DPS Newsletter 25-22 | AAS Division for Planetary Sciences

Issue 25-22, Sep 29, 2025

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CHAIR’S REPORT TO MEMBERS: THE 57th ANNUAL DPS MEETING, HELD JOINTLY WITH EPSC
CHANGES IN DPS LEADERSHIP AND DUES

SAVE NASA SCIENCE DAY OF ACTION

RECENT AAS ACTION ALERTS: FEDERAL SCIENCE FUNDING AND STEM WORKFORCE

ASSESSING ASTRONOMICAL IMPACT OF REFLECT ORBITAL’S PROPOSED SATELLITE SYSTEM

CALL FOR DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF DPS STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS ANNUAL MEETING, JOINT WITH NATIONAL SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PHYSICISTS

SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)

NEW HORIZONS SCIENCE SPOTLIGHT UPCOMING WEBINARS

2026A NASA IRTF CALL FOR PROPOSALS

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINAR: CAREERS IN PLANETARY SCIENCE AND ASTROBIOLOGY

ABSCICON 2026: CALL FOR SESSION & TOWN HALL PROPOSALS

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026 SCHWEICKART PRIZE ARE NOW OPEN!

NASA SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE VOLUNTEER REVIEWER FORM

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVE THE MOON NIGHT IS OCTOBER 4, 2025

SAVE THE DATE – 57TH LUNAR AND PLANETARY SCIENCE CONFERENCE

INTRODUCTION TO ARCGIS PRO FOR PLANETARY SCIENCE

SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE – CARBON IN PLANETARY ENVIRONMENTS

MS/PHD POSITIONS FOR FALL 2026

WINNER OF THE ICARUS “BEST STUDENT-LED PAPER” AWARD

ICARUS BEST REVIEWER AWARDS 2024

INTERNATIONAL LUNAR SAMPLE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2025

OPEN MEETING FOR EUROPA SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE

NEW OCEAN WORLDS WORKING GROUP (OWWG) WEBSITE

ESA ARCHIVAL RESEARCH VISITOR PROGRAMME

46TH SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR) AND ASSOCIATED EVENTS

FOSTERING WELLBEING THROUGH MENTORING: ONLINE WORKSHOP

CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL AND ICARUS

JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES

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CHAIR’S REPORT TO MEMBERS: THE 57th ANNUAL DPS MEETING, HELD JOINTLY WITH EPSC

It’s my pleasure to write to DPS members as the new Committee Chair, after training for a year as Vice Chair. Following a year of hard work and planning, the EPSC-DPS joint meeting was a resounding success. Registrations were historically high among the five joint meetings to date, at 1813, 92% in-person and 8% virtual. Of these, 336 were DPS members. 34 attendees were partially sponsored by DPS student and under-represented minority travel grants.

Over the week there were 168 science sessions and 30 community and special events. Among the many highlights from DPS were: Richard Cartwright’s keynote lecture on carbon oxides on the Uranian satellites; Sagan Medal awardee Lisa Kaltenegger’s keynote lecture on status of the search for rocky exoplanets; and the DPS Award Ceremony which included Kuiper Award winner Faith Vilas’s lecture on the history and prospects for planetary spectroscopy. The DPS Federal Relations Subcommittee sponsored a roundtable discussion on international collaboration in solar system exploration. The Professional Culture and Climate Subcommittee sponsored a roundtable discussion on challenges facing members of the field. The Professional Development Subcommittee sponsored a free luncheon and workshop for Women in Planetary Science focused on career development.

Two DPS business meetings were held. On Sunday September 7,the Committee met to review progress over the last year and prospects for the coming year, as well as to finalise items for the Helsinki meeting. On Wednesday September 10 the annual DPS Members Meeting was held in-person and virtually, and the Committee reported to the membership at large. We noted a DPS focus on community action over the last year, including relief fundraising for victims of the Pasadena-area fires and substantial advocacy for federal funding of planetary science through letter writing and visits with congressional representatives and NASA officials. This has contributed to bipartisan support for NASA on Capitol Hill. Louise Prockter, Director of NASA SMD’s Planetary Science Division, spoke remotely to members and addressed the overall state of the planetary science program. One note of concern at the meeting was that DPS registrations and abstract submissions, plus the usual pre-meeting spurt of new DPS memberships, are down by tens of percent over past years. The decreases are likely attributable to NASA restrictions on travel and concerns over funding, and students are the hardest-hit and experienced the largest falloff in pre-meeting membership renewals. Correspondingly, applications for travel grants were up substantially from past years to 73, and DPS was able to fund <50% of requests despite the division budget for travel grants having been augmented by nearly $10K from sponsors and individual donors. Editors of the DPS-sponsored journals Icarus (Alessandro Morbidelli) and Planetary Science Journal (Faith Vilas) reviewed journal status and publication statistics – both journals are thriving, and report median times from submission to first decision of 7 weeks or less.

