PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 20, Number 34 (August 23, 2026) PEN Website: https://planetarynews.org Editor: Matthew R Perry Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Alex Morgan Email: pen_editor@psi.edu X: @pen2tweets Bluesky: @planetarynews.bsky.social o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) August 2026 Newsletter 2. [AGU 2026] Workshop on using Finite Element Methods in Geophysics 3. New Horizons Open Science Team Meeting #60: Abstracts & Registration Due 31 August 4. New Horizons Science Spotlight Webinar This Week 5. December Planetary Photogrammetry Workshop at the University of Arizona 6. Next-Gen Lunar Community Mailing List 7. Machine Learning for Planetary Science and Space Physics (ML4PSP) Seminar Series - August Session 8. [DPS-58] Program is Live Online 9. [DPS-58] Volunteers are Solicited 10. [DPS-58] Field Trip at DPS-58 Meeting 11. [DPS-58] Conference Lodging 12. [DPS-58] Information for Exhibitors and Sponsors 13. [DPS-58] Dependent Care Applications 14. DPS Seeks a New Secretary 15. IBS-KAIST International Conference on Planetary Science and Space Exploration (PSSE): Call for Abstracts 16. Venus Exploration Analysis Group 2026 Meeting #24 17. GSA PGS Seeks a new Secretary/Treasurer 18. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 19. Planetary Science Journal - New Papers 20. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets - New Papers 21. Planetary Research - New Papers Commercial/Fundraising Announcements: C1. Commercial: Planetary & Spaceflight Analog Experience 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 MARS EXPLORATION PROGRAM ANALYSIS GROUP (MEPAG) AUGUST 2026 NEWSLETTER The Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) August 2026 Newsletter is available at: https://tinyurl.com/6crkdt73 As noted in the Letter, findings from MEPAG Hybrid Meeting #43 are posted at: https://tinyurl.com/5xzkwnds 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 [AGU 2026] WORKSHOP ON USING FINITE ELEMENT METHODS IN GEOPHYSICS If you are interested in learning more about using the finite element method (FEM) to simulate geophysical processes or want to meet and discuss methodologies with other FEM users, please consider attending our AGU workshop: "Finite Element Method Modeling of Geophysical Processes for Earth and Planetary Science." This workshop will be held on Sunday, 6 December likely in the afternoon at the AGU conference center. Please fill out the form below or email ianfpamerleau@cornell.edu if you're interested in being a presenter: https://tinyurl.com/26ptrvcr Presentations will be in the form of a 15-20 minute demo showcasing how to create a geophysical model and discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the specific software/extension. We are still in the early planning stages for this workshop, so if you have ideas of what you would like to see out of this workshop, please let us know in the form. Workshop details: https://tinyurl.com/y4vhdkba Thank you for considering our workshop, Mariana Blanco-Rojas, Ilana Bromberg, Ian Pamerleau 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 NEW HORIZONS OPEN SCIENCE TEAM MEETING #60: ABSTRACTS & REGISTRATION DUE 31 AUGUST Please join us at Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ, 28-30 September 2026! Currently at 65 au, NH is the only mission in the outer heliosphere and Kuiper Belt and is beyond most of the obscuring foreground of the zodiacal cloud. It is measuring interstellar pick-up ions for the first time together with solar wind plasma, energetic particles, and Galactic Cosmic Rays. The encounter with the heliospheric Termination Shock is estimated between 2027 and the mid 2030's and would bring new insights to help solve the mysteries that Voyager left behind. NH's UV spectrometer and optical telescope have uncovered unprecedented spectra of the cosmic background and other features that may reveal new astrophysical processes in the galaxy and beyond. NH's dust counter continues to detect a high dust flux that is contrary to the theoretical expectations of a Kuiper cliff, potentially pointing to a significantly extended Kuiper Belt. Lastly, together with a ground-based search program, further, new distant KBOs are being detected that NH can observe remotely to provide critical constraints on planetesimal formation. Please register and submit your brief abstract here: https://forms.gle/pYwwUkyJdt29s2TY7 [Edited for length] 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 NEW HORIZONS SCIENCE SPOTLIGHT WEBINAR THIS WEEK Join us on 27 August 2026, 2:30-3pm EDT New Horizons continues its operation, now at 65au 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. Please join us for our spotlight webinar this week (30 min, fourth week each month), or watch recorded at your convenience. Our speaker will be Oliver White (SETI) and he will be speaking on: "Pluto's Global Map" Connection Link: https://tinyurl.com/yx4awz59 Meeting ID: 973 1769 7636 Passcode: ExtendedKB Calendar for future seminars: https://tinyurl.com/ytbyac8f Recordings are archived and posted at: https://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/index.php#Spotlight-Presentations