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Volume 19, Number 41
October 12, 2025
Editor: Matthew R Perry Co-Editors: Alex Morgan, Mark V. Sykes Email: pen_editor@psi.edu X: @pen2tweets Bluesky: @planetarynews.bsky.social o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. The Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Fund Fall 2025 Travel Grant 2. Outer Worlds Survey 3. Navigating Uncertainty in Astrobiology: A Two-part Virtual Panel Series 4. Ice Giant Systems Seminar Series: October 14, Dr. Sophia Zomerdijk-Russell (NASA JPL) 5. Assistant Professor, Computational Earth and Planetary Materials, Stony Brook University 6. Last Call: Schweickart Prize Student Webinars on October 15 & 16 7. Spaceflight Operations Position at the Open University, UK 8. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 9. Planetary Science Journal - New Papers 10. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets - New Papers Commercial/Fundraising Announcements: C1. Intro to Astronaut Field Geology o---------------------------------------------------------------------o 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 THE GERALD A. SOFFEN MEMORIAL FUND FALL 2025 TRAVEL GRANT The Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Fund is pleased to announce the Fall 2025 Travel Grant application opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in fields of space science and engineering. The Travel Grants enable student recipients to attend professional conferences to present their research. Recipients may use the Grant for either virtual or in-person conferences. The Soffen Fund will award up to $1000 in total, with no individual award greater than $500, to cover expenses related to presenting research at either a virtual or in-person conference. The number of awards will depend on applicants' needs. The Fall 2025 Travel Grant application deadline is October 17, 2025. Jerry Soffen, a biologist by training, led a distinguished career in NASA, including serving as the Project Scientist for Viking and as an architect for the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The Travel Grant continues Jerry's dedication to educating and involving future generations in space science and engineering pursuits. The electronic application materials and instructions are located on the Soffen Fund website: https://soffenfund.org Questions regarding the application or application process may be sent to: ec@nasa-academy.org 2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2 OUTER WORLDS SURVEY My name is Jim Lyons, I am working on a Master's Thesis that is evaluating criteria for selecting outer Solar System worlds for extended human activity, assuming more advanced propulsion systems exist that shorten the time of travel to them. I have put together an anonymous 5 to 10-minute survey in Google Docs asking for individuals to rate criteria of these worlds and I am requesting for those receiving this newsletter to participate, if possible. The link to the survey is here: https://tinyurl.com/4dwzdpbx Thank you! 3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3 NAVIGATING UNCERTAINTY IN ASTROBIOLOGY: A TWO-PART VIRTUAL PANEL SERIES Join us for the second event in a two-part virtual panel series featuring speakers who will share their experiences navigating astrobiology careers in academia (part one, past event) and industry (part two, this event). The discussion will explore how they got their start at non-academic institutions and how changes at NASA and within the astrobiology community have shaped their perspective on the future for early-career researchers. The panel is designed for students, postdocs, and junior researchers, but all are welcome to attend. These panels are hosted by the early career groups associated with NASA Astrobiology RCNs: NOW-FLOW, PCE3, LIFE, and NfoLD, plus the Scientific Society for Astrobiology. Distinguished Panelists for the Industry panel include: Loretta Hildalgo Whitesides (SpaceKind), Graham Lau (Blue Marble Space Institute of Science), Rachel RET Tillman (Viking Mars Missions Education and Preservation Project), and Ruby Patterson (Crisium Group). Dates and Registration Links: Part Two (Industry): Monday, October 20 at 2 pm ET. Please register ahead of the events to receive the virtual connection information: https://forms.gle/hVUTKkLiPvoqQLYv9 4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4 ICE GIANT SYSTEMS SEMINAR SERIES: OCTOBER 14, DR. SOPHIA ZOMERDIJK-RUSSELL (NASA JPL) Date/Time: October 14, 11am ET Speaker: Dr. Sophia Zomerdijk-Russell (NASA JPL) Topic: Ice Giants' Coupling with the Solar Wind Through Magnetic Reconnection Processes The Ice Giant Systems Seminar Series showcases recent developments in scientific topics covering all aspects of the ice giant systems, including atmospheres, satellites, rings, magnetic fields, interior structures, and science related to formation and evolution. To access the virtual seminar, view the seminar schedule, and sign up for the listserv, visit our newly redesigned series website: https://icegiants.jhuapl.edu/Events-and-Updates/ 5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5 ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, COMPUTATIONAL EARTH AND PLANETARY MATERIALS, STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY The Department of Geosciences at Stony Brook University invites applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level in computational Earth and planetary materials. We seek a candidate with the potential to carry out a program of research in the broadly-defined area of computational materials chemistry with applications to the geosciences that may complement one or more of the Department's current and traditional research strengths, and who will be an effective teacher in undergraduate and graduate courses. Details of the Department's areas of research emphasis and current facilities can be found at: https://stonybrook.edu/geosciences Interested applicants can apply at: https://apply.interfolio.com/173555 6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6 LAST CALL: SCHWEICKART PRIZE STUDENT WEBINARS ON OCTOBER 15 & 16 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 15 and 16 at 9am PDT / 12pm EDT / 6pm CEST. Participants will have the opportunity to hear insights from the Schweickart Prize Committee as well as advice from the 2025 Schweickart Prize Winner. RSVP here to receive more details: https://bit.ly/4mymwht Learn more about the prize at: https://www.schweickartprize.org/ Sign up for prize updates: https://bit.ly/3PKJvqJ 7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7 SPACEFLIGHT OPERATIONS POSITION AT THE OPEN UNIVERSITY, UK Do you like the idea of controlling spaceflight instruments