Planetary Science Institute

10/16/2026

🪐 Have you looked up at the night sky lately?

PSI Senior Scientist Isaac Smith recently joined Colorado and Company on 9NEWS to talk about what to look for in the night sky, including one of our favorite sights: Saturn and its spectacular rings!

Whether you're an experienced sky watcher or just getting started, there's always something worth discovering overhead.

Watch the conversation and get inspired to do a little stargazing (or Saturn-gazing) of your own!

📺 https://buff.ly/k0rMqdG


📽️: 9NEWS Colorado and Company

10/16/2026

Some of the most exciting discoveries in space exploration are the ones scientists never expected.

Join us on October 23 for the launch of PSI's new public lecture series!

PSI Senior Scientist Dr. Deborah Domingue will share how two groundbreaking asteroid missions, Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx, challenged expectations, revealed surprising discoveries, and inspired new questions about our Solar System.

Before the presentation, enjoy w**e and b**r while exploring the William K. Hartmann Art Collection, featuring artwork inspired by planetary science and space exploration.

📅 Friday, October 23 | 6–7:30 p.m.
📍 Planetary Science Institute | Tucson, AZ
🎟️ Tickets: $20

Join us for an evening of science, art, and discovery!

🔗 Reserve your tickets: https://buff.ly/exPRroI

10/16/2026

This week's is a double feature! Say hello to Senior Scientist Mark Sykes' grandpups Teddy and Kirby who are happily lounging in Chicago.

10/15/2026

From ancient impact basins and volcanic landscapes to new vantage points for observing the Universe, future human explorers on the Moon will have immeasurable opportunities for scientific discovery.

Join the National Academies on Wednesday, October 21 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET for a virtual public briefing on a new report, Human Exploration Across the Moon. This report, led by PSI Board of Trustees Chair Dan Dumbacher, will examine specific landing sites and experiments for astronaut-led missions to non-polar destinations on the lunar surface.

Register now: https://buff.ly/VxxDDzE

10/14/2026

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

At the time the image was taken, the spacecraft was about 8,140 miles from the tops of the clouds of the planet at a latitude of 77.66 degrees.

10/13/2026

"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.'"

Our GIMLI isn't defending the realm against Sauron, but it is going to go on its own ambitious journey! Learn more about GIMLI and its mission in this recent piece from Astronomy Magazine.

And fingers crossed we don't find any orcs on the Moon!

GIMLI will probe the Marius Hills Pit for a hidden lava tube that could shelter astronauts and reveal the Moon's volcanic past.

10/12/2026

📬 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.

Take a look at this week’s issue, and subscribe to have the PSI Weekly Briefing delivered straight to your inbox each week.

➡️ Read + subscribe: https://buff.ly/HhKim7a

10/10/2026

PSI is heading to GSA Connects 2026!

Planetary Science Institute scientists will be joining researchers from around the world in Denver for the Geological Society of America's annual meeting, Oct. 11–14.

Throughout the conference, PSI scientists will share their latest research and connect with colleagues across the geosciences community.

Want to see what our scientists are presenting? Follow along on X and Bluesky, where we'll be highlighting PSI talks throughout the conference!

🔗 X: https://buff.ly/aCGP7rY
🔗 Bluesky: https://buff.ly/1FeIGhm

10/10/2026

What happens to debris from an asteroid impact after it hits the ground?

To find out, PSI Research Scientist Kirby Runyon and his colleagues took an unusual approach: they built a miniature catapult and launched simulated crater debris aboard an aircraft recreating the gravity of the Moon, Mars, and Mercury!

Their findings, published in The Planetary Science Journal, provide new insights into how impact ejecta moves, erodes, and mixes with planetary surfaces after landing, helping scientists better interpret the geological histories of cratered worlds.

▶️ Watch the full video: https://buff.ly/xAbMa2e

10/09/2026

Looking for some interactive art for kids? This week's feature is coloring sheets designed by Annyse Buxner. Annyse’s mother is Sanlyn Buxner, a PSI Senior Education and Communication Special and Senior Scientist.

Annyse designed a series of these sheets that were inspired by various events like the recent International Observe the Moon Night.

Download the full series: https://buff.ly/BiGtaKD