For questions, contact New Horizons Co-I Susan Benecchi, susank@psi.edu 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 DECEMBER PLANETARY PHOTOGRAMMETRY WORKSHOP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Registration is now open for the Planetary Data Training Workshop in Planetary Photogrammetry held December 1-4, 2026, at the University of Arizona's Space Imagery Center. The registration deadline is October 16, 2026. In this workshop we introduce the basic principles of photogrammetry and the skills necessary to make a Digital Terrain Model from stereo image pairs. Participants will go through the process of creating a DTM and orthorectified images with a HiRISE stereo pair using BAE's SOCET SET software and 3D hardware. We will also cover the use of Ames Stereo Pipeline and Structure-from-Motion (SfM) using Agisoft Metashape. The workshop is intended for researchers at any level who want to learn to generate their own stereo products. No prior expertise is required. Two travel grants are available for attendants. For more information and to register and apply for travel grants, please follow the links at: https://sic.lpl.arizona.edu/planetary-photogrammetry-workshops 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 NEXT-GEN LUNAR COMMUNITY MAILING LIST The Next-Generation Lunar Scientists and Engineers (NextGen) is an assemblage of graduate students, post-docs, and early career scientists and engineers who have a passion and vision for lunar science and exploration, and who are the future lunar workforce for NASA, academia, and industry. We'd like to bring your attention to our listserv, used to share relevant NextGen information, updates, and reminders regarding upcoming events, as well as potential job opportunities and ways to get involved in NextGen. We are currently working on new events and methodologies to support early career lunar and planetary researchers across the globe, including opportunities to join the Organizing Committee (OC), professional development events, and career seminars with astronauts and prominent members of the community. You can join our mailing list by sending an email containing any text to: nextgenlunar+subscribe@googlegroups.com If you don't have a Gmail account associated with your email you will not be automatically added; in that case, and with any questions, please email lunarnextgeneration@gmail.com For more information, please go to: https://www.nextgenlunar.space/ Sincerely, NextGen Organizing Committee 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 MACHINE LEARNING FOR PLANETARY SCIENCE AND SPACE PHYSICS (ML4PSP) SEMINAR SERIES - AUGUST SESSION Thank you to everyone who participated in July! In case you missed it, please find Xin Cao's talk on "Neural Network-Based Ionospheric Current Prediction with Focal Loss for Imbalanced Data" online on our YouTube channel. Our next seminar will take place on August 25 at 9:00 AM US Pacific Time, featuring: Poshan Belbase (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) Title: "Exploring the Kelvin Helmholtz instabilities around Mars with advanced machine learning tools" The full abstract is available here: ml4psp.github.io/schedule Zoom details: https://tinyurl.com/bdd7wwwr Meeting ID: 935 6088 0593 Passcode: ml4psp We look forward to seeing you there. Best regards, ML4PSP Organizers Ramana Sankar, Dona Kuruppuaratchi, Indhu Varatharajan 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 [DPS-58] PROGRAM IS LIVE ONLINE The DPS-58 program is now live online, showing the timing of oral and poster sessions, talks and posters within sessions, splinter meetings and workshops, and conference social and professional development events. We can hardly wait to see you all in Spokane, WA, October 25-30, and are looking forward to a planetary science highlight of 2026! https://submissions.mirasmart.com/DPS58/Itinerary/EventsAAG.aspx 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 [DPS-58] VOLUNTEERS ARE SOLICITED The Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to assist with the 58th DPS Annual Meeting in Spokane, Washington, October 25-30, 2026. We welcome applications from undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and local amateur astronomers who would like to contribute to the success of the meeting while gaining valuable experience and networking opportunities. Volunteer assignments may include: - Registration assistance - Session monitoring - Poster session support - Special events - General meeting logistics and attendee assistance Volunteers who complete a minimum of eight (8) hours of service will receive: - Complimentary meeting registration - Access to all scientific sessions throughout the meeting 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 [DPS-58] FIELD TRIP AT DPS-58 MEETING The DPS-58 Local Organizing Committee is hosting a field trip to the Channeled Scablands Sunday, 25 October, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm for $165 /person. Spokane, WA sits on the Columbia River flood basalt that is an analog for basaltic flows on the Moon, Mars, Mercury, and Venus. The Channeled Scablands were formed on the lavas by megafloods from Pleistocene glacial Lake Missoula, and are an analog to Martian outflow channels. The cost covers lunch and bus transportation from the conference center and back in time for the opening ceremony. Most stops are overlooks, but some have very short walks to outcrops. You must register for the meeting and add the trip to your registration. Login to the registration page with the same username and password that you used to register, scroll down, add the trip to your itinerary, and proceed to checkout. 