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.
PSI in the News:
Heat leaking from Saturn's ocean moon Enceladus bolsters its case as an abode for life
Heat leaking from Saturn's ocean moon Enceladus bolsters its case as an abode for life
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 3:02 PM
PSI in the News:
During the week of Nov. 3, six comet experts converged in Tucson, Ariz. for the first international Belton Symposium, hosted by the Planetary Science Institute.
Read the full story and learn more about the man who inspired it: buff.ly/ofoKyQA
Read the full story and learn more about the man who inspired it: buff.ly/ofoKyQA
November 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
During the week of Nov. 3, six comet experts converged in Tucson, Ariz. for the first international Belton Symposium, hosted by the Planetary Science Institute.
Read the full story and learn more about the man who inspired it: buff.ly/ofoKyQA
Read the full story and learn more about the man who inspired it: buff.ly/ofoKyQA
PSI's Carly Howett was part of the team of researchers who made this discovery.
Read the full story: buff.ly/KESQKzr
Read the full story: buff.ly/KESQKzr
November 7, 2025 at 7:18 PM
PSI's Carly Howett was part of the team of researchers who made this discovery.
Read the full story: buff.ly/KESQKzr
Read the full story: buff.ly/KESQKzr
PSI in the News: buff.ly/ARpqwrB
Webb telescope may be closing in on another Earth near Proxima Centauri
Scientists used the James Webb Space Telescope to check if another Earth-sized planet orbits Proxima Centauri, our nearest star.
www.earth.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:38 PM
PSI in the News: buff.ly/ARpqwrB
#ClarkVision: On an early evening in May, the Milky Way and the constellation of Orion set in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, making a stunning rainbow nightscape.
November 6, 2025 at 4:04 PM
#ClarkVision: On an early evening in May, the Milky Way and the constellation of Orion set in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, making a stunning rainbow nightscape.
#JunoCam: Participatory scientist Todd Goodwin processed this zoomed-in image of a Jovian storm to resemble the Eye of Sauron.
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit: buff.ly/6qYZkpo
📸: NASA/JPL/SwRI/MSSS/Todd Goodwin
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit: buff.ly/6qYZkpo
📸: NASA/JPL/SwRI/MSSS/Todd Goodwin
November 5, 2025 at 4:01 PM
#JunoCam: Participatory scientist Todd Goodwin processed this zoomed-in image of a Jovian storm to resemble the Eye of Sauron.
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit: buff.ly/6qYZkpo
📸: NASA/JPL/SwRI/MSSS/Todd Goodwin
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit: buff.ly/6qYZkpo
📸: NASA/JPL/SwRI/MSSS/Todd Goodwin
PSI in the News: buff.ly/AxcQVoO
This comet has given researchers from Arizona insights into how solar systems are made
Researchers rarely get a glimpse of an interstellar object up close like 3I-ATLAS, so they have jumped on the opportunity to learn about its composition, which can reveal how planet systems are made.
www.kjzz.org
November 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
PSI in the News: buff.ly/AxcQVoO
PSI Senior Scientist Darby Dyar was presented the Roebling Medal at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA), held this month in San Antonio, Texas. Read about the award, get to know Darby, and subscribe to our newsletter: buff.ly/odYnpPI
November 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
PSI Senior Scientist Darby Dyar was presented the Roebling Medal at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA), held this month in San Antonio, Texas. Read about the award, get to know Darby, and subscribe to our newsletter: buff.ly/odYnpPI
Happy Friday, and Happy Halloween! 🎃 🪐 🐾
This week's #PlanetaryPet is Marshmellow, Dan Berman's unusual thinking cap!
This week's #PlanetaryPet is Marshmellow, Dan Berman's unusual thinking cap!
October 31, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Happy Friday, and Happy Halloween! 🎃 🪐 🐾
This week's #PlanetaryPet is Marshmellow, Dan Berman's unusual thinking cap!
This week's #PlanetaryPet is Marshmellow, Dan Berman's unusual thinking cap!
PSI in the News:
Can we find water ice on the moon? Only if we know where to look, scientists say
Can we find water ice on the moon? Only if we know where to look, scientists say
buff.ly
October 30, 2025 at 4:02 PM
PSI in the News:
Thanks to all who came to our Spooky Star Party last night! We had a blast sharing some of the cool things we do here!
See the full gallery: buff.ly/adGQi9I
📸: PSI/Alan Fischer
See the full gallery: buff.ly/adGQi9I
📸: PSI/Alan Fischer
October 29, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Thanks to all who came to our Spooky Star Party last night! We had a blast sharing some of the cool things we do here!
See the full gallery: buff.ly/adGQi9I
📸: PSI/Alan Fischer
See the full gallery: buff.ly/adGQi9I
📸: PSI/Alan Fischer
#JunoCam: Did you know that light from the Sun takes about 45 minutes to reach Europa? Because of the distance, sunlight is about 25 times fainter at Jupiter and Europa than at Earth.
