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Volume 20, Number 45
November 1, 2026
Editor: Alex Morgan
Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Matthew R Perry
Email: pen_editor@psi.edu
X: @pen2tweets
Bluesky: @planetarynews.bsky.social
o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o
1. Planetary Society Webinar: What the 2026 Election Results Mean for
NASA
2. [NASA] Notice of Funding Opportunity: Established Program to
Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Basic Research
3. Pierazzo International Student Travel Award Applications Now Open
4. Assistant Professor in Earth and Planetary Sciences in Critical
Minerals and Economic Geology
5. Five-Year Research Fellow Position in Space Physics
6. Open Postdoc Role in Solar System Bodies/Planetary Defense
7. Postdoctoral Research Associate in Planetary Atmospheric Science in
Tucson, AZ
8. Graduate Positions at University of Alberta in Azari Research Group
9. Mars Climate Modeling Center (MCMC) Virtual Modeling Tutorial
10. OPAG October Letter
11. ExMAG 2026 Annual Meeting
12. Planetary Research Social Media Survey
13. Planetary Research: Call for Editors And Associate Editors
14. Earth Science Women's Network Free Virtual Event: The Importance
of Lifting Each Other Up
15. [EGU 2027] EGU Session on Earth and Planetary Climate
16. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions
17. Planetary Science Journal - New Papers
18. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets - New Papers
19. Planetary Research - New Papers
Commercial/Fundraising Announcements:
C1. Commercial: Cabeus Explorer
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PLANETARY SOCIETY WEBINAR: WHAT THE 2026 ELECTION RESULTS MEAN FOR NASA
On Wednesday, November 4, at 12:00 p.m. PT / 3:00 p.m. ET, join Jack
Kiraly, Chief of Advocacy at The Planetary Society, for a webinar on
how the November 3 midterm election results will affect U.S. space
policy.
Topics include changes to the committees that oversee and fund NASA,
prospects for the NASA authorization and FY 2027 appropriations before
the December 11 funding deadline, and what to expect from the 120th
Congress on NASA science. Results in some electoral contests may still
be pending. The webinar will include audience Q&A.
Register:
https://tinyurl.com/yc78r72h
Background reading:
https://www.planetary.org/articles/space-in-the-2026-elections
The Planetary Society is a nonpartisan nonprofit and does not endorse
candidates.
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[NASA] NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE
COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCOR) BASIC RESEARCH
The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)
Basic Research is a NASA initiative through its Office of STEM
Engagement (OSTEM). This solicitation seeks proposals that are
expected to establish research activities that will make significant
contributions to NASA's strategic research and technology development
priorities and contribute to the overall research infrastructure,
science and technology capabilities of higher education and economic
development of the jurisdiction receiving funding:
https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/NNH27ZHA001C
EPSCoR establishes partnerships with government, higher education and
industry entities that are designed to effect lasting improvements in
a state's or region's research infrastructure, research and
development (R&D) capacity and hence, its national R&D
competitiveness. Twenty-eight (28) jurisdictions including:
Twenty-five (25) states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S.
Virgin Islands, and Guam currently participate in EPSCoR.
Key dates:
NOFO Released: October 27, 2026
Proposals Due: February 01, 2027 (11:59pm ET)
Anticipated Notification of Award: July-September 2027
[Edited for length]
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PIERAZZO INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
Each year, subject to receiving qualified applications, Planetary
Science Institute bestows two awards:
The first award supports a U.S.-based Ph.D. student to attend a
planetary science-related conference or workshop located outside the
U.S.
The second award facilitates a non-U.S.-based Ph.D. student to attend
a planetary science-related conference within the U.S. Eligible events
include planetary-focused sessions at general meetings like AGU, DPS,
GSA, EGU, and IAG. The event should be open to general participation
by the planetary community.
Each award offers a certificate and up to $2,500 in travel support, to
be presented by a PSI representative at a scientific conference or
meeting. We believe these awards can foster international
collaboration and broaden the horizons of aspiring planetary
scientists.
For more information, go to:
https://www.psi.edu/pierazzo-award/
Applications are now open for meetings occurring in calendar 2027. The
application window closes at 9 PM MST, November 24, 2026. Late
applications will not be accepted. Award winners will be announced on
or before December 6.