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 [DPS-58] CONFERENCE LODGING Please consider arranging your hotel for DPS-58 at official conference lodging. There is a block of rooms at government rates, and lodging is connected to the conference venue-the Spokane Convention Center-via a covered a walkway. The hotel features an onsite restaurant and other options are located nearby. Utilizing this lodging will cut both cost to attend the conference and carbon footprint to attend the conference by eliminating the need for car rental. 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 [DPS-58] INFORMATION FOR EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS The Local Organizing Committee for DPS-58 is soliciting exhibitors and sponsors for the meeting. Exhibitor spaces are located in a heavily trafficked are between the poster sessions and common area in a large shared ballroom. If you are interested, please contact Rod Nenner (rod.nenner@aas.org) at the American Astronomical Society. 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 [DPS-58] DEPENDENT CARE APPLICATIONS The Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) offers Susan Niebur Dependent Care grants to support attendance at DPS-58 to be held 25-30 October 2026 in Spokane, Washington, U.S.A. These grants provide financial assistance to qualifying members to facilitate their meeting attendance by offsetting costs for child care, elder care, spousal care, etc., at the meeting location or at home during the DPS conference. Apply for a dependent care grant here: https://dps.aas.org/development/dps-dependent-care-grant-application/ 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 DPS SEEKS A NEW SECRETARY The DPS seeks a successor to Dr. Denise Stephens as DPS Secretary. If this impactful position interests you, submit a letter of interest and a CV to DPS Chair Scott Murchie at scott.murchie@jhuapl.edu or DPS.chair@aas.org. As Secretary, you would be part of the Executive Committee, helping to lead the division and formulate rapid responses to planetary community events. Regular duties are to: - Compile and distribute eNews to DPS members; - Maintain DPS records and documents including the DPS Meeting Guide, instruction guides for subcommittees, official Committee and Subcommittee membership lists, letterhead, bylaws, and membership data; - Oversee membership applications and the membership roster; - Collected statements from candidates for elected DPS offices identified by the Nominating Subcommittee, circulate them, conduct the annual election, and announce the results; - Prepare prize certificates and citations; and - Contribute to the corporate memory of DPS along with other officers. 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 IBS-KAIST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PLANETARY SCIENCE AND SPACE EXPLORATION (PSSE): CALL FOR ABSTRACTS November 3-5, 2026 Daejeon, Republic of Korea https://www.ibs.re.kr/IBS-KASA-KAIST/ We invite scientists, engineers, and students to share the latest research, ideas, and perspectives on planetary science and space exploration. This conference aims to bring together scientists and engineers from Korea and around the world to: - Share international experience and lessons learned - Build new connections and collaborations with Korean communities - Explore opportunities for international cooperation - Discuss future planetary missions and scientific investigations We especially welcome researchers involved in planetary science, space exploration, spacecraft, space-based instruments, and related technologies. Abstract submission: September 18, 2026 Registration: Free 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 VENUS EXPLORATION ANALYSIS GROUP 2026 MEETING Registration is now open for the 24th meeting of the Venus Exploration Analysis Group. Find the registration page here: https://www2.swri.org/vexag/default.htm The meeting will be held at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) in Boulder Colorado on October 8-9, 2026. The meeting is hybrid and virtual attendance will be available. Registration is free. A limited number of travel awards will be available for Early Career and Student in-person attendees. The application for the travel award is on the VEXAG 2026 meeting website: https://www2.swri.org/vexag/default.htm VEXAG is being held the Thursday and Friday before GSA Connects 2026, which is being held in Denver this year. This will allow the Venus community to easily attend both meetings! We hope that VEXAG attendees will also attend the GSA Venus session to ensure a well-attended and vibrant session! If you are interested in receiving regular