For more information on membership, committees and other DPS news please visit our web site: https://dps.aas.org/

We’re off and running to plan and prepare for the next annual DPS meeting 25-30 October 2026 in Spokane, WA. Hope to see you there!

– Scott Murchie, DPS Committee Chair

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CHANGES IN DPS LEADERSHIP AND DUES

At the Members Meeting held Wednesday September 10, Athena Coustenis of the Paris Observatory transitioned from Chair to Past Chair, and Scott Murchie of JHUAPL transitioned from Vice Chair to Chair. We welcomed JA Grier of PSI as newly elected Vice Chair, as well as Ariana Piccialli of the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy and Eddie Schwieterman of the University of California, Riverside, as newly elected Committee members. Changes in appointed Committee members include Angela Dapremont and James Robert (both of JHUAPL) starting second terms as chairs of the Federal Relations and Professional Culture and Climate subcommittees, respectively; Rosemary Killen of NASA/GSFC taking over as Chair of the Environmental Affairs Subcommittee; Nathan Roth of American University becoming the new Press Officer; and Angela Stickle of JHUAPL taking over as Chair of the Publications Subcommittee.

Three names were placed in nomination to replace the outgoing Chair of the 3-member Nominating Committee, Tim Livengood, whose 3-year term expired. Members present elected Jodi Berdis of JHUAPL as the new member. Jessica Noviello of University of Maryland Baltimore County, as the senior subcommittee member, became its chair.

In recognition of the importance of funding students, members present overwhelmingly approved an earlier Committee vote to increase dues by paying members by 10% to offset inflation since the last dues increase. Some members present further recommended another dues increase next year to further this cause.

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SAVE NASA SCIENCE DAY OF ACTION

The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is partnering with The Planetary Society, the American Geophysical Union, and nine other organizations to host a day of action in support of NASA science on 5-6 October 2025. AAS members are invited to register here for the event, which includes an afternoon of training and preparing for congressional meetings on Sunday, 5 October, and in-person meetings with your elected officials in Washington, DC, on Monday, 6 October.

The registration fee ($24.90 for standard registration, and $7.33 for student registration) includes:

Online and in-person advocacy training from space policy experts
The scheduling of meetings with your congressional representatives
Social gatherings and in-person meeting opportunities with organizational staff and fellow members

The registration fee does not include travel to and lodging in Washington, DC. Anyone with a US address is welcome to register and attend. For more details, please see this press release and the registration page.

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RECENT AAS ACTION ALERTS: FEDERAL SCIENCE FUNDING AND STEM WORKFORCE

The AAS appreciates everything its members have done so far to advocate for the astronomical community. Take a few minutes today to continue that advocacy by encouraging members of Congress to protect astronomical programs and facilities in Fiscal Year 2026, defend STEM workforce programs, and oppose harmful changes to F and J visas. After completing these action alerts, we strongly encourage you to take the next step for advocacy using our suggested advocacy actions. You can also share your story with the AAS public policy team, and we will continue to share these stories with Congressional offices.

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ASSESSING ASTRONOMICAL IMPACT OF REFLECT ORBITAL’S PROPOSED SATELLITE SYSTEM

The AAS policy team is requesting input from the community regarding the potential impacts of Reflect Orbital’s proposed reflector satellites on astronomical research and night sky visibility. Reflect Orbital is a satellite company that plans to deliver sunlight at night by building a constellation of reflectors in low Earth orbit beginning in 2026, with the goal of 4,000 satellites in orbit by 2030. Each satellite is expected to reflect ~0.8 lux (4–5x the brightness of the full Moon) in a ~5 km diameter beam on Earth’s surface. For more information and to fill out our survey, click here.

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CALL FOR DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF DPS STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS

During these challenging times, many students are losing access to their funding and are unable to travel to professional meetings to present their research. The Division for Planetary Science (DPS) Hartmann Student Travel Grant and Underrepresented Minorities (URM) Travel Grant exist to support student presentations at the annual DPS meeting. The need the past year has been very great, and our ability to help the applicants was limited by the amount of money available in the Hartmann and URM grant funds.