📸: NASA/JPL/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstädt/Thomas Thomopoulos
📸: NASA/JPL/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstädt/Thomas Thomopoulos
October 29, 2025 at 4:06 PM
#JunoCam: Did you know that light from the Sun takes about 45 minutes to reach Europa? Because of the distance, sunlight is about 25 times fainter at Jupiter and Europa than at Earth.
📸: NASA/JPL/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstädt/Thomas Thomopoulos
📸: NASA/JPL/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstädt/Thomas Thomopoulos
See you TOMORROW! 👻🌌🎃🔭
Join us for hands-on activities & scientific demonstrations, science art displays & talks, telescope tours of the Moon & stars, snacks & drinks, as well as a chance to talk with scientists & our new Director!
1700 E. Fort Lowell Rd, Tucson, Az 85719
Join us for hands-on activities & scientific demonstrations, science art displays & talks, telescope tours of the Moon & stars, snacks & drinks, as well as a chance to talk with scientists & our new Director!
1700 E. Fort Lowell Rd, Tucson, Az 85719
October 27, 2025 at 4:05 PM
See you TOMORROW! 👻🌌🎃🔭
Join us for hands-on activities & scientific demonstrations, science art displays & talks, telescope tours of the Moon & stars, snacks & drinks, as well as a chance to talk with scientists & our new Director!
1700 E. Fort Lowell Rd, Tucson, Az 85719
Join us for hands-on activities & scientific demonstrations, science art displays & talks, telescope tours of the Moon & stars, snacks & drinks, as well as a chance to talk with scientists & our new Director!
1700 E. Fort Lowell Rd, Tucson, Az 85719
Read Dan's Q&A, learn about his recent work mapping Martian crater Barnard, and subscribe to our newsletter: buff.ly/UdFgk4i
October 27, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Read Dan's Q&A, learn about his recent work mapping Martian crater Barnard, and subscribe to our newsletter: buff.ly/UdFgk4i
Happy Friday! 🪐 🐾
The very intense and ever-watchful Sheera is this week’s #PlanetaryPet. She was named after the He-Man character She-Ra. PSI’s Ashley Murphy says that Sheera, a stray kitten, found her in 2011, and they have been roommates ever since.
The very intense and ever-watchful Sheera is this week’s #PlanetaryPet. She was named after the He-Man character She-Ra. PSI’s Ashley Murphy says that Sheera, a stray kitten, found her in 2011, and they have been roommates ever since.
October 24, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Happy Friday! 🪐 🐾
The very intense and ever-watchful Sheera is this week’s #PlanetaryPet. She was named after the He-Man character She-Ra. PSI’s Ashley Murphy says that Sheera, a stray kitten, found her in 2011, and they have been roommates ever since.
The very intense and ever-watchful Sheera is this week’s #PlanetaryPet. She was named after the He-Man character She-Ra. PSI’s Ashley Murphy says that Sheera, a stray kitten, found her in 2011, and they have been roommates ever since.
PSI in the News: PSI's Nalin Samarasinha talks to AZPM host Tony Perkins about the two comets appearing in the sky during late October.
Listen:
Listen:
- AZPM
buff.ly
October 23, 2025 at 3:31 PM
PSI in the News: PSI's Nalin Samarasinha talks to AZPM host Tony Perkins about the two comets appearing in the sky during late October.
Listen:
Listen:
TOMORROW at 11am MST
PSI's Alex Patthoff will be featured on SETI Live. He'll discuss his findings that Uranus likely once hosted an deep ocean beneath it's icy surface.
PSI's Alex Patthoff will be featured on SETI Live. He'll discuss his findings that Uranus likely once hosted an deep ocean beneath it's icy surface.
SETI Live: The Hidden Ocean of Ariel
Tidal Forces and the Case for a Watery Past
buff.ly
October 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM
TOMORROW at 11am MST
PSI's Alex Patthoff will be featured on SETI Live. He'll discuss his findings that Uranus likely once hosted an deep ocean beneath it's icy surface.
PSI's Alex Patthoff will be featured on SETI Live. He'll discuss his findings that Uranus likely once hosted an deep ocean beneath it's icy surface.
#JunoCam: The hypnotic swirling clouds of giant Jupiter 🩵 🔥 🪼 🏵️
JunoCam images, like this one, were processed by citizen scientists! If you are interested in processing your own JunoCam images, visit: buff.ly/6qYZkpo
Credit: NASA / SwRI / MSSS / Gerald Eichstädt / Seán Doran
JunoCam images, like this one, were processed by citizen scientists! If you are interested in processing your own JunoCam images, visit: buff.ly/6qYZkpo
Credit: NASA / SwRI / MSSS / Gerald Eichstädt / Seán Doran
October 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
#JunoCam: The hypnotic swirling clouds of giant Jupiter 🩵 🔥 🪼 🏵️
JunoCam images, like this one, were processed by citizen scientists! If you are interested in processing your own JunoCam images, visit: buff.ly/6qYZkpo
Credit: NASA / SwRI / MSSS / Gerald Eichstädt / Seán Doran
JunoCam images, like this one, were processed by citizen scientists! If you are interested in processing your own JunoCam images, visit: buff.ly/6qYZkpo
Credit: NASA / SwRI / MSSS / Gerald Eichstädt / Seán Doran
NEXT WEEK: You're invited to our Spooky Star Party on Oct. 28 from 6-8pm in Tucson!
