USGS Astrogeology Hot Topics

The name Bogia has been approved for the Martian crater at 44.3S, 276.84W. For more information, see the list of Martian crater names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 08:47

The IAU has approved names for 39 craters, 9 montes, and 1 terra on Iapetus. For more information, see the Iapetus section of the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 14:39

The name Afekan has been approved for the crater on Titan located at 25.8N, 200.3W. For more information, see the list of Titan crater names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 09:46

The name Morava Valles has been approved for the system of valleys located at 13.4S, 24.4W. For more information, see the list of Martian vallis names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 09:27

The name Heimdal has been approved for a small Martian crater near the Phoenix landing site. For more information, see the list of Martian crater names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 08:43

The names Dagonet, Lucas, Marhaus, Melyodas, Nero, and Royns have been approved for six craters on Mimas. For more information, see the list of Mimas crater names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 09:53

The name Makemake has been approved for the transneptunian dwarf planet (136472) 2005 FY9. Makemake is a creator god of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). For more information, see the page "Planet and Satellite Names and Discoverers" in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, and the IAU press release.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 08:14

The USGS Astrogeology Team has immediate openings for one or more full-time permanent interdisciplinary positions that may be filled as a Physical Scientist, Geophysicist, Cartographer or Geodesist. This is a high-profile, high-impact opportunity to support NASA planetary missions and science studies by developing new planetary topographic mapping techniques and supporting planetary cartographic projects.

The following positions are now open and have a Closing Date of 8/10/2008:

Title: Interdisciplinary (Physical Scientist, Geophysicist, Cartographer or Geodesist)
Announcement: WR-2008-0536
Job Series and Grade: GS-1301, 1313, 1370 or 1372, grade 11/12
Salary: GS-11 $54,494-$70,843; GS-12 $65,315-$84,913


Title: Interdisciplinary (Physical Scientist, Geophysicist, Cartographer or Geodesist)
Announcement: WR-2008-0538
Job Series and Grade: GS-1301, 1313, 1370 or 1372, grade 13
Salary: $77,670- $100,976


Title: Interdisciplinary (Physical Scientist, Geophysicist, Cartographer or Geodesist)
Announcement: WR-2008-0539
Job Series and Grade: GS-1301, 1313, 1370 or 1372, grade 14
Salary: $91,781 - $119,314

Qualifications for a given job series and grade level are based on education and experience (see advertisement on USAjobs for details). Successful applicants will have professional to advanced knowledge in one or more of photogrammetry, geodesy, cartography, remote sensing, mathematics, image processing and computer vision (camera models, feature-based image matching, stereo vision, object tracking). Greatly preferred is experience establishing regional- to global-scale control networks or reference frames, using or developing components of digital photogrammetric workstations and digital cartographic software package, and experience with one or more computer programming or scripting languages (preferably C, C++, Python or Perl).

For position details and to apply online, visit USA JOBS

• Click on Search Jobs tab
• Click on Series Search
• Under Series Number Search, enter 1372
• Under Location Search, select AZ-Flagstaff
• Under Applicant Eligibility, select yes or no
• Click on Search for Jobs at bottom
• Click on title of position you wish to apply for
• Follow instructions under “How to apply”.

For questions, contact Betsy Cohen, 916-278-9385, bcohen@usgs.gov.
Learn more about Astrogeology
Learn more about Flagstaff
The USGS is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Posted by Ryan Raub in Job Openings at 17:21

The names Corinto, Naryn, Thila, and Wiltz have been approved for four craters on Mars. Please see the list of Martian crater names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature for more information.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 09:14

Modeling Mars' surface in search of ancient rivers and oceans

Was there ever life on Mars? Many would like to believe that we used to have relatives who lived nearby. The likelihood that life existed on Mars is higher than for any other planet in the solar system. Because all known forms of life require water, the evidence that water once flowed on Mars is essential to prove that life existed there. Conversely, the possibility of life cannot definitely be rejected unless it is conclusively demonstrated that there was never water in a liquid form on Mars.

Posted by Ryan Raub in Astrogeology at 16:00

The IAU has approved 33 new names for surface features on Tethys. The new names include 31 craters, one chasma, and one montes. Please visit the Tethys section of the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature for more information.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 09:55

The IAU has approved the names Avire, Niquero, and Triolet for three small craters in quadrangle MC-24. For more information about these features, please visit the Mars section of the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 11:51

A digital cartographic Lunar Orbiter global mosaic is now available on Map a Planet. This mosaic was constructed using lunar data acquired by Lunar Orbiters III, IV, and V.

Posted by Ryan Raub in Lunar Orbiter at 13:53

The IAU has approved three new names for Titan surface features. Two of the "seas" near Titan's north pole have been named Kraken Mare and Ligeia Mare, and the large island in the northern part of Kraken Mare has been named Mayda Insula.

For more information about these new names, please visit the Titan portion of the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, and the image that shows the north pole region.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 08:50

The following new names have been approved by the IAU for use on Mercury.

Craters: Apollodorus, Atget, Cunningham, Eminescu, Kertész, Neruda, Raditladi, Sander, Sveinsdóttir, Xiao Zhao

Rupes: Beagle Rupes

Fossae: Pantheon Fossae

The newly approved theme for fossae on Mercury is "Significant works of architecture."

Please visit the Mercury section of the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature for more information.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 11:22