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ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES IN CRITICAL
MINERALS AND ECONOMIC GEOLOGY
The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) at the University
of Texas at San Antonio invites applications for a tenure-track
position in Critical Minerals/Economic Geology at the Assistant
Professor rank starting in Fall 2027. The successful candidate's
research will address fundamental questions about the formation,
exploration, extraction and sustainability of mineral resources,
broadly defined, on Earth and/or in space. Research may be
field-based, analytical, experimental, theoretical, or use geospatial
technologies, and should complement one or more of the department's
existing strengths in geochemistry, geoinformatics, planetary science,
volcanology, and water cycle science. The successful candidate will
have (1) a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in Geological Sciences, or a
related field, by the time of employment; (2) a record of scholarship
and advancing research in the broad area of economic geology and
mineralogy, or a closely related field; and (3) demonstrated
excellence or strong potential to teach across curriculum at the
graduate and undergraduate levels, including Mineralogy, and to
effectively mentor BS, MS and PhD students in their research area.
Review of applications will begin November 15, 2026 and continue until
filled.
Department information:
https://www.utsa.edu/sciences/earth-planetary-sciences/
Apply here:
https://tinyurl.com/bdfcdz95
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FIVE-YEAR RESEARCH FELLOW POSITION IN SPACE PHYSICS
The University of Warwick's Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics
(CFSA) is seeking to appoint a Research Fellow for a five-year
research programme focused on modelling Earth's magnetosphere and
radiation belts.
The successful candidate will develop and apply magnetospheric, ring
current, and radiation belt simulations, investigating the dynamics
and coupling of these regions during geomagnetic activity. The role
offers an exciting opportunity to work at the interface of space
plasma physics, computational modelling, and space-weather science,
within a collaborative research environment. This is part of a
five-year multi-institution STFC-funded project entitled: "why is the
response of Earth's outer radiation belt to solar wind driving so hard
to predict?" involving close collaboration with Northumbria University
and University of Birmingham.
In addition to conducting original research, there will be opportunity
to contribute to the supervision of PhD students within
the research group as well as research grant development and capture.
Promotion to Assistant Professor is a realistic expectation within
the five-year project timeframe, subject to satisfactory performance
and progress.
The position is expected to start in April 2027. Please submit an
application by November 19, 2026, to ensure full consideration.
Full details:
https://tinyurl.com/mwhfpv9y
[Edited for length]
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OPEN POSTDOC ROLE IN SOLAR SYSTEM BODIES/PLANETARY DEFENSE
The purpose of the position is to train a postdoctoral researcher to
conceive, plan, and conduct specialized research related to small
Solar System bodies and planetary defense. The incumbent conducts
research aimed at improving the scientific understanding, observation,
characterization, and follow-up of near-Earth objects and other small
bodies relevant to planetary defense. The incumbent works with
scientists at the Minor Planet Center and across the
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and contributes to the
development of methods and scientific resources that connect
astrometric and orbital information with follow-up observations and
physical characterization. For more information, please see the
official job ad:
https://tinyurl.com/fudvy53x
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POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE IN PLANETARY ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE IN
TUCSON, AZ
Vacancy terms: Full-time, 2+1 years
Advert closes: 22 November 2026
Enquiries: tommik@arizona.edu
https://aas.org/jobregister/ad/1a7777a5
University of Arizona position number: req27228
The Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL) at the University of Arizona
invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in
the field of Solar System planetary science. The successful applicant
will join the Planetary Atmospheres and Titan & Outer Solar System
groups:
https://www.lpl.arizona.edu/research
They will work in collaboration with Dr. Tommi Koskinen on the
analysis and interpretation of Cassini, Voyager, ground-based, and HST
observations of the upper atmospheres of Saturn, Titan, and Uranus.
These observations provide unprecedented constraints on composition,
energy deposition, dynamics, and seasonal change. The results will
also support planning for a future mission to Uranus.
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GRADUATE POSITIONS AT UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA IN AZARI RESEARCH GROUP
Graduate positions for incoming MSc and PhD students are available at
the University of Alberta (UoA) for Fall 2027 entry in AI/ML for space
science and exploration in the Azari Research Group (ARG).
UoA ranks in the top ten for AI research globally and is co-located
with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii). Amii
researchers are known for their development of reinforcement learning
including recent recognition of the Turing Award. The UoA also has one
of the largest and oldest space physics programs in Canada with
research in planetary magnetospheres, space weather,
magnetohydrodynamics, and fundamental plasma physics. It is a founding
member of Space Environment Canada, one of the foremost ground-based
array for space physics in the world.
ARG intersects these areas with an emerging group in AI for scientific
insight in planetary space physics, supporting over a dozen early
career individuals to form a rich ecosystem of cutting-edge research
in emerging technology areas. Successful candidates will be funded
through a combination of research and teaching fellowships. Applicants
should plan to apply by December 1, 2026 for the widest consideration.
Project descriptions and application details can be found at:
https://abbyazari.github.io/join/
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MARS CLIMATE MODELING CENTER (MCMC) VIRTUAL MODELING TUTORIAL
The Mars Climate Modeling Center at NASA Ames Research Center will
host a virtual modeling tutorial January 26-29, 2027.