There will be a comet making demo, a science art activity, meteorites, telescope tours of the sky, 3D printed asteroids, snacks, drinks and more!
PSI headquarters are located at 1700 E. Fort Lowell Rd. 85719.
There will be a comet making demo, a science art activity, meteorites, telescope tours of the sky, 3D printed asteroids, snacks, drinks and more!
PSI headquarters are located at 1700 E. Fort Lowell Rd. 85719.
October 21, 2025 at 3:31 PM
NEXT WEEK: You're invited to our Spooky Star Party on Oct. 28 from 6-8pm in Tucson!
There will be a comet making demo, a science art activity, meteorites, telescope tours of the sky, 3D printed asteroids, snacks, drinks and more!
PSI headquarters are located at 1700 E. Fort Lowell Rd. 85719.
There will be a comet making demo, a science art activity, meteorites, telescope tours of the sky, 3D printed asteroids, snacks, drinks and more!
PSI headquarters are located at 1700 E. Fort Lowell Rd. 85719.
PSI's Roger Clark captured a photo of comet Swan C/2025 R2 on Friday night.
"Star color is close to what we would see with our eyes in telescopes: solar type stars are white, cooler stars yellow to orange and red, and stars hotter than our Sun are bluish-white," he said.
"Star color is close to what we would see with our eyes in telescopes: solar type stars are white, cooler stars yellow to orange and red, and stars hotter than our Sun are bluish-white," he said.
October 20, 2025 at 6:44 PM
PSI's Roger Clark captured a photo of comet Swan C/2025 R2 on Friday night.
"Star color is close to what we would see with our eyes in telescopes: solar type stars are white, cooler stars yellow to orange and red, and stars hotter than our Sun are bluish-white," he said.
"Star color is close to what we would see with our eyes in telescopes: solar type stars are white, cooler stars yellow to orange and red, and stars hotter than our Sun are bluish-white," he said.
Ashley is part of the team that helped find potential signs of past life on Mars.
"I have loved bird watching since I was a kid. I currently live in California, and the diversity of birds here is incredible! I also enjoy reading non-fiction."
Get to know Ashley! buff.ly/hUtlNDM
"I have loved bird watching since I was a kid. I currently live in California, and the diversity of birds here is incredible! I also enjoy reading non-fiction."
Get to know Ashley! buff.ly/hUtlNDM
October 20, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Ashley is part of the team that helped find potential signs of past life on Mars.
"I have loved bird watching since I was a kid. I currently live in California, and the diversity of birds here is incredible! I also enjoy reading non-fiction."
Get to know Ashley! buff.ly/hUtlNDM
"I have loved bird watching since I was a kid. I currently live in California, and the diversity of birds here is incredible! I also enjoy reading non-fiction."
Get to know Ashley! buff.ly/hUtlNDM
Happy Friday! 🪐 🐾
This week’s #PlanetaryPet is the adorable and thunder-averse Stella who lives with PSI’s Pamela Gay. You can just see her little behind sticking out from her pillow bunker, waiting for the storm to stop.
This week’s #PlanetaryPet is the adorable and thunder-averse Stella who lives with PSI’s Pamela Gay. You can just see her little behind sticking out from her pillow bunker, waiting for the storm to stop.
October 17, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Happy Friday! 🪐 🐾
This week’s #PlanetaryPet is the adorable and thunder-averse Stella who lives with PSI’s Pamela Gay. You can just see her little behind sticking out from her pillow bunker, waiting for the storm to stop.
This week’s #PlanetaryPet is the adorable and thunder-averse Stella who lives with PSI’s Pamela Gay. You can just see her little behind sticking out from her pillow bunker, waiting for the storm to stop.
For anyone following the flurry of comet updates over the last week or so! buff.ly/FUBuDXf
Solar wind tears a chunk from Comet Lemmon's tail
See how the solar wind shredded Comet Lemmon's tail in an extraordinary view from Earth
www.space.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:17 PM
For anyone following the flurry of comet updates over the last week or so! buff.ly/FUBuDXf
#JunoCam: Jupiter looking like a swirled latte art. Enjoy! ☕
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit buff.ly/dCAW6H0
📸: NASA / JPL / SwRI / MSSS / Vkumar
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit buff.ly/dCAW6H0
📸: NASA / JPL / SwRI / MSSS / Vkumar
October 15, 2025 at 3:04 PM
#JunoCam: Jupiter looking like a swirled latte art. Enjoy! ☕
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit buff.ly/dCAW6H0
📸: NASA / JPL / SwRI / MSSS / Vkumar
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit buff.ly/dCAW6H0
📸: NASA / JPL / SwRI / MSSS / Vkumar