Planetary Science Institute

#DPS2026 - PSI scientists Nalin Samarasinha and Kat Volk will be highlighting their respective research at the poster session TODAY from 12:45 - 2:00 pm. More Details ⬇️

📬 The latest PSI Weekly Briefing is here! Catch up on the latest science, people, and happenings from around the Planetary Science Institute, all in one place. ➡️ Read + subscribe: buff.ly/WyMWjIE

What more can we learn from radar observations of Mars? At #DPS2026, PSI's Gareth Morgan shares new results from SHARAD, exploring how increased radar gain can reveal more about the Martian subsurface.

PSI is kicking off #DPS2026 with a talk two decades in the making! 🔴 PSI's Than Putzig explores 20 years of discoveries from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's SHARAD instrument and what radar has revealed about the red planet's hidden layers.

PSI Senior Scientist Jamie Molaro sewed this week's #SciArt, a fun and cute baby quilt with navy blue silk and purple/teal patterned cotton. The Moon was created using a Photoshop filter on a photo to blur and separate the light and dark regions for cutting.

Ancient asteroid impacts left clues hidden in Earth's rocks. ☄️ From microscopic crystals to massive layers of buried debris, PSI scientists are piecing together the history of these powerful collisions. Read more: buff.ly/AYIooFy

PSI scientist Erica Jawin recently spoke with @sciam.bsky.social about the future of lunar exploration. "[...] Jawin concludes, 'the coming years could be a renaissance for human exploration of the moon, allowing us to answer scientific questions that have persisted for decades.'" Full Story ⬇️

This #JunoCam image compares Juno images of Ganymede (left) and Europa (right). The Ganymede image was taken on June 7, 2021 at 9:58 a.m. PDT; the Europa image was taken on Sep 29, 2022 at 2:39 a.m. PDT. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Thomas Thomopoulos

What happens when asteroid missions uncover the unexpected? Join PSI scientist Dr. Deborah Domingue on Oct. 23 in Tucson for an evening of surprising discoveries, space exploration, and art! Part of our new Art of Discovery Evening Lecture Series. 🎟️https://buff.ly/DM7zFZq

📬 The latest PSI Weekly Briefing is here! Catch up on the latest science, people, and happenings from around the Planetary Science Institute, all in one place. ➡️ Read + subscribe: buff.ly/LeaAdiO

🪐 Saturn's rings are always worth a look! PSI joined 9NEWS' Colorado & Company to talk about what to watch for in the night sky. Catch the segment and get inspired to look up! #PlanetaryScience #Stargazing 📽️: 9NEWS Colorado and Company

Join @theNASEM on Oct 21 for the release of ‘Human Exploration Across the Moon,’ a study led by PSI Board Chair, Dan Dumbacher. The briefing will examine landing sites and experiments for astronaut-led missions to non-polar destinations. Register: buff.ly/mz6yH91

"The Gimli of Tolkien lore discovered a sprawling cave system which he described to his elven companion as, 'chamber after chamber, Legolas; hall opening out of hall, dome after dome, stair beyond stair.'" Fingers crossed we don't find any orcs on the Moon! buff.ly/wT9bQNP

This #JunoCam image is an artistic take on Jupiter's northern circumpolar cyclones. It was taken on May 6, 2025 at 7:46 pm PT as the Juno spacecraft performed its 72nd close flyby of Jupiter.

We're wrapping up #GSAConnects with a session 15 years in the making! PSI Senior Scientist R. Aileen Yingst will be sharing highlights from MAHLI's 15 years on Mars. 📍 See the graphic for presentation details. #PlanetaryScience

Hey #GSAConnects! PSI Research Scientist Alex Morgan will be presenting his research at a session this afternoon @ 3:00MDT. 📍 See the graphic for presentation details. #PlanetaryScience

#GSAConnects PSI Senior Scientist Dan Berman will be highlighting his research this afternoon @ 2:45MDT. 📍 See the graphic for presentation details. #PlanetaryScience

#GSAConnects TODAY @ 2:15MDT: PSI Senior Scientist David Crown will highlight his research on Martian lava flow fields. 📍 See the graphic for presentation details. #PlanetaryScience