The tutorial will contain three parts. The first part will focus on
teaching users how to interact with and download model output using
the MCMC's Model Webserver, an online tool that interfaces with
publicly available Mars GCM output on the NAS Data Portal. The second
part guides users through analyzing model output with the Community
Analysis Pipeline (CAP), an open-source python-based analysis toolkit
accessed via the command line. The third part will delve into the
FV3-based Mars GCM, explaining how to download, install, set up, and
run the model for custom simulations. The tutorial will include
lectures and hands-on sessions using the Science Cloud:
https://smce.nasa.gov/
Access to the Science Cloud will be provided. Students, teachers, and
researchers with a range of numerical modeling experiences are
encouraged to participate. The number of participants we can
accommodate is limited to 25, and we will be accepting registrants on
a first-come-first-served basis.
More information and registration are available at:
https://forms.gle/g1omzM9BjscfPXRH7
Learn more about the MCMC here:
https://tinyurl.com/yc2v27fb
Contact us here with any questions or comments:
https://forms.gle/NUuAt1avKrqG6Aiq7
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OPAG OCTOBER LETTER
At the link below, please find the OPAG October Letter from the
Co-Chairs. Please note the Call for OPAG Steering Committee members.
Applications are open and will be accepted through December 18. We
look forward to working with you!
https://planetarynews.org/opag/OPAG_Letter_to_Community_Oct2026.pdf
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EXMAG 2026 ANNUAL MEETING
This is a friendly reminder that the ExMAG 2026 Annual Meeting will
take place virtually on November 3 (US time) and November 4 (Asia
time).
The meeting will include two sessions optimized for different time
zones. The final agenda is available here:
https://tinyurl.com/2jam2c6a
If you plan to attend, please register here:
https://tinyurl.com/ye2x4t2k
Please note that meeting links will be shared only with registered
participants.
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!
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PLANETARY RESEARCH SOCIAL MEDIA SURVEY
The Planetary Research journal (https://planetary-research.org/) would
like to better understand how planetary scientists use social media to
discover research, share their work, and connect with colleagues.
We invite you to complete a short survey (less than 3 minutes, no
login required):
https://forms.solarsystem.tools/planetary-research-journal-survey
Your responses will help our new, community-oriented journal better
engage with and serve the planetary science community.
Thank you for your participation!
Best regards,
The Planetary Research Media Team
For questions or comments, please contact Henry Manelski
(henry.manelski@uni-muenster.de)
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PLANETARY RESEARCH: CALL FOR EDITORS AND ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Planetary Research is a community run diamond open access journal
where authors pay no fees and all articles are free to access. The
journal was launched on January 1 of this year and after receiving
about 70 submissions, the journal is now looking to expand its
expertise base.
The journal is inviting applications for new editors and associate
editors in the following areas:
- Geology (including mapping and surface processes)
- Magnetospheres and exospheres (in particular, their interaction with
planetary bodies)
- Solid earth geophysics (everything, excluding mantle convection and
thermal evolution)
- Remote sensing (all fields that complement the current editorial
board)
- Missions and instrumentation (such as instrument and mission design
and the relation to scientific objectives)
Though we are primarily interested in selecting new editors, we will
also consider applications at the level of associate editor. Prior
editorial experience is desired, but not required.
Interested candidates should send a letter of motivation to Mark
Wieczorek (chair of the search committee,
editor-in-chief@planetary-research.org). Applications received before
December 15 will receive full consideration.
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EARTH SCIENCE WOMEN'S NETWORK FREE VIRTUAL EVENT: THE IMPORTANCE OF
LIFTING EACH OTHER UP
Throughout our careers, it is hugely important for all in our
community to look out for each other. You never know when someone is
in need of a boost, whether personally or professionally. We must act
as mentors, sponsors and allies toward each other and elevate each
other as we climb and move between different spaces. This is even more
important for those from historically marginalised identities, and for
those from over-represented groups to support even more.
ESWN is organising a webinar focused on these concepts, aimed at
researchers and professionals from all career levels and sectors on
Wednesday December 2, 2026 at 1700 UTC. Through this webinar we aim to
highlight good practices in allyship, sponsorship and mentorship,
drawing on insights and experiences of different individuals located
internationally. We hope to educate, empower and inspire the ESWN
community, as well as provide support.
Register here: https://forms.gle/BZ5LiZ5DoRhQUyBz9
The webinar is designed as a panel event with multiple speakers and
held virtually using Zoom.