Community donations are critical for the health of these awards and our ability to fund students. Each fund functions as an endowment. Please consider making a donation today. Give by logging into your AAS account through this link and submitting a donation to either the Hartmann Student Travel Grants or the URM Travel Grants.

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REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS ANNUAL MEETING, JOINT WITH NATIONAL SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PHYSICISTS

DPS has been proud to partner with the Earth and Planetary Systems Sciences (EPSS) section of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP), supporting a presentation from the DPS-NSBP Speaker Awardee at the DPS annual meeting as well as travel of a few planetary scientists to the NSBP annual conference. Although recent cuts to funding from traditional federal partners have negatively impacted NSBP funding for student attendees, private donations have enabled them to offer travel support for 400 students (so a student pays only the registration fee). Attendance by DPS professionals and students to this meeting is encouraged, especially as it is joint with the National Society of Hispanic Physicists (NSHP). Registration is open through Sept 30 (and student travel support is offered on a first come, first served basis), with abstract submission completed in that process. The 2025 NSBP-NSHP annual conference is November 19-23, in San Jose – for more information: https://nsbp.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1958868.

For more on the DPS-NSBP partnership: https://dps.aas.org/leadership/nsbp_parnership

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SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR DPS PARTNER: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK PHYSICISTS (NSBP)

DPS has been proud to partner with the Earth and Planetary Systems Sciences (EPSS) section of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP). Recent cuts to funding from traditional partners have drastically reduced NSBP’s ability to support students to attend their conference so they are soliciting community donations; on average, the cost to cover a student’s travel and lodging is $1500. The link to donate directly to NSBP is below; alternatively, if you prefer to donate through DPS, community contributions to the DPS URM Travel Grant fund will also be used to support travel to the NSBP meeting. Donations through either path should be U.S. tax deductible. Many thanks to all who support these future planetary scientists!

To donate directly to NSBP: https://nsbp.org/page/conferencestudentsupport

To donate to the DPS URM travel grant: https://dps.aas.org/Inclusivity/support-underrepresented-minority-communities-planetary-science

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NEW HORIZONS SCIENCE SPOTLIGHT UPCOMING WEBINARS

New Horizons continues its operation, now at 61 AU from the Sun. Since 2015 it has made ground-breaking discoveries of the Pluto-Charon system, flown past the small contact KBO binary Arrokoth, and collected phase and light curve data for some three dozen additional KBOs and the ice giants. It has also been sampling dust density throughout the solar system and studying the cosmic optical background. To raise awareness of New Horizon’s scientific impact we are beginning a new spotlight seminar series (30 min, fourth week each month) which we invite you to attend online, or watch recorded at your convenience.

Calendar for future seminars:

Monthly: https://zoom.us/meeting/tJMudu6upzwsGdKrlGdxLvb2e_I91uILetOL/ics?icsToken=DKQYiNgOUeQ7ZnbnEAAALAAAAKHmpT29vFUtl0iglJGvlt4HVGzgMeX42DGMrkJfbLsqd41sVa1Mkab0Y99qZxwmMLXyc3NSzWxXfIqpQTAwMDAwMQ

October 23 — Ralph McNutt, Pluto’s Environment: The Combined Solar-Wind and Solar-Energetic-Particles Distribution Function as Observed by New Horizons

November 20 — Oliver White, Pluto Global Map

Recordings are archived and posted at:

https://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/index.php#Spotlight-Presentations

For questions, contact New Horizons CoI Susan Benecchi.

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2026A NASA IRTF CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The due date for NASA Infrared Telescope Facility Call for Proposals for the 2026A semester (February 1, 2026 to July 31, 2026) is Wednesday, October 1, 2025.

See our online submission form Submitting the Observing Time Application Form to the IRTF, which is available for proposal submission from 12:00AM on September 01, 2025 until 5:00PM on October 01, 2025 HST. Available facility instruments include: (1) SpeX, a 0.7 – 5.3 micron cross-dispersed medium-resolution spectrograph (up to R=2,500) and imager; (2) MORIS, a 60″x60″ field-of-view, 0.12″/pixel high speed CCD camera that can be used simultaneously with SpeX; (3) iSHELL, a 1.06 – 5.3 micron cross-dispersed echelle spectrograph (up to R=80,000) and imager; (4) MIRSI/MOC, a 5-20 micron camera and optical imager (grism spectroscopy mode not available for 2026A); (5) ‘Opihi, a 17 inch telescope mounted to and aligned with IRTF with a wide-angle 32 0.94″/pixel CCD with optical filters. Information on available facility and visitor instruments and performance can be found at: Available Instruments. Exposure time calculators for SpeX and iSHELL are available on the respective instrument webpages.

