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:
Scientists hold out hope for Mars sample return mission
Planetary soil collected in tubes are waiting patiently for pickup.
buff.ly
February 11, 2026 at 5:30 PM
PSI in the News:
#JunoCam: We at PSI never get tired of these Jovian views. Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit buff.ly/uZwsNdE
📸: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Tanya Oleksuik
📸: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Tanya Oleksuik
February 11, 2026 at 4:22 PM
#JunoCam: We at PSI never get tired of these Jovian views. Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit buff.ly/uZwsNdE
📸: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Tanya Oleksuik
📸: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Tanya Oleksuik
"You do need a strong background in STEM subjects to become a scientist, but because planetary science is so interdisciplinary you can find a niche in the field no matter what your particular STEM major is. Also, I cannot emphasize enough not to neglect the humanities!"
Full Q&A: buff.ly/J6q9YQX
Full Q&A: buff.ly/J6q9YQX
February 9, 2026 at 3:01 PM
"You do need a strong background in STEM subjects to become a scientist, but because planetary science is so interdisciplinary you can find a niche in the field no matter what your particular STEM major is. Also, I cannot emphasize enough not to neglect the humanities!"
Full Q&A: buff.ly/J6q9YQX
Full Q&A: buff.ly/J6q9YQX
Happy Friday! 🪐 🐾
This week's #PlanetaryPet is Abby, Senior Communications Specialist Dianne Janis's bossy border collie who thinks that anytime is naptime.
This week's #PlanetaryPet is Abby, Senior Communications Specialist Dianne Janis's bossy border collie who thinks that anytime is naptime.
February 6, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Happy Friday! 🪐 🐾
This week's #PlanetaryPet is Abby, Senior Communications Specialist Dianne Janis's bossy border collie who thinks that anytime is naptime.
This week's #PlanetaryPet is Abby, Senior Communications Specialist Dianne Janis's bossy border collie who thinks that anytime is naptime.
#ClarkVision: The Maroon Bells, two peaks in Colorado's Elk Mountains, are always stunning, but even moreso with the Milky Way draping behind it. This natural light image was captured by PSI Senior Scientist Roger Clark over ten years ago.
February 5, 2026 at 3:03 PM
#ClarkVision: The Maroon Bells, two peaks in Colorado's Elk Mountains, are always stunning, but even moreso with the Milky Way draping behind it. This natural light image was captured by PSI Senior Scientist Roger Clark over ten years ago.
#JunoCam: Missing some color this winter? This is an artistic, false color image of Jupiter's northern circumpolar cyclones processed by a space enthusiast like you! 🌸🌼🪻🪸🪼⭐️
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit buff.ly/7Lw0EjF
📸: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Navaneeth Krishnan S
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit buff.ly/7Lw0EjF
📸: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Navaneeth Krishnan S
February 4, 2026 at 3:00 PM
#JunoCam: Missing some color this winter? This is an artistic, false color image of Jupiter's northern circumpolar cyclones processed by a space enthusiast like you! 🌸🌼🪻🪸🪼⭐️
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit buff.ly/7Lw0EjF
📸: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Navaneeth Krishnan S
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit buff.ly/7Lw0EjF
📸: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Navaneeth Krishnan S
PSI's David Grinspoon on the astrobiological potential of Venus:
EAI Seminars: The Astrobiological Potential of Venus
David Grinspoon, Senior Scientist, Planetary Science Institute, USA
Tuesday 27th January 2026, 16:00 CET
Venus has not traditionally been considered a promising target for Astrobiological…
buff.ly
February 3, 2026 at 5:03 PM
PSI's David Grinspoon on the astrobiological potential of Venus:
When did you know that you wanted to pursue science as a career?
One of my earliest memories at maybe 3 years old is of seeing a bright fireball followed by a sonic boom on a summer night. I was holding my mother's skirt as she talked to a neighbor over our back fence...
One of my earliest memories at maybe 3 years old is of seeing a bright fireball followed by a sonic boom on a summer night. I was holding my mother's skirt as she talked to a neighbor over our back fence...
February 2, 2026 at 3:01 PM
When did you know that you wanted to pursue science as a career?
One of my earliest memories at maybe 3 years old is of seeing a bright fireball followed by a sonic boom on a summer night. I was holding my mother's skirt as she talked to a neighbor over our back fence...
One of my earliest memories at maybe 3 years old is of seeing a bright fireball followed by a sonic boom on a summer night. I was holding my mother's skirt as she talked to a neighbor over our back fence...
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover used LED lights on the end of its robotic arm to create this rare nighttime view of the Red Planet’s surface. The LED lights are part of MAHLI, a camera on the end of Curiosity’s robotic arm led by PSI's Aileen Yingst.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
buff.ly/hGfrY20
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
buff.ly/hGfrY20
January 30, 2026 at 4:30 PM
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover used LED lights on the end of its robotic arm to create this rare nighttime view of the Red Planet’s surface. The LED lights are part of MAHLI, a camera on the end of Curiosity’s robotic arm led by PSI's Aileen Yingst.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
buff.ly/hGfrY20
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
buff.ly/hGfrY20
#SciArt: PSI's Sam Courville photographed this volcanic eruption of Sundhnukur, near the capital city of Iceland.
