Planetary Science Institute
@psi.edu
https://www.psi.edu/
A private nonprofit dedicated to studying the origin, characteristics, and evolution of planetary systems and planets, including the Earth.
A private nonprofit dedicated to studying the origin, characteristics, and evolution of planetary systems and planets, including the Earth.
Happy Friday! 🪐 🐾
This week's #Planetary Pet is Chance, and he needs help finding a home!
If you, or anyone you know, might have a space in your heart and home for this guy, please send an email with the subject line “Chance” to fischer@psi.edu.
This week's #Planetary Pet is Chance, and he needs help finding a home!
If you, or anyone you know, might have a space in your heart and home for this guy, please send an email with the subject line “Chance” to fischer@psi.edu.
December 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Happy Friday! 🪐 🐾
This week's #Planetary Pet is Chance, and he needs help finding a home!
If you, or anyone you know, might have a space in your heart and home for this guy, please send an email with the subject line “Chance” to fischer@psi.edu.
This week's #Planetary Pet is Chance, and he needs help finding a home!
If you, or anyone you know, might have a space in your heart and home for this guy, please send an email with the subject line “Chance” to fischer@psi.edu.
#JunoCam: Zoom out and zoom in!
These painterly views of Jupiter were processed by participatory scientist Kevin M. Gill. Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit: buff.ly/9YvnJFy
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill
These painterly views of Jupiter were processed by participatory scientist Kevin M. Gill. Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit: buff.ly/9YvnJFy
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill
December 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
#JunoCam: Zoom out and zoom in!
These painterly views of Jupiter were processed by participatory scientist Kevin M. Gill. Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit: buff.ly/9YvnJFy
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill
These painterly views of Jupiter were processed by participatory scientist Kevin M. Gill. Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit: buff.ly/9YvnJFy
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill
Congratulations to PSI Trustee Dan Dumbacher, who has recently been named a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)!
buff.ly/OWqZSJY
buff.ly/OWqZSJY
December 23, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Congratulations to PSI Trustee Dan Dumbacher, who has recently been named a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)!
buff.ly/OWqZSJY
buff.ly/OWqZSJY
PSI in the News: buff.ly/UWpKvMR
Did a Rogue Planet Bring Order to Our Solar System?
Did a Rogue Planet Bring Order to Our Solar System? New models suggest a celestial bypasser left us with the current orbital lineup
nautil.us
December 22, 2025 at 9:27 PM
PSI in the News: buff.ly/UWpKvMR
"I’ve been reflecting on the year’s events and want to give you an insider’s view of what we’ve been doing here at PSI – and how we’ve been coping with the challenges and curveballs we’ve been thrown this year!"
Read more & subscribe: buff.ly/NpJqrsb
Read more & subscribe: buff.ly/NpJqrsb
December 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM
"I’ve been reflecting on the year’s events and want to give you an insider’s view of what we’ve been doing here at PSI – and how we’ve been coping with the challenges and curveballs we’ve been thrown this year!"
Read more & subscribe: buff.ly/NpJqrsb
Read more & subscribe: buff.ly/NpJqrsb
A message from PSI Director Amanda Hendrix regarding our annual campaign.
To learn more about our science, visit: buff.ly/7Ym4iDz or follow us on our socials (if you're not already! 😉)
To donate to our annual campaign, visit buff.ly/MA1sh04
Thank you for coming on this journey with us! 🪐 🌃 🌵
To learn more about our science, visit: buff.ly/7Ym4iDz or follow us on our socials (if you're not already! 😉)
To donate to our annual campaign, visit buff.ly/MA1sh04
Thank you for coming on this journey with us! 🪐 🌃 🌵
December 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM
A message from PSI Director Amanda Hendrix regarding our annual campaign.
To learn more about our science, visit: buff.ly/7Ym4iDz or follow us on our socials (if you're not already! 😉)
To donate to our annual campaign, visit buff.ly/MA1sh04
Thank you for coming on this journey with us! 🪐 🌃 🌵
To learn more about our science, visit: buff.ly/7Ym4iDz or follow us on our socials (if you're not already! 😉)
To donate to our annual campaign, visit buff.ly/MA1sh04
Thank you for coming on this journey with us! 🪐 🌃 🌵
#SciArt: PSI Research Scientist Jamie Molaro creates unique science art using a wide variety of methods and materials. This piece was created using source data from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft.
December 19, 2025 at 3:04 PM
#SciArt: PSI Research Scientist Jamie Molaro creates unique science art using a wide variety of methods and materials. This piece was created using source data from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft.