Planning for tomorrow, #GSAConnects? We have two PSI scientists with presentations tomorrow morning: Rebecca Williams and Alex Morgan. 📍 See the graphics for presentation details. #PlanetaryScience

Hello #GSAConnects! PSI scientists will be at the poster session today. Catch Cathy Weitz and Rebecca Williams highlighting their research from 2-4pm. 📍 See the graphic for presentation details. #PlanetaryScience

📬 The latest PSI Weekly Briefing is here! Catch up on the latest science, people, and happenings from around the Planetary Science Institute, all in one place. ➡️ Read + subscribe: buff.ly/HhKim7a

#GSAConnects PSI Senior Scientist Alex Patthoff has a talk @ 3:03MDT SHARP! You don't want to be late for this one. 📍 See the graphic for presentation details. #PlanetaryScience

Heading to #GSAConnects? TODAY @ 2:45MDT: Catch PSI Associate Research Scientist Claire Mondro presenting her research at this year's conference! 📍 See the graphic for presentation details. #PlanetaryScience

What happens to asteroid impact debris after it lands? ☄️ PSI's Kirby Runyon used a miniature catapult aboard a reduced-gravity airplane to find out! 🎥 buff.ly/uFbAWwh #PlanetaryScience #ImpactCraters #Moon #Mars #SpaceScience #WorldSpaceWeek

PSI is heading to #GSAConnects! Our scientists will be in Denver Oct. 11–14, sharing their latest research at the Geological Society of America's annual meeting. Follow along as we highlight PSI presentations throughout the conference! #PlanetaryScience

Looking for some interactive art for kids? This week's #SciArt feature is coloring sheets designed by Annyse Buxner. Annyse’s mother is Sanlyn Buxner, a PSI Senior Education and Communication Special and Senior Scientist. Download the full series: buff.ly/BiGtaKD

We were pleased to welcome Karla Avalos, Southern Arizona Director for Senator Mark Kelly, to PSI’s Tucson HQ today. We shared some of our science, toured our labs and Hartmann Art Collection, and discussed the importance of NASA Science funding. Thank you for visiting!

☄️ Look up! The Draconid meteor shower is here. Peak viewing is the evening of Oct. 8 into Oct. 9. Find a dark spot, face north, and watch the sky. Just remember: meteor showers make no promises. Learn More: buff.ly/ojRYqSk #MeteorShower #Comets #PlanetaryScience #WorldSpaceWeek

This #JunoCam image captures Jet N2, a jet stream in Jupiter's northern temperate belt. It was taken on February 3, 2024 at 12:36 pm PT as the Juno spacecraft performed its 58th close flyby of Jupiter.

Right now, long before astronauts set foot on the Moon, scientists are working to understand what they might encounter and how to make the most of the opportunity. Four PSI scientists are part of that effort on NASA’s Artemis lunar surface science team. Learn More: buff.ly/WCbe0r5

📬 The latest PSI Weekly Briefing is here! Catch up on the latest science, people, and happenings from around the Planetary Science Institute, all in one place. ➡️ Read + subscribe: buff.ly/OOazLQc

Before astronauts return to the Moon, scientists are preparing for what they might find. For #WorldSpaceWeek, meet four PSI scientists helping prepare for lunar surface science through NASA’s Artemis program. buff.ly/WCbe0r5

This week's #PlanetaryPet is Gracie! PSI Co-founder and Senior Scientist Emeritus Don Davis explains that the very relaxed and limber Gracie was formerly a street cat. Clearly, the level of food and accommodation provided in the Davis household has met her standards.