updates about the meeting (and other Venus-related topics), you can sign up for the VEXAG newsletter at: https://groups.google.com/a/psi.edu/g/venus 17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17 GSA PGD SEEKS A NEW SECRETARY/TREASURER The Planetary Geology Division of the Geological Society of America seeks a new Secretary/Treasurer. This is a great opportunity to be involved in leading the planetary geology community. Learn more about the division here: https://community.geosociety.org/pgd/home To self-nominate, please send a one paragraph biography and one paragraph statement to Alex Morgan at amorgan@psi.edu 18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18 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 September 15-17, 2026 LEAG Annual Meeting https://secwww.jhuapl.edu/EventLink/event/663 West Lafayette, IN September 22-23, 2026 Outer Planets Analysis Group (OPAG) Community Meeting https://tinyurl.com/ydmbvt3s Online October 8-9, 2026 24th Meeting of the Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) https://www2.swri.org/vexag/default.htm Boulder, CO November 2-6, 2026 Grandmagnet 2026: Decoding the Magnetized Dusty Universe https://www.grandmagnet.org/grandmagnet2026 Jeju Island, South Korea November 3-5, 2026 IBS-KAIST International Conference on Planetary Science and Space Exploration https://www.ibs.re.kr/IBS-KASA-KAIST/ Daejeon, South Korea December 1-4, 2026 Planetary Photogrammetry Training Workshop https://sic.lpl.arizona.edu/planetary-photogrammetry-workshops Tucson, AZ December 7-10, 2026 12th Annual Science at Low Frequencies (SALF XII) Conference - 2026 https://salfconference.org Tempe, AZ March 17-19, 2027 30 Years of STIS and the Future of UV Astronomy https://tinyurl.com/33n4camp Baltimore, MD June 21,-15, 2027 https://eas.unige.ch/EAS_meeting/ European Astronomical Society Annual Meeting Vienna, Austria August 2-6, 2027 ASC 2027: From the Sonata of Kepler and TESS to the Symphony of Future Missions https://cadiz-meeting2027.ugr.es/ Cadiz, Spain 19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19-19 PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS Direct Links to Open Access Papers Editor, Brian Jackson https://psj.aas.org Possible Magnetic Perturbations Associated with Starship Lunar Landings William M. Farrell et al. 2026 PSJ 7:198 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae8c39 Tracing the Source of Carbon Oxides on the Large Moons of Uranus Richard J. Cartwright et al. 2026 PSJ 7:199 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae8818 Experimental Measurements of Benzene Ice Critical Saturation Ratios on Titan Tholins and Impact on the Microphysical Modeling of Titan's South Polar Benzene Cloud David Dubois et al. 2026 PSJ 7:200 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae9092 Constraints on Magma Self-oxidation in Angrites and the Role of Parent-body Size Hideharu Kuwahara et al. 2026 PSJ 7:201 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae8ba4 20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-20 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 Rheology and Structure of Fe-Mg-Ca Enriched Silicate Melt: Benchmarking Viscosity Models for an Exotic Planetary Composition Fabrizio Di Fiore & Michele Cassetta https://doi.org/10.1029/2026JE009904 Comparing Monte Carlo Models of Impact Alteration of Planetary Atmospheres M. R. Huffman et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009581 Effect of Lunar Rotation on Antipodal Ejecta Deposition S. Wakita & B. C. Johnson https://doi.org/10.1029/2026JE009799 Aluminum Phyllosilicate and Jarosite Formation Through Alteration of Reworked Al/Si-Rich Volcaniclastic Sediments in Nili Fossae, Mars S. R. Baker & B. L. Ehlmann https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009605 21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21 PLANETARY RESEARCH - NEW PAPERS Direct Links to Diamond Open Access Papers Editor-in-Chief, Mark A. Wieczorek https://planetary-research.org No new papers this week. C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1-C1 COMMERCIAL: PLANETARY & SPACEFLIGHT ANALOG EXPERIENCE September 15 is the DEADLINE for the Planetary & Spaceflight Analog Experience in New Mexico with the Planetary Society! Learn the basics of planetary field geology, planetary surface processes, astronaut geology training, along with the basics of suborbital human spaceflight with Virgin Galactic, the Challenger Center, and the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Register at: https://planex.space/planetarysociety Education discounts are available. Join other space-curious and space-serious folks October 16-18 to experience the planets on Earth. Questions? Contact planetary geologist Kirby Runyon at kirby@planex.space. Brought to you by Planetary Experience Consulting (https://planex.space) in partnership with the Planetary Society (planetary.org). *********************************************************************** * 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. 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. All editorial work is * volunteer. ***********************************************************************