTACTS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For further information regarding the format and scientific objectives of the meeting, contact
For further information regarding meeting logistics, please contact
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SCHEDULE |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||