More details will be released on the ESWN website, and on our social
media channels!
https://eswnonline.org/
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[EGU 2027] EGU SESSION ON EARTH AND PLANETARY CLIMATE
Are you exploring climate across Earth and other planets? Then our EGU
session might be for you. We aim to bring together experts to discuss
the fundamental physics of climate. Subtopics include radiation,
dynamics, convection, atmospheric chemistry and aerosols, including
observables and experiments. The session draws on the hierarchical
nature of focusing on physics and we welcome submissions using
analytic theory, EBMs, 1-D RCE models, idealized GCMs, cloud-resolving
models, 3-D GCMs, experiments, and observations. For more information,
check out our session description:
https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU27/session/60505
Planetary Climates: From Earth to other Planets (PS5.3)
EGU abstract submission: 28 October 2026 to 12 January 2027, 13:00 CET
EGU 2027 General Assembly, Vienna, Austria & Online, 4-9 April 2027
Conveners: Jakob Snoeink, Daniel Koll, Mei Ting Mak, Thaddeus D.
Komacek, M. J. Way
We look forward to your contributions and interesting discussions in
Vienna!
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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
November 3, 2026
EXMAG 2026 Annual Meeting
https://tinyurl.com/ye2x4t2k
Online
January 25-29, 2027
The Roadmap to Planets: Physical Processes Across Evolutionary Stages
in Star and Planet Formation
https://sites.google.com/view/theroadmaptoplanets/home-page
Ringberg Castle, Germany
June 7-11, 2027
The 24th International Planetary Probe Workshop and Short Course (IPPW
2027)
https://ippw2027.org
Glasgow, United Kingdom
July 26-30, 2027
TESS Science Conference IV (TSC4)
https://tsc.mit.edu/2027/
Cambridge, MA
August 2-13, 2027
JWST Summer School II: Exoplanet Transits, Eclipses, and Phase Curves
with JWST
https://tinyurl.com/3tajnuez
Baltimore, MD
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PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS
Direct Links to Open Access Papers
Editor, Brian Jackson
https://psj.aas.org
Coupled Evolution of Earth's H2-rich Proto-atmosphere and Oxidized
Magma Ocean: Efficient H2 Production through Dissolved H2 Transport
and Atmospheric Buffering
of the Magma Ocean Redox State
Tatsuya Yoshida et al. 2026 PSJ 7:242
https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/aeb09d
Temporal Variability of Titan's Middle-atmospheric Zonal Winds from
Southern Fall to Late Winter (2016-2023)
Martin A. Cordiner et al. 2026 PSJ 7:243
https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/aeb004
Energetic Neutral Atoms and Ion Precipitation onto the Upper
Atmosphere of Venus
Lorenzo Obersnel et al. 2026 PSJ 7:244
https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/aeada1
Inclination of Miranda as a Constraint on the Tidal Dissipation of
Uranus
Maryame El Moutamid and Matija Cuk 2026 PSJ 7:245
https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/aeac4d
Lunar Geochemistry from X-Ray Line Flux Ratios Using CLASS on
Chandrayaan-2
R. Kumar et al. 2026 PSJ 7:246
https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/aeb09a
New Insights into Venus's Volatile Cycles Revealed by the Formation of
Magnesite and Fluoro-Micas
Sara Taeko Port et al. 2026 PSJ 7:247
https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/aea909
Longitudinal Distribution of Io's Dayside Atmospheric Density
Rohini S. Giles et al. 2026 PSJ 7:248
https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/aeb269
Lunar Dielectric Analyzer (LDA) for the Artemis First Landing Mission:
Instrument Design and Operational Concept for In Situ Permittivity
Measurements
Makito Kobayashi et al. 2026 PSJ 7:249
https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/aeaff9
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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
Laboratory Experiments Identify Meteoritic Organic Precursors for
Chlorinated Compounds Detected by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM)
Instrument at Gale Crater
A. Mojarro et al.
https://doi.org/10.1029/2026JE009985
Characterization of the Small-Scale UV Contrasts at Low Latitudes of
Venus as Seen by the UVI Camera Onboard Akatsuki
Hyeonju Kang, Yeon Joo Lee, Atsushi Yamazaki
https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009476
Variability of Bright Deposits in North Polar Residual Ice Cap Craters
on Mars
G. K. Shore et al.
https://doi.org/10.1029/2026JE009888
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PLANETARY RESEARCH - NEW PAPERS
Direct Links to Diamond Open Access Papers
Editor-in-Chief, Mark A. Wieczorek
https://planetary-research.org
Super-resolution maps of icy moons: Application to the Cassini-VIMS
observations of Enceladus with updated navigation and photometric
correction
C. Ntinos et al.
https://doi.org/10.53480/arz2-gn59
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COMMERCIAL: CABEUS EXPLORER
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