🌕 What lies beneath the Moon’s surface? A team led by PSI scientist Than Putzig has been selected by NASA to develop GIMLI, a new instrument package designed to investigate a lunar pit and search for evidence of caves or lava tubes hidden below the surface. Learn more about GIMLI: buff.ly/OKjbanq

Congrats to PSI scientist Than Putzig and the entire GIMLI team on their selection by NASA for the PRISM program! PSI also congratulates the teams behind the selected LEMS-SP and DISCO investigations. We can't wait to see the science these investigations make possible. More: buff.ly/XfllKCV

This groovy #JunoCam image captures two of Jupiter's large, rotating storms. It was taken on November 29, 2021 at 6:07 a.m. PST as the Juno spacecraft performed its 38th close flyby of Jupiter. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill/ M.Petter

📬 The latest PSI Weekly Briefing is here! Take a look at this week’s issue, and subscribe to have the PSI Weekly Briefing delivered straight to your inbox. Read + subscribe: buff.ly/dkAoqro

🌪️ How much science is really behind your favorite natural disaster movies? Join PSI scientist Jenny Larson at #FanX26 for “The Worst is Over... Or is it?: A Deeper Dive into the Science of Natural Disaster Films.” 📅 9/25 @ 6:00 pm 📍 Room255F Watch a preview of Jenny's talk: buff.ly/BzUjxL5

Relive the fun of International Observe the Moon Night! PSI celebrated in-person this year at both our headquarters in Tucson and with our Colorado team in Denver. 📸 Take a look back at the celebrations and read the recap: buff.ly/xghqO4N #ObserveTheMoon

This #JunoCam image captures Jupiter's dynamic northern cyclones. It was taken on July 16, 2024 at 7:20 a.m. PDT (10:20 a.m. EDT) as the Juno spacecraft performed its 63rd close flyby of Jupiter. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Thomas Thomopoulos

What a night! Thank you to everyone who joined us at PSI HQ for International Observe the Moon Night! Here’s a look back at some of our favorite moments. 🌕💫

When did early Earth become stable enough for life’s chemistry to persist? New research, published in @Nature.com and co-led by PSI scientist Oleg Abramov, points to around 4.33 billion years ago, when declining impacts allowed increasingly stable environments to emerge. 🔗 : buff.ly/CAbqnlV

🌕 Keep the Moon celebration going! This week’s PSI Weekly Briefing explores the Moon’s formation, spotlights PSI co-founders Bill Hartmann & Don Davis, and features Hartmann’s lunar art. 🎨 Read the latest + subscribe for more planetary science: buff.ly/bzLGXEv

What does the Moon mean to you? 🌓 PSI Co-founder Bill Hartmann shared how the Moon changed his life. We're so excited to celebrate the Moon tonight during International Observe the Moon Night. Join us in Tucson, Denver, or online. Details: buff.ly/F3DiMwf #ObservetheMoon

PSI Co-founder William Hartmann is both a planetary scientist and accomplished space artist, using his scientific understanding to help bring other worlds to life. Explore some of his visions of the Moon. ⬇️ See some of these pieces in person at PSI 9/19! Details: buff.ly/Jg9CDTw #SciArt

You don’t have to be a planetary scientist to do planetary science! PSI’s World Mappers lets anyone help study the Moon by identifying features in real lunar images. Start mapping: buff.ly/YcKFyQV Come explore the Moon with us at Tucson HQ on 9/19! 🔭 Details: buff.ly/Jg9CDTw

We’re getting ready for International Observe the Moon Night this Saturday and looking back at the incredible Artemis II journey around the Moon! 📽️ Relive it: buff.ly/l1fN2Hq Then join us Sept. 19 in Tucson, Denver, or online! Details ➡️ buff.ly/Jg9CDTw

"Growing up, I was always interested in science. I had a chemistry set, a microscope (but not a telescope!), watched all the science documentaries I could find..." Read the full Q&A with Senior Scientist Henry Hsieh in our Weekly Bulletin! buff.ly/RVQ6Kv3

This week's #SciArt is wearable! Not only is PSI's Pamela Gay a scientist, researcher & communicator, she's also an artist. This beautiful pendant, Cerulean Stillshot Among the Stars, is just one example of how she interprets the beauty of the universe.

50 years after Viking landed on Mars, what have we learned about the search for life, and where do we go next? PSI Senior Scientist David Grinspoon joined @CosmoQuest to talk Mars, astrobiology, Venus, and the future of planetary exploration. 🎥 buff.ly/N8GFOIJ