“The volcanic area had just become active again after not having erupted for the past ~800 years,” he said. “I traveled there specifically to see the volcano...
“The volcanic area had just become active again after not having erupted for the past ~800 years,” he said. “I traveled there specifically to see the volcano...
January 30, 2026 at 3:02 PM
#SciArt: PSI's Sam Courville photographed this volcanic eruption of Sundhnukur, near the capital city of Iceland.
“The volcanic area had just become active again after not having erupted for the past ~800 years,” he said. “I traveled there specifically to see the volcano...
“The volcanic area had just become active again after not having erupted for the past ~800 years,” he said. “I traveled there specifically to see the volcano...
We are so proud of Adelina! 👏👏👏
Serendipitously, we also celebrated her taking over as HR Director today!
Help us congratulate her!
buff.ly/3e7Kd5f
Serendipitously, we also celebrated her taking over as HR Director today!
Help us congratulate her!
buff.ly/3e7Kd5f
Her Voice - Vol 1 - Issue 1.pdf
drive.google.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:44 PM
We are so proud of Adelina! 👏👏👏
Serendipitously, we also celebrated her taking over as HR Director today!
Help us congratulate her!
buff.ly/3e7Kd5f
Serendipitously, we also celebrated her taking over as HR Director today!
Help us congratulate her!
buff.ly/3e7Kd5f
#JunoCam: Jovian pearls on parade.
Want to process your own JunoCam images? buff.ly/yIef2YU
📸: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Tanya Oleksuik
Want to process your own JunoCam images? buff.ly/yIef2YU
📸: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Tanya Oleksuik
January 28, 2026 at 3:03 PM
#JunoCam: Jovian pearls on parade.
Want to process your own JunoCam images? buff.ly/yIef2YU
📸: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Tanya Oleksuik
Want to process your own JunoCam images? buff.ly/yIef2YU
📸: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Tanya Oleksuik
LIVE: PSI's David Grinspoon talks about the astrobiological potenial of Venus
Listen NOW: buff.ly/nXHL5Nd
🔭 🧪
Listen NOW: buff.ly/nXHL5Nd
🔭 🧪
Seminar: The Astrobiological Potential of Venus – European Astrobiology Institute
Venus has not traditionally been considered a promising target for Astrobiological exploration. Yet, Venus should be central to such an exploration program for several reasons. Venus is the only…
buff.ly
January 27, 2026 at 3:04 PM
LIVE: PSI's David Grinspoon talks about the astrobiological potenial of Venus
Listen NOW: buff.ly/nXHL5Nd
🔭 🧪
Listen NOW: buff.ly/nXHL5Nd
🔭 🧪
Interested in learning more about the potential for life on Venus?? Join PSI's David Grinspoon for a virtual talk, hosted by the European Astrobiology Institute, tomorrow at 8am MST (16:00 CET). 🔭 🧪
Link: buff.ly/nXHL5Nd
Link: buff.ly/nXHL5Nd
Seminar: The Astrobiological Potential of Venus – European Astrobiology Institute
Venus has not traditionally been considered a promising target for Astrobiological exploration. Yet, Venus should be central to such an exploration program for several reasons. Venus is the only…
europeanastrobiology.eu
January 26, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Interested in learning more about the potential for life on Venus?? Join PSI's David Grinspoon for a virtual talk, hosted by the European Astrobiology Institute, tomorrow at 8am MST (16:00 CET). 🔭 🧪
Link: buff.ly/nXHL5Nd
Link: buff.ly/nXHL5Nd
"I often join research excursions to Yellowstone National Park. I am fascinated by the hydrothermal features within the park. The chemical diversity of the features and the microbial life that they support is astonishing." 🔭 🧪
More Q&A: buff.ly/h6zcNQP
More Q&A: buff.ly/h6zcNQP
January 26, 2026 at 3:02 PM
"I often join research excursions to Yellowstone National Park. I am fascinated by the hydrothermal features within the park. The chemical diversity of the features and the microbial life that they support is astonishing." 🔭 🧪
More Q&A: buff.ly/h6zcNQP
More Q&A: buff.ly/h6zcNQP
TONIGHT (Jan. 23): The Moon and Saturn will be at conjunction, meaning they will appear near each other in the night sky. So head outside around 7pm and look toward the western horizon. Saturn will appear as a bright spot just under a crescent Moon.
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🌙
🪐
🌄
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech
🌌
🌙
🪐
🌄
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech
January 23, 2026 at 6:05 PM
TONIGHT (Jan. 23): The Moon and Saturn will be at conjunction, meaning they will appear near each other in the night sky. So head outside around 7pm and look toward the western horizon. Saturn will appear as a bright spot just under a crescent Moon.
