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.
"I enjoy gardening and love cooking what I grow. I play tennis, bike, and love hiking in the mountains. And I will always love getting far out into nature, including truly dark skies."
Get our stories & Q&As delivered weekly when you subscribe: buff.ly/tdys2MC
Get our stories & Q&As delivered weekly when you subscribe: buff.ly/tdys2MC
January 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM
"I enjoy gardening and love cooking what I grow. I play tennis, bike, and love hiking in the mountains. And I will always love getting far out into nature, including truly dark skies."
Get our stories & Q&As delivered weekly when you subscribe: buff.ly/tdys2MC
Get our stories & Q&As delivered weekly when you subscribe: buff.ly/tdys2MC
PSI Senior Scientist Vicki Hansen spoke with Alie Ward of the Ologies podcast about Venus!
Listen here! buff.ly/Qsxvqic
Listen here! buff.ly/Qsxvqic
Venusology (VENUS) with Dr. Vicki Hansen — alie ward
Gassy veils! Orange sunlight! Alien life? It’s the sole goddess of our solar system: Venus. And to tour us through her beauty is the charming and enthusiastic planetary geologist and Venusian expert…
www.alieward.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:46 PM
PSI Senior Scientist Vicki Hansen spoke with Alie Ward of the Ologies podcast about Venus!
Listen here! buff.ly/Qsxvqic
Listen here! buff.ly/Qsxvqic
BONUS #JunoCam: What's the bright star in the sky? That's Jupiter! Jupiter is at opposition TOMORROW, Jan. 10., which means that Earth will be in line between Jupiter and the Sun.
📸: Credit: NASA/JPL/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstädt/Thomas Thomopoulos
📸: Credit: NASA/JPL/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstädt/Thomas Thomopoulos
January 9, 2026 at 3:00 PM
BONUS #JunoCam: What's the bright star in the sky? That's Jupiter! Jupiter is at opposition TOMORROW, Jan. 10., which means that Earth will be in line between Jupiter and the Sun.
📸: Credit: NASA/JPL/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstädt/Thomas Thomopoulos
📸: Credit: NASA/JPL/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstädt/Thomas Thomopoulos
#ClarkVision: Comet Lemmon photographed by PSI's Roger Clark. This natural color image was obtained October 21, 2025 in the Colorado Rocky Mountains at 11,170 feet elevation, above much atmospheric absorption and light pollution from the Denver metro area.
January 8, 2026 at 3:01 PM
#ClarkVision: Comet Lemmon photographed by PSI's Roger Clark. This natural color image was obtained October 21, 2025 in the Colorado Rocky Mountains at 11,170 feet elevation, above much atmospheric absorption and light pollution from the Denver metro area.
#JunoCam: Two views of Jovian polar-region cyclones seen during perijoves (Juno close approaches) 53 & 67, illustrating how rapidly cloud-top patterns can reorganize between observations.
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Thomas Thomopoulos
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Thomas Thomopoulos
January 7, 2026 at 5:00 PM
#JunoCam: Two views of Jovian polar-region cyclones seen during perijoves (Juno close approaches) 53 & 67, illustrating how rapidly cloud-top patterns can reorganize between observations.
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Thomas Thomopoulos
📸: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Thomas Thomopoulos
PSI in the News: buff.ly/YHd9fnU
China's next moonshot: Chang'e 7 could search the lunar south pole for water this year
"The Chinese will be ahead of everyone else by at least one year, but probably several years."
www.space.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:37 PM
PSI in the News: buff.ly/YHd9fnU
"My hobbies include mountain biking, reading science fiction/fantasy, camping/hiking. I love anime, especially Studio Ghibli & Cowboy Bebop. I have continued to embrace my nerdiness since I did my best to learn & speak High Elvish (Tolkien) while in high school.”
January 5, 2026 at 3:02 PM
"My hobbies include mountain biking, reading science fiction/fantasy, camping/hiking. I love anime, especially Studio Ghibli & Cowboy Bebop. I have continued to embrace my nerdiness since I did my best to learn & speak High Elvish (Tolkien) while in high school.”
#JunoCam: On this last day of the year, we're posting a slightly different image than usual. Our home! This is an approximately true color/contrast image obtained during Juno's flyby of the Earth on Oct. 9, 2013. 🧪 🔭
December 31, 2025 at 3:03 PM
#JunoCam: On this last day of the year, we're posting a slightly different image than usual. Our home! This is an approximately true color/contrast image obtained during Juno's flyby of the Earth on Oct. 9, 2013. 🧪 🔭
To celebrate 2025, we wanted to share just a small sample of PSI’s most exciting science research and prestigious honors of 2025!
Read and subscribe: buff.ly/xLzM67I
Thanks for your continued support and interest. We look forward to an even more amazing 2026! Happy New Year!
Read and subscribe: buff.ly/xLzM67I
Thanks for your continued support and interest. We look forward to an even more amazing 2026! Happy New Year!
December 30, 2025 at 5:01 PM
To celebrate 2025, we wanted to share just a small sample of PSI’s most exciting science research and prestigious honors of 2025!
Read and subscribe: buff.ly/xLzM67I
Thanks for your continued support and interest. We look forward to an even more amazing 2026! Happy New Year!
Read and subscribe: buff.ly/xLzM67I
Thanks for your continued support and interest. We look forward to an even more amazing 2026! Happy New Year!
PSI in the news:
Strange ‘spider’ on Europa hints at water lurking below
A daily update by email. Science news, great photos, sky alerts.
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December 29, 2025 at 5:00 PM
PSI in the news:
Time is running out to make your tax-deductible gift. To donate, please visit: buff.ly/svXUKaE
Thank you for your continued support! 🪐 🌃 🌵
Thank you for your continued support! 🪐 🌃 🌵
December 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Time is running out to make your tax-deductible gift. To donate, please visit: buff.ly/svXUKaE
Thank you for your continued support! 🪐 🌃 🌵
Thank you for your continued support! 🪐 🌃 🌵
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 [email protected].
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 [email protected].
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 [email protected].
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 [email protected].
#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