Please see Call for Proposals 2026A for the full text

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINAR: CAREERS IN PLANETARY SCIENCE AND ASTROBIOLOGY

Friday, October 3
3pm ET / 2pm CT / 1pm MT / 12pm PT

Join the LPI’s Science Engagement team for a webinar exploring diverse career paths within planetary science and astrobiology. This multidisciplinary session will highlight career options across academia, government, nonprofit, and commercial sectors.

Our panel of experts will discuss the differences in these career options, the varying expectations, and suggest ways to prepare for each. This session is especially designed for early-career scientists and professionals looking to navigate or transition within these multidisciplinary fields.

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ABSCICON 2026: CALL FOR SESSION & TOWN HALL PROPOSALS

The Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) brings the astrobiology community together every two years to share research, collaborate, and plan for the future. In 2026, the meeting will occur May 17-22, 2026 in beautiful Madison, WI.

You are invited to submit a session or town hall proposal for next year’s meeting!

SUBMIT A SESSION OR TOWN HALL PROPOSAL

Extended Session and Town Hall Submission Deadline: October 8, 2025 (23:59 EDT)

AbSciCon is a community-organized conference that provides a forum for reporting on new discoveries, sharing data and insights, advancing collaborative efforts and initiating new ones, planning new projects, and educating the next generation of astrobiologists.

We welcome a diverse community of scientists, students, journalists, policymakers, educators and organizations who are working toward a world where our global collaborations and partnerships can carry us into a sustainable future.

Check the Dates & Deadlines page and other information on the AbSciCon website to keep track of calls and announcements.

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APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026 SCHWEICKART PRIZE ARE NOW OPEN!

Are you a graduate student or recent postgraduate fellow interested in building bold ideas related to Planetary Defense? The Schweickart Prize invites you to submit an innovative proposal for tackling challenges like asteroid detection, impact mitigation, space law, or public education.

The winner will receive a $10,000 USD cash award, a museum-quality prize, public recognition through a press campaign, and mentorship from the Prize Selection Committee, including Apollo 9 Astronaut Rusty Schweickart.

To help applicants prepare, two information webinars with Q&A will be held on October 15th and 16th at 9am PDT / 12pm EDT / 6pm CEST. Interested participants are encouraged to RSVP to receive the webinar login details: http://bit.ly/4mymwht

Key Dates:

Information webinars: October 15th & 16th at 9am PDT / 12pm EDT / 6pm CEST
Application deadline: February 4, 2026

Learn more about the prize at schweickartprize.org.

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NASA SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE VOLUNTEER REVIEWER FORM

Are you passionate about solar system science? Interested in shaping the future of NASA research? We invite you to join our community of virtual panelists and external reviewers for the Solar System Science Program.

Why Join?

Make an Impact: Use your expertise to guide NASA’s research priorities and support breakthrough discoveries.
Flexible Involvement: Indicating interest does not obligate you—NASA will contact you if your skills match our needs.
Expand Your Network: Collaborate with top scientists and connect with peers across the solar system science community.
Professional Growth: Gain peer review experience and strengthen your CV.

How It Works

No Commitment: Signing up simply signals your interest. There is no obligation until you accept an invitation.
Eligibility: You cannot review proposals for panels you are funded on but may serve on other panels or as an external reviewer.

Quick Application

Required Fields: Answer all items marked with an asterisk*.
Share Your Expertise: Provide contact information, note conflicts of interest, and detail your background.
Fast Submission: Click the relevant buttons for other fields.
Comments Box: Highlight expertise relevant to review assignments and disclose any additional conflicts of interest.

Be Part of NASA’s Solar System Science Program!

Your insights help ensure excellence across NASA’s solar system research. Thank you for considering this chance to make a difference!

Solar System Science Volunteer Reviewer Form

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INTERNATIONAL OBSERVE THE MOON NIGHT IS OCTOBER 4, 2025

You are invited to join observers around the world in learning about lunar science and exploration, making celestial observations, and honoring cultural and personal connections to the Moon.