that are many millions of kilometres away? If so, we are delighted to advertise a Spaceflight Instrument Operations role. The group, led by Manish Patel at the Open University, UK, are involved in a range of missions, including co-leading the NOMAD spectrometer (ExoMars TGO), the CaSSIS stereo camera (also TGO), the JANUS camera (JUICE) as well as leading future instrument developments such as the ESA-funded Phase A study for a High-resolution Imager for Mars Exploration (HiRIME). This post relates to the operations planning and observation strategy across the portfolio of spaceflight instruments that the group is involved with, including live operations of active missions as well as development of future operations strategies and systems. Details here: https://jobs.open.ac.uk/job/Spaceflight-Operations-Engineer/1103-en_GB/ Closing date for applications is Monday, 3 November at midnight (UK time). This is a 1-year post in the first instance, with the possibility of longer-term continuation pending additional funding. Come join our diverse, dynamic and daring group of scientists and engineers that are exploring the Solar System whilst having a lot of fun. 8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Note: Many face-to-face meetings going forward will have online components. Check their websites for details. Posted at https://planetarynews.org/meetings.html No new meetings posted. 9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9 PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS Direct Links to Open Access Papers Editor, Faith Vilas https://psj.aas.org Deuterated Water Ice on the Satellites of Saturn Michael E. Brown et al. 2025 PSJ 6:229 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/adfbf5 Role of Natron in Delaying the Retreat of Buried Ice Tables on Ceres Margaret E. Landis et al. 2025 PSJ 6:230 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae0333 Chemistry, Climate, and Transmission Spectra of TRAPPIST-1 e Explored with a Multimodel Sparse Sampled Ensemble Eric T. Wolf et al. 2025 PSJ 6:231 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae031e The Lunar Instrumentation for Subsurface Thermal Exploration with Rapidity (LISTER) on Blue Ghost Mission 1 to Mare Crisium. I. Pneumatic Excavation of Regolith S. Nagihara et al. 2025 PSJ 6:232 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae0465 Brownian Motion of Main-belt Asteroids on Human Timescales Gary M. Bernstein 2025 PSJ 6:233 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae044f Barnard Crater, Mars: Evidence of Glaciofluvial Activity in a Large, High-latitude Impact Crater in Southern Hellas Daniel C. Berman et al. 2025 PSJ 6:234 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae031d Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Xenoliths and Phreatomagmatic Deposits in Potrillo Volcanic Field, New Mexico, Determined from Portable Instruments: Applications to Surface Exploration of the Moon and Mars A. D. Rogers et al. 2025 PSJ 6:235 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae03af 17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17 JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH: PLANETS - NEW PAPERS Direct Links to Open Access (OA) Papers Editors-in-Chief, Amanda Hendrix & Debra Buczkowski https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/21699100 Global Picture of Lunar Basalt Chronology Based on the Automatic Classification of Craters Lan Jin et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE008965 Laboratory Investigations of Flow Dynamics and Volume Growth During Erosion of Different Substrates by CO2-Driven Granular Flows in Martian Gullies Lonneke Roelofs et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE008993 Reconstructing the Early Flow and Deposition Geometry Through the Accretion Surfaces on the Jezero Western Delta Fan, Mars Kartikeya S. Sangwan, Joel M. Davis, Ekta Aggarwal https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JE008866 Spatial and Temporal Extent of Plasma Depletion Events in the Ionosphere of Mars Praveen Basuvaraj et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE008934 Antum Crater: A Window Into Ganymede's Icy Evolution Federico Tosi et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009202 Spatial Variation of Rise Time and Dwell Time Induced by a Hypervelocity Impact Sowon Lee & B. C. Johnson https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009032 Elastic Properties of Returned Samples From Asteroid (162173) Ryugu Keisuke Onodera et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE008944 Impact Resurfacing of the Artemis Exploration Zone: Sample Locations for Primordial Crust and South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Ejecta T. Frueh et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009050 Magnetic Properties of Martian Impact Basins Including the Effect of Mantle Excavation S. C. Steele, R. R. Fu, J. M. D. Day https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009173 *********************************************************************** COMMERCIAL/FUNDRAISING ANNOUNCEMENTS *********************************************************************** C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1 INTRO TO ASTRONAUT FIELD GEOLOGY Due to HIGH DEMAND, we've opened more seats! Visit lunar and planetary analog terrains where Apollo and Artemis astronauts have trained. Learn to read the geologic landscape for any rocky planet (including the Moon). If you need to up your field geology and comparative planetology games, then come on out to New Mexico with us--joined this year by astronaut Chris Sembroski--this November 6-10. Prices start at $1299. Or, sponsor an educator or student! Register at: https://www.areslearning.com/earthandspace Contact Kirby or Mark with questions: kirby@planex.space or mark@areslearning.com. *********************************************************************** * The Planetary Exploration Newsletter is issued approximately weekly. * Current and back issues are available at https://planetarynews.org * * To subscribe, go to https://planetarynews.org and click on Subscribe. * * An unsubscribe option is available at the end of every PEN email. Or * send an email to pen_editor@psi.edu * * Please send all replies and submissions to pen_editor@psi.edu. * Announcements and other messages should be brief with links to URLs * for extended information, including detailed descriptions for job * announcements. Title plus text is limited to 200 words. Go to * https://planetarynews.org/submission.html for complete submission * directions. * * PEN is a service provided by the Planetary Science Institute * (https://www.psi.edu) using no NASA funds. 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