🌌
🌙
🪐
🌄
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech
🌌
🌙
🪐
🌄
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Happy Friday! 🪐 🐾
PSI Systems Administrator Marc Mensing's cats share space with little Lucy, a beagle mix, who likes napping and exploring the outdoors.
PSI Systems Administrator Marc Mensing's cats share space with little Lucy, a beagle mix, who likes napping and exploring the outdoors.
January 23, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Happy Friday! 🪐 🐾
PSI Systems Administrator Marc Mensing's cats share space with little Lucy, a beagle mix, who likes napping and exploring the outdoors.
PSI Systems Administrator Marc Mensing's cats share space with little Lucy, a beagle mix, who likes napping and exploring the outdoors.
Courville completed his doctoral degree in 2025 at Arizona State University, where he is currently a postdoctoral researcher on NASA’s Psyche Mission. Concurrently, he has been a PSI research associate since 2019 and is being promoted to associate research scientist.
Full story: buff.ly/vxjD0am
Full story: buff.ly/vxjD0am
January 22, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Courville completed his doctoral degree in 2025 at Arizona State University, where he is currently a postdoctoral researcher on NASA’s Psyche Mission. Concurrently, he has been a PSI research associate since 2019 and is being promoted to associate research scientist.
Full story: buff.ly/vxjD0am
Full story: buff.ly/vxjD0am
#JunoCam: A collage of Jupiter images (processed with exaggerated color and contrast) taken by the Juno spacecraft as it approached then departed the gas giant.
Interested in processing your own images? buff.ly/yyrESGe
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Brian Swift
Interested in processing your own images? buff.ly/yyrESGe
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Brian Swift
January 21, 2026 at 3:05 PM
#JunoCam: A collage of Jupiter images (processed with exaggerated color and contrast) taken by the Juno spacecraft as it approached then departed the gas giant.
Interested in processing your own images? buff.ly/yyrESGe
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Brian Swift
Interested in processing your own images? buff.ly/yyrESGe
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Brian Swift
Is there one award that is particularly meaningful to you?
"Most people don't know that there have been national weather forecasting competitions in various forms for decades. Usually there are about 1,000 participants per year nationwide. I've won 5 trophies at that."
"Most people don't know that there have been national weather forecasting competitions in various forms for decades. Usually there are about 1,000 participants per year nationwide. I've won 5 trophies at that."
January 19, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Is there one award that is particularly meaningful to you?
"Most people don't know that there have been national weather forecasting competitions in various forms for decades. Usually there are about 1,000 participants per year nationwide. I've won 5 trophies at that."
"Most people don't know that there have been national weather forecasting competitions in various forms for decades. Usually there are about 1,000 participants per year nationwide. I've won 5 trophies at that."
PSI's Kirby Runyon spoke with the hosts of What The If podcast about his citizen science project to map ancient impact melt flows on the Moon, which he co-leads with PSI's Pamela Gay.
Listen here! buff.ly/mFe08of
Listen here! buff.ly/mFe08of
CITIZEN Science -- With Kirby Runyon! — WHAT THE IF?
Map ancient lava flows on the moon from your couch and help solve mysteries billions of years old.
whattheif.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:11 PM
PSI's Kirby Runyon spoke with the hosts of What The If podcast about his citizen science project to map ancient impact melt flows on the Moon, which he co-leads with PSI's Pamela Gay.
Listen here! buff.ly/mFe08of
Listen here! buff.ly/mFe08of
#SciArt: PIO Mikayla Kelley is always surrounded by amazing images of our Solar System, so it’s no surprise that she is inspired to create art as one of her creative outlets. This is an acrylic-on-canvas painting of a planetary water droplet falling into the pool of the universe.
January 16, 2026 at 3:04 PM
#SciArt: PIO Mikayla Kelley is always surrounded by amazing images of our Solar System, so it’s no surprise that she is inspired to create art as one of her creative outlets. This is an acrylic-on-canvas painting of a planetary water droplet falling into the pool of the universe.
PSI in the News: "There may be a Planet 9 out there, but I doubt
it’ll be one of the predicted versions of the planet," says Kat Volk of the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona.
buff.ly/riODKP9
buff.ly/riODKP9
A hidden planet on the edge of our Solar System? Here's why scientists are closer than ever to finding it | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Could there be a planet X or planet Y on the edge of our Solar System? A look at the search for a new planet orbiting the Sun.
www.skyatnightmagazine.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:12 PM
PSI in the News: "There may be a Planet 9 out there, but I doubt
it’ll be one of the predicted versions of the planet," says Kat Volk of the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona.
buff.ly/riODKP9
buff.ly/riODKP9
These maps can be used to better understand the geophysics of the Moon and prepare the way for future exploration, as we identify safe places to land and scientifically interesting places to explore.
Full story: buff.ly/UrK1QFL
Full story: buff.ly/UrK1QFL
January 15, 2026 at 3:02 PM
These maps can be used to better understand the geophysics of the Moon and prepare the way for future exploration, as we identify safe places to land and scientifically interesting places to explore.
Full story: buff.ly/UrK1QFL
Full story: buff.ly/UrK1QFL