Last year, 1.3 million people in 127 countries and on all 7 continents participated. This year, excitement is ramping up for Artemis. Attend or host a virtual or in-person event in your community, or observe with your family, friends, neighbors, or on your own.

Register your participation to add your event, or yourself, to the map of lunar observers. Note that we offer flexible programming – you may host an event or participate in the week leading up to, and following, October 4.Tune in to the NASA broadcast and view live streams of the Moon on our Live Streams page on October 4.

Connect online to share your experience and discover how others are participating through the program Flickr group or your preferred social media platform, using the hashtag #ObserveTheMoon.

Register your participation, find tips and resources to host and evaluate events, sign up for our newsletter, and much more on the International Observe the Moon Night website: moon.nasa.gov/observe.

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SAVE THE DATE – 57TH LUNAR AND PLANETARY SCIENCE CONFERENCE

The 57th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) will be held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in The Woodlands, Texas, and virtually on March 16–20, 2026. LPSC is a defining event in planetary research, bringing together a diverse group of international experts in a truly collaborative environment. For 57 years, LPSC has been convening the lunar and planetary science community to showcase the latest science, research, and discoveries in the field. To learn more, visit https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2026/.

Indication of Interest

Submit an indication of interest to receive additional information about the conference.

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INTRODUCTION TO ARCGIS PRO FOR PLANETARY SCIENCE

The Planetary Data Training Workshops program is pleased to announce our next Introduction to ArcGIS Pro for Planetary Science workshop, facilitated by Cornell’s Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility (SPIF), to be held on November 1, 2025, 10am-6pm EDT. This online workshop introduces participants to the basic tools available in ArcGIS Pro, focusing on tasks and features most relevant to planetary science and utilizing various planetary image datasets. Participants will learn to set up a project, load and manipulate image data, create and sketch features, and use data for optimization analysis. It is intended for participants with no prior experience in ArcGIS and for experienced ArcGIS users who are new to ArcGIS Pro. Access to ArcGIS Pro is required to participate.

Submit your notice of interest for this workshop here: https://forms.gle/vCfyj2ktZHMYEdjm6. The deadline for filling out this form is October 22. A Zoom registration link will be sent to all respondents on October 23.

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SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: ICARUS SPECIAL ISSUE – CARBON IN PLANETARY ENVIRONMENTS

Icarus is now accepting submissions of manuscripts to be published in a special issue entitled “Carbon in Planetary Environments: Sources and Evolution”. Guest editors are Dr. Kelly Miller (SwRI), Dr. Nora Hanni (Univ. of Bern), Dr. Fabian Klenner (Univ. of Washington), Prof. Brett McGuire (MIT), and Prof. Joshua Krissansen-Totton (Univ. of Washington). This cross-disciplinary issue will cover topics related to carbon in the Solar System and beyond, including exoplanet and astrochemical environments. Submissions related to space missions,

modeling and laboratory work are welcomed. The submission deadline is 30 November 2025. Manuscripts will be published online when they are accepted, and we expect the print issue to be published in the first half of 2026. Submitted manuscripts must be unpublished and should not be under consideration elsewhere. More information is available here: https://tinyurl.com/57bf32w2

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MS/PHD POSITIONS FOR FALL 2026

I am community sourcing a list of people who are actively in search of MS/PhD students in planetary science/astrobiology/exoplanets for Fall 2026. If you are such a person, please fill out the following google form: https://tinyurl.com/k7zwh3m8

Prospective graduate students, please find the resulting list at: https://tinyurl.com/7hy3e4dv

Questions – Please email Sarah Horst.

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WINNER OF THE ICARUS “BEST STUDENT-LED PAPER” AWARD

We are pleased to announce the winner of the 2024 Icarus “Best Student-Led Paper” Award. Jakub Kvorka’s paper, The role of subsurface ocean dynamics and phase transitions in forming the topography of icy moons – ScienceDirect which appeared in the April 2024 issue of Icarus. The paper was selected by the independent Icarus Board of Editorial Advisors and was among four nominated for the Award.

Detailing their reason for selecting Jakub Kvorka’s paper as the winner, the board stated, “Jakub Kvorka led work on evaluating the role of mass and energy exchange between the crust and the ocean to understand heat flux through a planetary ice shell. Their model, which newly incorporated ocean circulation in the heat flow calculations, was also tested on Titan with positive results connecting observations and modeling. The committee felt the paper’s question was well posed in the framework of previous studies and had strong implications for icy bodies. The modeling was more mature and synergistic than previous work. The ability to explain the absence of a degree-2 sectoral component for Titan’s topography was highly valuable. Finally, the article was very well written and organized.”