This stunning view of a region called Syrtis Major is from the 100,000th image captured by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter using its HiRISE camera. What's also exciting is that PSI scientists and an intern chose the target which later became this milestone image!
Read more: buff.ly/FhQoeGX
Read more: buff.ly/FhQoeGX
December 18, 2025 at 7:03 PM
This stunning view of a region called Syrtis Major is from the 100,000th image captured by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter using its HiRISE camera. What's also exciting is that PSI scientists and an intern chose the target which later became this milestone image!
Read more: buff.ly/FhQoeGX
Read more: buff.ly/FhQoeGX
Emily Elizondo of Michigan State University and Sarah Stewart of the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, are the winners of the 2026 Betty Pierazzo International Student Travel Award, established by the Planetary Science Institute. Full story: buff.ly/zLNwntH
December 18, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Emily Elizondo of Michigan State University and Sarah Stewart of the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, are the winners of the 2026 Betty Pierazzo International Student Travel Award, established by the Planetary Science Institute. Full story: buff.ly/zLNwntH
Hello, #AGU25!
This morning, PSI's Steven Hill will present his poster "Jovian Cloud Pressure" in hall EFG.
ABSTRACT: buff.ly/SrZVy7s
We hope to see you there!
This morning, PSI's Steven Hill will present his poster "Jovian Cloud Pressure" in hall EFG.
ABSTRACT: buff.ly/SrZVy7s
We hope to see you there!
Jovian Cloud Pressure, Ammonia Mole Fraction, and 5-μm Radiance during 2024-25 EZ Disturbance
Jupiter’s Equatorial Zone (EZ) undergoes major disturbances in the form of trop...
buff.ly
December 18, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Hello, #AGU25!
This morning, PSI's Steven Hill will present his poster "Jovian Cloud Pressure" in hall EFG.
ABSTRACT: buff.ly/SrZVy7s
We hope to see you there!
This morning, PSI's Steven Hill will present his poster "Jovian Cloud Pressure" in hall EFG.
ABSTRACT: buff.ly/SrZVy7s
We hope to see you there!
PSI in the News:
What Is This Massive Heat-Emitting Mass Discovered Beneath The Moon’s Surface?
Ancient volcanism on the Moon deserves more credit.
buff.ly
December 17, 2025 at 7:02 PM
PSI in the News:
#JunoCam: "Ganymede through Juno's Eye"
Did you know that Ganymede is larger than Mercury and the Earth's moon? In fact, it's the largest moon in our Solar System and hosts its own magnetic field! This means that Ganymede could experience auroras.
🧪 🔭
Did you know that Ganymede is larger than Mercury and the Earth's moon? In fact, it's the largest moon in our Solar System and hosts its own magnetic field! This means that Ganymede could experience auroras.
🧪 🔭
December 17, 2025 at 3:01 PM
#JunoCam: "Ganymede through Juno's Eye"
Did you know that Ganymede is larger than Mercury and the Earth's moon? In fact, it's the largest moon in our Solar System and hosts its own magnetic field! This means that Ganymede could experience auroras.
🧪 🔭
Did you know that Ganymede is larger than Mercury and the Earth's moon? In fact, it's the largest moon in our Solar System and hosts its own magnetic field! This means that Ganymede could experience auroras.
🧪 🔭
PSI in the News: buff.ly/LD29gVC
Did a Rogue Planet Reshape Our Solar System?
Researchers have discovered that a close encounter with a rogue planet or brown dwarf during the Sun's early years could have triggered the reshuffling of our Solar System's giant planets. Running…
www.universetoday.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:55 PM
PSI in the News: buff.ly/LD29gVC
Happy Tuesday, #AGU25!
PSI's David Grinspoon will present at the "Expectations and Limitations in the Search for Life" at the 1pm Town Hall in 288-290 (NOLA CC)
ABSTRACT: buff.ly/DmB81ZU
PSI's David Grinspoon will present at the "Expectations and Limitations in the Search for Life" at the 1pm Town Hall in 288-290 (NOLA CC)
ABSTRACT: buff.ly/DmB81ZU
Expectations and Limitations in the Search for Life
The search for life intersects many fields, including planetary (geo)science, astrobiology, and exoplanetary astronomy, against the broader backdrop of cosmic evolution. Collective community…
agu.confex.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Happy Tuesday, #AGU25!
PSI's David Grinspoon will present at the "Expectations and Limitations in the Search for Life" at the 1pm Town Hall in 288-290 (NOLA CC)
ABSTRACT: buff.ly/DmB81ZU
PSI's David Grinspoon will present at the "Expectations and Limitations in the Search for Life" at the 1pm Town Hall in 288-290 (NOLA CC)
ABSTRACT: buff.ly/DmB81ZU
Good morning, #AGU25!
