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.
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
#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 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!
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
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.
#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.
#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
October 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM
What inspired you to become a planetary scientist?
I’m actually an astronomer/programmer. I use my coding skills to support space science related image analysis. Like many others, I jumped from a love of scifi to studying science. My gateway show: Battlestar Galactica. Full Q&A: buff.ly/wM9Mr6F
I’m actually an astronomer/programmer. I use my coding skills to support space science related image analysis. Like many others, I jumped from a love of scifi to studying science. My gateway show: Battlestar Galactica. Full Q&A: buff.ly/wM9Mr6F
October 13, 2025 at 3:02 PM
What inspired you to become a planetary scientist?
I’m actually an astronomer/programmer. I use my coding skills to support space science related image analysis. Like many others, I jumped from a love of scifi to studying science. My gateway show: Battlestar Galactica. Full Q&A: buff.ly/wM9Mr6F
I’m actually an astronomer/programmer. I use my coding skills to support space science related image analysis. Like many others, I jumped from a love of scifi to studying science. My gateway show: Battlestar Galactica. Full Q&A: buff.ly/wM9Mr6F
❓ What hobbies do you enjoy?
🎙️I try to get outdoors when I can, especially with my family. Working on the tree house or other outdoor play structures like slides and ziplines. I enjoy hiking and skiing. I also enjoy pottery when I can find time.
More: buff.ly/8TN0BhK
🎙️I try to get outdoors when I can, especially with my family. Working on the tree house or other outdoor play structures like slides and ziplines. I enjoy hiking and skiing. I also enjoy pottery when I can find time.
More: buff.ly/8TN0BhK
October 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
❓ What hobbies do you enjoy?
🎙️I try to get outdoors when I can, especially with my family. Working on the tree house or other outdoor play structures like slides and ziplines. I enjoy hiking and skiing. I also enjoy pottery when I can find time.
More: buff.ly/8TN0BhK
🎙️I try to get outdoors when I can, especially with my family. Working on the tree house or other outdoor play structures like slides and ziplines. I enjoy hiking and skiing. I also enjoy pottery when I can find time.
More: buff.ly/8TN0BhK
#JunoCam: A family portrait of three of the Galilean moons shown appox. to scale: Ganymede, Europa and Io. 🧪 🔭
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit buff.ly/dCAW6H0
📸: NASA / JPL / SwRI / MSSS / Gerald Eichstädt / Thomas Thomopoulos
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit buff.ly/dCAW6H0
📸: NASA / JPL / SwRI / MSSS / Gerald Eichstädt / Thomas Thomopoulos
October 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM
#JunoCam: A family portrait of three of the Galilean moons shown appox. to scale: Ganymede, Europa and Io. 🧪 🔭
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit buff.ly/dCAW6H0
📸: NASA / JPL / SwRI / MSSS / Gerald Eichstädt / Thomas Thomopoulos
Interested in processing your own JunoCam images? Visit buff.ly/dCAW6H0
📸: NASA / JPL / SwRI / MSSS / Gerald Eichstädt / Thomas Thomopoulos
Read about how PSI helped find possible evidence for past life on Mars: buff.ly/r25b3k2 🧪 🔭
October 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Read about how PSI helped find possible evidence for past life on Mars: buff.ly/r25b3k2 🧪 🔭
On the right is PSI Senior Scientist Pamela Gay’s guest badge for MagicCon: Atlanta, where she spent the weekend talking planetary science, Magic the Gathering & inclusion. For the conference, she designed a Curiosity rover playing card.
Read more: buff.ly/gVX8HgM
Read more: buff.ly/gVX8HgM
October 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
On the right is PSI Senior Scientist Pamela Gay’s guest badge for MagicCon: Atlanta, where she spent the weekend talking planetary science, Magic the Gathering & inclusion. For the conference, she designed a Curiosity rover playing card.
Read more: buff.ly/gVX8HgM
Read more: buff.ly/gVX8HgM
PSI Senior Scientist Kirby Runyon and PSI Director Amanda Hendrix are just two of several PSI scientists in Washington, D.C. today for a day of action to #SaveNASAScience
Learn more: buff.ly/rt4OWDV
Learn more: buff.ly/rt4OWDV
October 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
PSI Senior Scientist Kirby Runyon and PSI Director Amanda Hendrix are just two of several PSI scientists in Washington, D.C. today for a day of action to #SaveNASAScience
Learn more: buff.ly/rt4OWDV
Learn more: buff.ly/rt4OWDV
PSI's Larry Lebofsky celebrated International Observe the Moon Night on Saturday with his neighbors!
For an hour and a half, 16 people came by to view both the Moon and Saturn (and its moon Titan in the third picture). His wife Nancy pointed out constellations and shared their stories.
For an hour and a half, 16 people came by to view both the Moon and Saturn (and its moon Titan in the third picture). His wife Nancy pointed out constellations and shared their stories.
October 6, 2025 at 5:05 PM
PSI's Larry Lebofsky celebrated International Observe the Moon Night on Saturday with his neighbors!
For an hour and a half, 16 people came by to view both the Moon and Saturn (and its moon Titan in the third picture). His wife Nancy pointed out constellations and shared their stories.
For an hour and a half, 16 people came by to view both the Moon and Saturn (and its moon Titan in the third picture). His wife Nancy pointed out constellations and shared their stories.