Jakub completed his Master’s degree in Mathematical Modelling in Physics at Charles University. Afterward, he decided to continue his studies with a PhD at the Department of Geophysics, under the supervision of Prof. Ondřej Čadek. The study program is called Physics of the Earth and Planets. Jakub’s research focuses on subsurface ocean dynamics and global deformation models of icy moons. He is in the final year of his doctoral studies.

We wish to express our warmest congratulations to Jakub and his co-author Ondřej P. Čadek on winning this Award.

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ICARUS BEST REVIEWER AWARDS 2024

The role of the peer reviewer is essential to the publication process for journals such as Icarus. Without them the quality and variety of what we publish would be impossible to maintain. The editors of Icarus would like to take a moment to acknowledge with gratitude all the reviewers who completed reviews for Icarus papers between October 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024.

In particular, we’d like to highlight some of the reviewers who went above and beyond—whether by providing outstanding constructive reviews or serving as tiebreakers on challenging papers, please see the list of individuals on our webpage who served the community in an exceptional way. 2024 best reviewer awards – Icarus

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INTERNATIONAL LUNAR SAMPLE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2025

November 21-24, 2025

After decades of lunar exploration since the Apollo era, lunar samples have become the largest treasure returned by human beings, as they have unlimited potential to understand the Earth-Moon system. To share the recent findings of Chang’e-5, 6, Apollo, Luna samples, lunar

meteorites, and other lunar sample related studies, to prepare for future lunar sample return analyses such as those returned by China’s and USA’s human lunar missions, and to foster international cooperation in lunar sample studies of China and their international partners, the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of Hong Kong jointly propose this International Lunar Sample Research Symposium on November 21-24, 2025.

The meeting aims to present the most intriguing findings from all kinds of lunar sample studies, including but not limited to: 1) Lunar Sample Return Missions, 2) Origin of the Moon, 3) Lunar

Differentiation, 4) Lunar Magmatism, 5) Lunar Magnetism, 6) Lunar Impact Processes and Chronology, 7) Lunar Meteorites, 8) Lunar Space Weathering, 9) Lunar Volatiles, 10) Lunar Resources, 11) Lunar Analogues, 12) New Techniques. Check it out at: https://www.ilsrs.org/

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OPEN MEETING FOR EUROPA SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE

Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) is the set of standards, formats, policies, data (e.g., images) and people (e.g., users, producers) that enables the efficient use of spatial datasets. A community-based Europa SDI was initiated by the USGS to make recommendations that improve the interoperability of existing datasets, and the rapid integration of data returned by future missions: Planetary SDI

To broaden participation, we are now holding a series of biannual community meetings to discuss the ESDI. Topics can include new spatial data products, challenges to using existing products, appropriate datums and other standards and formats, improving adherence to FAIR

data principles, and potential new collaborations. The first meeting will occur on Monday October 27, from 9 – 11am PDT. We encourage those who use or produce spatial data for Europa to attend. Agenda items will include an introduction to the SDI concept, an overview of the current ESDI effort, an update on current work in the community, and known data issues. Join at the link below. https://tinyurl.com/3555pyyb

Meeting ID: 270 652 001 137 6

Passcode: hj3Xk2pR

Direct questions or comments to: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected]

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NEW OCEAN WORLDS WORKING GROUP (OWWG) WEBSITE

The OWWG has a new home with links to previous presentations and other documents:

Ocean Worlds Working Group (OWWG)

We also have a new mailing list hosted by PSI. You can subscribe by sending a message to [email protected]. Thank you to PSI for hosting our new webpage and mailing list! After a long hiatus, we look forward to interacting with all of you again this fall and winter.

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ESA ARCHIVAL RESEARCH VISITOR PROGRAMME

To increase the scientific return from its space science missions, ESA welcomes applications from scientists interested in pursuing research projects based on data publicly available in the ESA Space Science Archives.

The ESA Archival Research Visitor Programme is open to scientists affiliated with institutes in ESA Member States and Cooperating States (all visits must comply with the ESA security directives, which may necessitate additional checks). Early-career scientists, including PhD

students, are particularly encouraged to apply and so are women and minorities. The anonymised evaluation process ensures equal opportunities for all applicants.