PSI's Claire Mondro will be presenting her poster "Depositional and stratigraphic context of the boxwork horizon, Mount Sharp group, Gale Crater" in hall EFG.
ABSTRACT:
PSI's Claire Mondro will be presenting her poster "Depositional and stratigraphic context of the boxwork horizon, Mount Sharp group, Gale Crater" in hall EFG.
ABSTRACT:
Depositional and stratigraphic context of the boxwork horizon, Mount Sharp group, Gale Crater
The Curiosity rover has been investigating the large-scale “boxwork” fracture s...
buff.ly
December 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Good morning, #AGU25!
PSI's Claire Mondro will be presenting her poster "Depositional and stratigraphic context of the boxwork horizon, Mount Sharp group, Gale Crater" in hall EFG.
ABSTRACT:
PSI's Claire Mondro will be presenting her poster "Depositional and stratigraphic context of the boxwork horizon, Mount Sharp group, Gale Crater" in hall EFG.
ABSTRACT:
Hi, #AGU25! We hope your first day has you energized and inspired!
Our PSI colleagues are scheduled for three talks this afternoon, and we hope you can join!
Than Putzig will be presenting "20 Years of Radar Sounding at Mars Informs Planning for New Missions"
ABSTRACT: buff.ly/0GoAKBj
Our PSI colleagues are scheduled for three talks this afternoon, and we hope you can join!
Than Putzig will be presenting "20 Years of Radar Sounding at Mars Informs Planning for New Missions"
ABSTRACT: buff.ly/0GoAKBj
Twenty Years of Radar Sounding at Mars Informs Planning for New Missions
Twenty years ago, the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Soundin...
agu.confex.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Hi, #AGU25! We hope your first day has you energized and inspired!
Our PSI colleagues are scheduled for three talks this afternoon, and we hope you can join!
Than Putzig will be presenting "20 Years of Radar Sounding at Mars Informs Planning for New Missions"
ABSTRACT: buff.ly/0GoAKBj
Our PSI colleagues are scheduled for three talks this afternoon, and we hope you can join!
Than Putzig will be presenting "20 Years of Radar Sounding at Mars Informs Planning for New Missions"
ABSTRACT: buff.ly/0GoAKBj
Good afternoon, #AGU25!
This afternoon, we have three more posters to share with you in poster hall EFG!
Laura Breitenfield and Darby Dyar will be presenting "Rock Classification Accuracy for Venus Remote Spectroscopy" buff.ly/WlpRZ05
This afternoon, we have three more posters to share with you in poster hall EFG!
Laura Breitenfield and Darby Dyar will be presenting "Rock Classification Accuracy for Venus Remote Spectroscopy" buff.ly/WlpRZ05
Rock Classification Accuracy for Venus Remote Spectroscopy
Upcoming missions to Venus use remote-sensed spectra to distinguish between bas...
agu.confex.com
December 15, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Good afternoon, #AGU25!
This afternoon, we have three more posters to share with you in poster hall EFG!
Laura Breitenfield and Darby Dyar will be presenting "Rock Classification Accuracy for Venus Remote Spectroscopy" buff.ly/WlpRZ05
This afternoon, we have three more posters to share with you in poster hall EFG!
Laura Breitenfield and Darby Dyar will be presenting "Rock Classification Accuracy for Venus Remote Spectroscopy" buff.ly/WlpRZ05
Where is your favorite place for field work?
The Juneau Icefield in Alaska, holds a special place in my heart. This system of temperate glaciers is one of the most beautiful and mysterious places I've seen in my life. I loved collaborating with the amazing people from the...
The Juneau Icefield in Alaska, holds a special place in my heart. This system of temperate glaciers is one of the most beautiful and mysterious places I've seen in my life. I loved collaborating with the amazing people from the...
December 15, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Where is your favorite place for field work?
The Juneau Icefield in Alaska, holds a special place in my heart. This system of temperate glaciers is one of the most beautiful and mysterious places I've seen in my life. I loved collaborating with the amazing people from the...
The Juneau Icefield in Alaska, holds a special place in my heart. This system of temperate glaciers is one of the most beautiful and mysterious places I've seen in my life. I loved collaborating with the amazing people from the...
Good morning, #AGU25! Our PSI scientists have a full day ahead of them, and we hope you can join their talks and poster sessions!
