SEPTEMBER  2023 - TOPICS
Short News EAS Membership for HelAS Members ESA astronomy archives user survey FAS survey in the problem of satellite megaconstellations ESA Research Fellowships in Space Science Upcoming Astronomy Meetings and Schools in Greece About this Newsletter
1. Short News
We would like to congratulate Ms. Elpida (Leela) Koutsantoniou who has recently successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled "Black holes, radiation, and accretion disks" at the Dept. of Physics of the Univ. of Athens, under the supervision of Dr. Ioannis Contopoulos of the RCAAM.  The Society extends its best wishes for further success in her professional pursuits. We would like to congratulate the member of our Society, Dr. Athanasios Kouloumvakos  (https://www.akouloumvakos.spaceweather.gr/) who was recently promoted to Senior Professional Staff I in the Space Exploration Sector at the Applied Physics Laboratory of the Johns Hopkins University, USA. The Society extends its best wishes for further success in his professional pursuits. We would like to congratulate Dr. Manolis Georgoulis of the RCAAM of the Academy of Athens on his recent selection as a Corresponding Member for Section 1 (Basic Sciences) of the International Academy of Astronautics (https://iaaspace.org/), following a successful nomination by IAA members. The IAA is an independent non-governmental organization recognized by the United Nations in 1996. It is based in Paris, France, and includes worldwide members from approximately 83 countries. The Society extends its best wishes for further success in his professional pursuits. As of September 2023, Ordinary Member Manolis Georgoulis will be on leave of absence from the Research Center for Astronomy and Applied Mathematics (RCAAM) of the Academy  of Athens, having accepted a position as a Senior Professional Staff member at the Space Exploration Sector of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, USA. His current e-mail address (manolis.georgoulis@academyofathens.gr) will continue to hold, while his new one will be communicated when available. The Society extends its best wishes for further success in his professional pursuits.
2. EAS Membership for HelAS members
We would like to remind all our members that the European Astronomical Society (EAS) is offering free membership to all junior and ordinary members of HelAS, as well as members of all EAS affiliated societies. As a result, with just the HelAS annual membership fee, one may also receive all EAS member benefits, presented here. As of today 219 Ordinary/Junior members of HelAS, listed here, have become members of EAS. Once a year we have the possibility to update this list so new members of HelAS, as well as old members who did not take advantage of this opportunity can benefit from the EAS membership. EAS may use the members’ data for EAS-only matters, such as sending e-mails with various information, as well as the EAS newsletter, logging on the EAS website, etc. The EAS will never sell or otherwise make available the members’ data to commercial or non-commercial third parties. Members that leave the EAS can request that their data be erased from the EAS database. All members of HelAS who are not already EAS members and wish to join may send an e-mail to president@helas.gr with the following sentence as the Subject line. “I am an Ordinary/Junior member of HelAS and I wish to join EAS for free!” The e-mail must be received by September 30, 2023.
3. ESA astronomy archives user survey
The ESAC Science Data Centre is conducting an anonymous short survey in an effort to ensure that astronomers have the best possible experiences when using the European Space Agency Astronomy Science Archives and ESASky. We encourage you tto spend a few minutes of your time filling in this survey.
4. FAS survey into the problem of satellite megaconstellations
The UK’s Federation of Astronomical Societies (FAS) is organising a survey to investigate the effect that satellites placed on low Earth orbit (LEO) have had on amateur astronomy observations. The survey will run until midnight on 22nd September 2023 after which the results will be collated and analysed and presented at IAU Symposium 385 Astronomy and Satellite Constellations: Pathways Forward (2nd‑6th October 2023, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain). The recommendations from that symposium will be used to advise the international bodies that make policy on the operation of satellites and the sustainable use of space (particularly LEO). This survey is open to all. Whether or not the growth in the number of satellites has affected you, the FAS urges all astronomers to take part in the survey – the survey should only take about 5 minutes to complete.
5. ESA Research Fellowships in Space Science
We would like to inform the members of our Society about the opening of the call for the European Space Agency's Research Fellowships in Space Science. The call is opening on 28 August 2023 with an application deadline on 18 September 2023.  ESA's postdoctoral Research Fellowship programme offers early-career scientists and engineers the possibility to carry out research in a variety of disciplines related to space science, space applications or space technology. Research Fellowships in Space Science specifically offer the opportunity to contribute to ESA's endeavour to explore our Solar System and the Universe, and cover the fields of heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics and fundamental physics.  The research fellowships offer unique insight into ESA's environment and activities while conducting cutting edge research. Mentoring and training opportunities are available, as are possibilities to engage with ESA science-related activities (e.g., archive/data science, operations, calibration, communication, citizen science). For more information visit this link
6. Upcoming Astronomy Meetings and Schools in Greece
School on Observational Astrophysics 15-17 September 2023, Kryoneri 10th Astronomical Data Analysis Summer School 18-22 September 2023, Hersonissos, island of Crete "Supernova Remnants III: An Odyssey in Space After Stellar Death" 9-15 June 2024, Platanias Chania, Crete
7. About this Newsletter
This Newsletter was sent to all members of Hel.A.S. who have e-mail access. The next edition of the Newsletter will be mailed around October 1, 2023. Please send your announcements (e.g., appointments / departures, job openings, research opportunities, awards, conferences in Greece) or comments before September 25, 2023. If you do not wish to receive future issues of this Newsletter or the e-mail address to which it was sent is not your preferred one, please inform the Secretary of Hel.A.S. at secretary@helas.gr.