Visiting scientists will have access to archives and mission specialists for help with the retrieval, calibration, and analysis of archival data. All areas of space research covered by ESA science

missions are supported.

Residence lasts typically 1-3 months, distributed over multiple visits. Research projects can be carried out at ESAC (Madrid, Spain) and at ESTEC (Noordwijk, Netherlands). To offset the expenses incurred by visitors, ESA covers travel costs and provides support for lodging expenses and meals.

Applications received by 10 November 2025, 23:59 UTC, will be considered for visits in Spring/Summer 2026.

For further details see: Archival Research Visitor Programme Or write to [email protected]

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46TH SCIENTIFIC ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR) AND ASSOCIATED EVENTS

Date: 1 – 9 August 2026

Place: Florence, Italy

Contact: COSPAR Secretariat [email protected]

https://www.cospar-assembly.org/assembly (scientific program, abstract submission) beginning 10 November, 2025 https://www.cospar2026.org/ (registration, accommodation, etc.)

Host Organization: Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)

Abstract Deadline: 13 February 2026

Topics: Approximately 150 meetings covering the fields of COSPAR Scientific Commissions (SC), Panels, and Task Groups:

– SC A: The Earth’s Surface, Meteorology and Climate

– SC B: The Earth-Moon System, Planets, and Small Bodies of the Solar System

– SC C: The Upper Atmospheres of the Earth and Planets Including Reference Atmospheres

– SC D: Space Plasmas in the Solar System, Including Planetary Magnetospheres

– SC E: Research in Astrophysics from Space

– SC F: Life Sciences as Related to Space

– SC G: Materials Sciences in Space

– SC H: Fundamental Physics in Space

– Panel on Satellite Dynamics (PSD)

– Panel on Scientific Ballooning (PSB)

– Panel on Potentially Environmentally Detrimental Activities in Space (PEDAS)

– Panel on Radiation Belt Environment Modelling (PRBEM)

– Panel on Space Weather (PSW)

– Panel on Planetary Protection (PPP)

– Panel on Capacity Building (PCB)

– Panel on Education (PE)

– Panel on Exploration (PEX)

– Panel on Interstellar Research (PIR)

– Panel on Innovative Solutions (PoIS)

– Panel on IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) (PIDEA)

– Panel on Establishing a Constellation of Small Satellites (PCSS)

– Panel on Machine Learning and Data Science (PMLDS)

– Panel on Early Careers and International Space Societies (PECISS)

– Task Group on Establishing an International Geospace Systems Program (TGIGSP)

Selected papers published in Advances in Space Research and Life Sciences in Space Research, fully refereed journals with no deadlines open to all submissions in relevant fields.

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FOSTERING WELLBEING THROUGH MENTORING: ONLINE WORKSHOP

AAS and the American Physical Society (APS) are pleased to share our free online workshop, “Fostering Wellbeing through Mentoring,” on Oct 10, 2025 from 1:00–3:00pm ET.

Research has shown that graduate students struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression at higher rates than the general population. Graduate students of color are often exposed to additional risks. While some stress and uncertainty is unavoidable in graduate training, research mentors have a direct impact on the wellbeing of members of their research group.

In this two-hour virtual workshop, participants will develop skills to recognize and have open conversations about mental health, wellbeing, and racism and learn to proactively affirm and engage students’ cultures in research contexts. These workshops will be led by Equity in Graduate Education Consortium facilitators Dr. Denzil Streete and Dr. John Vasquez. Funding is provided by a Venture Fund grant from the American Institute of Physics. Register here!

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CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL AND ICARUS

The current issues for both DPS-affiliated journals are here:

The Planetary Science Journal:

Issue 9 – Volume 6 – The Planetary Science Journal – IOPscience

Icarus:

Icarus | Vol 438, 15 September 2025 | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier

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JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to browse DPS’s job listings and advertise open positions **for free** on the DPS job board.

Full details for several new positions can be found on the DPS job board.

A summary of recent job announcements and postdoc opportunities is listed below.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR POSITION – BROWN UNIVERSITY

The Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at Brown University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Planetary Sciences. We encourage candidates from all fields of planetary science and exploration to apply. The appointment will begin on July 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. Review of applications will begin on October 20, 2025. To receive full consideration applicants should submit all materials by that date. For further information, contact the search committee chair, Chris Huber.