This morning, Catherine Neish will be presenting "Impact Cratering as an Astrobiological Process on Titan" in poster hall EFG:
This morning, Catherine Neish will be presenting "Impact Cratering as an Astrobiological Process on Titan" in poster hall EFG:
Impact Cratering as an Astrobiological Process on Titan
NASA's Cassini mission has revealed Saturn's larger moon Titan to be a world ri...
buff.ly
December 15, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Good morning, #AGU25! Our PSI scientists have a full day ahead of them, and we hope you can join their talks and poster sessions!
This morning, Catherine Neish will be presenting "Impact Cratering as an Astrobiological Process on Titan" in poster hall EFG:
This morning, Catherine Neish will be presenting "Impact Cratering as an Astrobiological Process on Titan" in poster hall EFG:
Happy Friday! 🪐 🦌
This week's #PlanetaryPet photo was captured by a wildlife camera in PSI’s Kimberly Foote's backyard! ‘Tis the season! ❄️
This week's #PlanetaryPet photo was captured by a wildlife camera in PSI’s Kimberly Foote's backyard! ‘Tis the season! ❄️
December 12, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Happy Friday! 🪐 🦌
This week's #PlanetaryPet photo was captured by a wildlife camera in PSI’s Kimberly Foote's backyard! ‘Tis the season! ❄️
This week's #PlanetaryPet photo was captured by a wildlife camera in PSI’s Kimberly Foote's backyard! ‘Tis the season! ❄️
You can help bring the wonder of planetary science to people of all ages by supporting PSI.
Thank you! 🪐 🌌 🌵 buff.ly/IcpNDTo
Thank you! 🪐 🌌 🌵 buff.ly/IcpNDTo
December 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM
You can help bring the wonder of planetary science to people of all ages by supporting PSI.
Thank you! 🪐 🌌 🌵 buff.ly/IcpNDTo
Thank you! 🪐 🌌 🌵 buff.ly/IcpNDTo
#JunoCam: Io center stage. An image processed by user Ahmed-67 in which he combined to images - one of Jupiter (background) and one of it's moons, Io (foreground).
Process your own JunoCam images at buff.ly/9YvnJFy
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Raihan Mohammad
Process your own JunoCam images at buff.ly/9YvnJFy
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Raihan Mohammad
December 10, 2025 at 4:03 PM
#JunoCam: Io center stage. An image processed by user Ahmed-67 in which he combined to images - one of Jupiter (background) and one of it's moons, Io (foreground).
Process your own JunoCam images at buff.ly/9YvnJFy
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Raihan Mohammad
Process your own JunoCam images at buff.ly/9YvnJFy
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Raihan Mohammad
ICYMI: New SHARAD observations - collected and analyzed by a team led by PSI scientists - suggest Mars’ south pole lacks lake beneath the ice, casting doubts on a 2018 study.
Get our stories delivered directly to your inbox when you sign up for our newsletter: buff.ly/12lCv4G
Get our stories delivered directly to your inbox when you sign up for our newsletter: buff.ly/12lCv4G
December 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM
ICYMI: New SHARAD observations - collected and analyzed by a team led by PSI scientists - suggest Mars’ south pole lacks lake beneath the ice, casting doubts on a 2018 study.
Get our stories delivered directly to your inbox when you sign up for our newsletter: buff.ly/12lCv4G
Get our stories delivered directly to your inbox when you sign up for our newsletter: buff.ly/12lCv4G
The CosmoQuest (a project of PSI) Hangout-a-thon starts TOMORROW at 11 AM EDT. Learn more below. We hope you can join us!
This weekend is the @CosmoQuestX hangout-a-thon.
This is that weekend when invite you to come dream with us; dream about how we can build a world more engaged in space sciences.
Building is hard in a resource limited environment.
cosmoquest.org/donate
This is that weekend when invite you to come dream with us; dream about how we can build a world more engaged in space sciences.
Building is hard in a resource limited environment.
cosmoquest.org/donate
Fund what you love - Support CosmoQuest Programs
cosmoquest.org
December 5, 2025 at 6:55 PM
The CosmoQuest (a project of PSI) Hangout-a-thon starts TOMORROW at 11 AM EDT. Learn more below. We hope you can join us!
#SciArt: PSI's Pamela Gay depicted a hot Jupiter with metal-rich clouds. Each world is a separate acrylic painting created using a fluid pour technique, which is then photographed & layered on a starry background with added shadows using Photoshop.
December 5, 2025 at 3:02 PM
#SciArt: PSI's Pamela Gay depicted a hot Jupiter with metal-rich clouds. Each world is a separate acrylic painting created using a fluid pour technique, which is then photographed & layered on a starry background with added shadows using Photoshop.