#JunoCam: This image captures storms and pop-up clouds over Jet N5. It was taken on February 24, 2022 at 4:55 p.m. PST (7:55 p.m. EST) as the Juno spacecraft performed its 40th close flyby of Jupiter. Credit: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Sergio Díaz
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.
"I always wanted to be a scientist, and I always wanted to study space. Even as a young child, I was reading about space and space exploration as soon as I could read." PSI Senior Scientist Jordan Steckloff talks about what inspires him. Read the full Q&A buff.ly/daZanJo
The 2026 PSI Retreat is providing a wonderful opportunity for PSI scientists and friends to interact and talk science!
The 2026 PSI annual retreat is in full swing! Scientists, admin staff, family and friends are gathering at the Hacienda del Sol in Tucson.
#JunoCam: This image captures the dynamic structures of the Northern Circumpolar Cyclones. It was taken on July 31, 2023 at 1:45 a.m. PDT (4:45 a.m. EDT) as the Juno spacecraft performed its 53rd close flyby of Jupiter. Credit: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Navaneeth Krishnan S
PSI in the News: Senior Scientist Nader Haghighipour is quoted in Smithsonian Magazine about a newly discovered celestial object that some scientists are calling an "exosatellite".
Is This Giant Celestial Body a Moon, a Planet or Something in Between? The Strange Object Calls Astronomical Labels Into Question
The newly found object, estimated to be roughly as massive as Jupiter, orbits a brown dwarf—a "failed star"—which in turn circles a small star. For now, researchers are calling the puzzling body an…
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Jim was involved in PSI’s early history and we are delighted he has re-joined the Institute! Jim is one of those rare individuals whose interests and leadership span technology, science, and engineering. Read the full Q&A & subscribe to our newsletter buff.ly/yzaHTpg
This week's #PlanetaryPet is Freyja, a precious 9 1/2-week-old puppy when these photos were taken. Freyja is a new addition to the household of PSI Senior Scientist Catherine Johnson. Catherine describes Freyja as a “shark tooth fluffy.” Little piranha, indeed!
We invite elementary and middle school teachers and informal educators to join PSI research scientists and education specialists for an engaging 4-hour workshop to learn more about how scientists classify and study objects in the Solar System! Registration link buff.ly/K6y01Bb
#JunoCam: This image captures Io on Juno's approach to Jupiter. It was taken on October 14, 2023 at 11:39 p.m. PDT as the Juno spacecraft performed its 55th close flyby of Jupiter. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Brian Swift
We invite elementary & middle school educators to join PSI scientists & education specialists for an engaging workshop to learn more about how scientists classify and study objects in the Solar System. Workshop is Aug 1, registration deadline is July 28 Follow the link to sign up! buff.ly/K6y01Bb
PSI in the News: Senior Scientist David Grinspoon talks Viking 1's 50th anniversary and future human exploration of Mars with AZPM
Planetary scientists mark Mars exploration milestone
NASA achieved the first successful soft-landing on the Red Planet 50 years ago July 20.
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July 20 also marks the 50th anniversary of Viking 1, the first truly successful landing on Mars. It sent back our first close-up images of Mars' surface, shown here. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
This International Moon Day marks the 57th anniversary of Apollo 11, the first human landing on the Moon. Earlier this year the Moon captivated us all over again when Artemis II returned beautiful images like this one. (Image Credit: NASA)
It's July 18! Today is the day! Lakewood, CO! 1-5PM. Drop by our celebration of 10 years of the PSI Colorado office. Hope to see you there! 🚀 #psi_CO_10 #planetarysci buff.ly/5TuGkoM
This week's #PlanetaryPet is Bagel! PSI Research Associate Amanda Nonomura says that Bagel is a pretty decent research assistant but truth be told Bagel would rather be chasing squirrels.
Enjoy this stunning depiction of the Pride Flag envisioned with space imagery as created by Senior Scientist and Senior Education and Communication Specialist Pamela Gay. Read more on how this vibrant piece of #SciArt was created here buff.ly/YeyHBhr
We hope to see you at our celebration of 10 years at PSI's Colorado office! Join us for science, activities, refreshments and fun. Saturday, July 18, 1-5PM. Click here for details: buff.ly/5TuGkoM
#JunoCam: This image captures the northern jets on Jupiter. It was taken on April 10, 2020 at 6:37 a.m. PDT (9:37 a.m. EDT) as the Juno spacecraft performed its 26th close flyby of the planet. buff.ly/doweiXb
PSI in the News: Oded Aharonson and Norbert Schörghofer discover new scientific evidence showing that ice has been gradually accumulating on the Moon’s poles for at least 1.5 billion years. Read more in Weizmann Wonder Wander
The Moon’s Dark Secret: Shadowed Cold Traps Could Unlock the Mystery of Lunar Ice - Weizmann Wonder Wander - News, Features and Discoveries
New evidence suggests that ice has been accumulating on the Moon for 1.5 billion years – and reveals the most promising places to find it
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PSI’s Nathan Kaib uses computer simulations to understand the formation of the Kuiper Belt and what it tells us about the past orbital evolution of the giant planets. Read the full Q&A & subscribe to our newsletter to get PSI content delivered directly to your inbox! buff.ly/i5wdHXe
PSI scientists gathered and shared science results at the Asteroids, Comets & Meteors (ACM) meeting this week in Poznań, Poland. Go Team PSI!
#JUNOCam: This image captures Jupiter's mid-northern latitudes. It was taken on May 18, 2017 at 10:50 p.m. PDT (May 19, 2017 at 1:50 a.m. EDT) as the Juno spacecraft performed its 6th close flyby of the planet. buff.ly/mEhKbH8
PSI in the News: Research Scientist Kirby Runyon has an op-ed on Meet the Future about why we need lunar geologists to make NASA's Moon Base a reality. Read more at
Need for Lunar Geologists
When I first told people that I wanted to get a master’s and then a PhD in geology, they looked at me like I was about to make a lot of money. They immediately assumed I was heading straight into the…
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On July 18 we're celebrating 10 years of discovery, collaboration, and exploration in Colorado! Join PSI as we mark this special milestone with planetary science presentations and demonstrations, fun science education activities, and refreshments. More info here: buff.ly/iTMydYV
PSI in the News: Senior Scientist Kat Volk is excited to spot new trans-Neptunian objects as part of the Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space & Time (LSST). Read all about it in Sky & Telescope!
Vera C. Rubin Observatory Begins Its Long-Awaited All-Sky Survey
The 8.4-meter telescope should spot billions of astronomical objects over the next 10 years as it maps the night sky over and over again.
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Sanlyn Buxner is interested in examining issues related to scientific literacy, how to measure it, and investigating how it is changed by education. Read the full Q&A & subscribe to our newsletter, the PSI Weekly Briefing, to get PSI content delivered directly to your inbox! buff.ly/eTyTF4S
PSI in the News: Postdoctoral Researcher Ashley Murphy is using the SHERLOC instrument on Perseverance Rover to find the building blocks of life on Mars, and the Smithsonian magazine is sharing her research with our world. Check it out at
Mars Rover Spots Complex Carbon on the Red Planet, Marking Yet Another Detection of a Building Block of Life
Along with other recent discoveries, the new finding from Perseverance boosts the case that Mars once hosted conditions that could support living things—but it isn’t a definitive sign of ancient…
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#JunoCam: This image captures Jet N3 on April 15, 2021 as the Juno spacecraft performed its 33rd close flyby of Jupiter. Note the variety of complex storm shapes and cloud tops. North is to the upper right. Credit : NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS / Björn Jónsson © cc nc sa buff.ly/xEWMBZw