The successful candidate must be engaged in a strong research program with the potential to influence the field, demonstrate the intention to obtain external funding, and demonstrate potential for excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching and advising in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences. Candidates must have received a PhD by the time of appointment.

Candidates should submit a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, the names and contact information for three reference letter writers, and statements describing their research and teaching experience. Candidates should address how they would contribute to the research and/or teaching missions of our diverse and inclusive university community.

To apply, you can go to this link: Assistant Professor in Planetary Sciences

NASA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP – APPLICATION DEADLINE NOVEMBER 1

The NASA Postdoctoral Program offers US and international scientists the opportunity to advance their research while contributing to NASA’s scientific goals.

The NPP supports fundamental science; explores the undiscovered; promotes intellectual growth; and encourages scientific connections.

Selected by a competitive peer-review process, NPP Fellows complete one- to three-year Fellowship appointments that advance NASA’s missions in Earth science, planetary science, heliophysics, astrophysics, biological and physical science, aeronautics and engineering, human exploration systems, space operations, space technology, and astrobiology.

Search for NPP research opportunities here:

Current Fellowship Opportunities | NASA Postdoctoral Program

Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in hand before beginning the fellowship, but may apply while completing the degree requirements. Please see current eligibility requirements: Eligibility and Requirements | NASA Postdoctoral Program

Stipends start at $70,000 per year, with supplements for higher cost-of-living areas and for certain academic specialties. Financial assistance is available for relocation and health insurance, and $10,000 per year is provided for travel and professional development.

Applications are accepted three times each year: March 1, July 1, and November 1

For further information and to apply, visit:

Information for Applicants | NASA Postdoctoral Program

Questions: [email protected]

51 PEGASI B POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY

The Heising-Simons Foundation is accepting applications for the 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship program in Planetary Astronomy now through October 3, 2025.

Purdue University has recently been added as a host institution. We have a wide range of professors across Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences and Physics and Astronomy who can act as fellowship mentors. Research areas include (but are not limited to): geophysics, geochemistry, surface processes, clouds and climate, thermochronology, in-situ instrumentation and planetary missions, habitability, biosignatures, origins of life, paleomagnetism, surface processes, and circumstellar disks. More information on our research and the resources

available to fellows can be found at: 51 Pegasi b Fellowship – Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences

Applicants should apply directly to the Heising-Simons Foundation, are encouraged to reach out to and work with mentors to craft a strong application. Go to: https://www.51pegasib.org

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN PLANETARY SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

The 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship is accepting applications through October 3, 2025. The University of Minnesota is listed as one of the host institutions and we welcome potential early-career applicants seeking to establish independence in the field of planetary and/or exoplanetary science.

The 51 Pegasi b Fellowship is supported by the Heising-Simons Foundation. The fellowship provides successful applicants with up to $450,000 of support for independent research over three years (with the option of a fourth assuming satisfactory progress). Applicants may come from international academic institutions and U.S. citizenship is not required.

At the University of Minnesota, fellows have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty members working in theory and observation of Solar System and exoplanets science. These include Chick Woodward (exoplanet telescope observations), Ali Sulaiman (giant planet spacecraft observations), Bob Lysak (theory of giant planet magnetospheres), Marc Hirschman (planetary interiors), and Lars Hansen (planetary rheology).

Guidelines and eligibility requirements can be found at:

https://heisingsimons.app.box.com/s/y8jg5tbsbd13902ou3rn9tey8rjzan20

If you have questions about the fellowship at the University of

Minnesota, please contact Claudia Scarlata.

51 PEGASI B FELLOWSHIP IN PLANETARY ASTRONOMY AT UCLA

The Heising-Simons Foundation is accepting applications for their 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship program in Planetary Astronomy. UCLA is one of the host institutions. Applicants should apply directly to the Heising-Simons Foundation in order to work with UCLA faculty in one or both of UCLA’s Departments of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences and/or Physics & Astronomy. Go to: https://www.51pegasib.org

Relevant research areas at UCLA include: detection and characterization of extrasolar planets; astronomical observations of Solar-System bodies; the chemistry and physics of planetary interiors and planetary atmospheres; orbital dynamics; planet formation; cosmochemistry, and combinations thereof.

The Heising-Simons Foundation and UCLA are committed to fostering an environment that embraces and celebrates a wide range of perspectives. We therefore welcome applications from individuals whose backgrounds are underrepresented in planetary astronomy with innovative ideas that can greatly impact the field.

Applications are being accepted through October 3, 2025.