FIRST CIRCULAR


The IAU Symposium 229: Asteroids, Comets, Meteors (IAUS229-ACM2005) will focus on all aspects of studies on asteroids, comets, and meteors, including observations, theories of origin and evolution, discoveries, astrometry, dynamics, internal structure, mineralogical composition, space missions, laboratory studies, classifications, and databases. Presentation and discussion of results from space missions are expected too.

IAUS229-ACM2005 will be the ninth of the international series of ACM conferences, first held at Uppsala (Sweden) in 1983. The spirit of ACM conferences is to welcome researchers from all nations interested on asteroids, comets and meteors studies to a gathering where ideas can be openly shared and discussed. The hallmark of these meetings is a wide international participation that is representative of the broad international character of the field.


Main Topics:

The list of topics to be covered by the IAUS229-ACM2005 meeting intends to provide a stimulating reference frame for research and discussion. It has been designed to enhance the interdisciplinary nature of the Symposium in the quest for a unified understanding of the origin and evolution of small Solar System bodies as a whole, call them asteroids, comets, trans-Neptunian objects or meteors. The main topics of the meeting will be:

* Space missions: results from "Deep Impact" and other recent missions; future prospects.

* Internal structure of asteroids and comets: binaries and satellites, gravitational aggregates, cometary nuclei structure.

* Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs): physical properties, structure of the Kuiper belt.

* Connections between asteroids, cometary nuclei and trans-Neptunian objects: differences and similarities.

* Connections between asteroids and meteorites: mineralogical characterization.

* Connections between comets, meteor showers and interplanetary dust.

* Minor bodies dynamics: origin of comets, transitions between populations, non-gravitational forces, asteroid families.

* Collisions and impacts: cratering, breakup, collisional evolution, hazards, bolides and super bolides, evolution of life.

* Near-Earth Objects (NEOs): searching, statistics, origin, physical characterization.

* Origin and evolution of our Solar System and extra-solar planetary systems: implications from minor bodies studies.

* Next generation surveys of the Solar System: science with the next generation surveys.


Although avoiding including in the main list the categories solely devoted to specific populations of minor bodies, communications covering any topic about asteroids, comets, trans-Neptunian objects, meteors, meteorites and interplanetary material are welcome.


Meeting Schedule and Format:

Scientific sessions will take place from Monday, August 8th, through Friday. The format of the conference will be organized on the basis of 3-4 plenary oral sessions per day. Only plenary sessions will be programmed, since parallel sessions would be incompatible with the interdisciplinary spirit of the meeting. Poster presentations will be exposed during the whole meeting. Dedicated sessions for posters will be scheduled on two days after the afternoon plenary session.


Proceedings:

Proceedings volume of the IAUS229-ACM2005 will be published by Cambridge University Press within six months after the meeting. The cost of the volume is included in the registration fee. More information will soon be available in the web page of the meeting.


Financial Support:

A limited number of grants from IAU and from other sources will be available for individual participants. These grants can be used primarily for room, board, and/or registration fee of candidates unable to provide these by themselves. Applications must be sent using the IAU Grant Application Form that can be downloaded from

http://www.iau.org/IAU/Activities/meetings/travappl.html

Please print the form, fill in all the fields in capital letters and send it by fax or regular airmail to:


IAU Symposium No. 229
Asteroids, Comets, Meteors 2005
Financial Support Application
Observatório Nacional
Rua Gal. José Cristino 77
20921-400 Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
fax: +55 21 2589 8972

Incomplete forms will be refused. The grant application should reach us before the deadline of March 15, 2005.


Venue:

The IAUS229-ACM2005 will take place at the Conference Center of the Atlantico Búzios Hotel, at Búzios (RJ) Brazil. This is a small town located at a two hours ride from the city of Rio de Janeiro. Once a small fisherman's village, it is nowadays a famous tourist attraction for its beautiful beaches and friendly people. Transportation from and to the Rio de Janeiro International Airport will be provided by the organizers. Detailed information will be posted on the symposium web site shortly.


Important Dates:

February 1, 2005Deadline for pre-registration
March 15, 2005Deadline for receiving financial support application
April 15, 2005Second circular made available on the web site and to pre-registered participants
April 25, 2005Decision about financial support
May 15, 2005Deadline for early electronic registration
May 15, 2005Deadline for abstract submission
July 10, 2005Deadline for late electronic registration
August 7-12, 2005On-site registration
August 7-12, 2005IAUS229-ACM2005
August 12, 2005Deadline for submission of proceeding contributions
September 12, 2005Final editorial submission to publishers
February, 2006Publication of proceedings



Scientific Organizing Committee:

Binzel, R.P. (MIT, USA), Coradini, A. (Instituto di Astrofisica Spaziale, Italy), Fernández, J.A. (Universidad de la República, Uruguay) - Co-chair, Ferraz-Mello, S. (Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil) - Co-chair, Hahn, G. (DLR, Germany), Lupishko, D. (Kharkiv National University, Ukraine), Morbidelli, A. (Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, France), Ticha, J. (Klet Observatory, Czech Rep.), Watanabe, J. (National Astronomical Observatory, Japan), Williams, I.P. (Qeen Mary University of London, UK)


Advisory Board:

A'Hearn, M.F. (University of Maryland, USA), Barucci, A. (Observatoire de Paris, France), Boehnhardt, H. (Max Planck Institute, Germany), Bowell, E. (Lowell Observatory, USA), Campins, H. (University of Arizona, USA), Harris, A.W. (DLR, Germany), Harris, A.W. (Space Science Institute, USA), Jewitt, D. (University of Hawaii, USA), Keller, U.H. (Max Planck Institute, Germany), Milani, A. (Università di Pisa, Italy), Rickman, H. (Uppsala University, Sweden), Zappalà, V. (Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino, Italy)


Local Organizing Committee:

Beaugé, C. (Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina), Florczak, M. (CEFET-PR, Brazil), Gil-Hutton, R. (Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Argentina), Lazzaro, D. (Observatório Nacional, Brazil) - Chair, Michtchenko, T. (Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil), Roig, F. (Observatório Nacional, Brazil), Scorzelli, R. (Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas, Brazil), Tancredi, G. (Facultad de Ciencias, Montevideo, Uruguay), Vilas-Boas, W. (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, Brazil), Yokoyama, T. (Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brazil)


Contact:

IAUS229-ACM2005
Observatório Nacional
Rua General José Cristino 77
20921-400, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
BRAZIL
Fax: +55 (21) 2589-8972
E-mail: acm2005@on.br
Web: http://www.on.br/acm2005


Secretariat:

META MARKETING E EVENTOS LTDA.
Av. Nilo Peganha 50 grupo 1610
20044-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
BRAZIL
Fax: +55 (21) 2220-2305
E-mail: meta@wb.com.br