PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 20, Number 46 (November 8, 2026) PEN Website: https://planetarynews.org Editor: Mark V. Sykes Co-Editors: Matthew R Perry, Alex Morgan Email: pen_editor@psi.edu X: @pen2tweets Bluesky: @planetarynews.bsky.social o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month 2. MEPAG Virtual Meeting Reminder and ExMAG Survey 3. Postdoc Position in Experimental Geochemistry and Geochemical Modelling of Volcanic Seepage on Mars at the Space Research PAS 4. [NASA] COMPASS Workshop at AGU 5. [NASA] Aperiodic PDS Data Releases in 2026.10 6. Save the Date: SBAG36 7. [NASA] Planetary Science Division Town Hall, November 12 8. 15th ELSI International Symposium: Redefining the Limits of Detection 9. Design Instruments for Lunar Penetrators 10. Ice Giant Systems Seminar Series: November 10, Robin Canup (Southwest Research Institute) 11. [NASA] Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities Released 12. The Origin & Habitability of the Galilean Moons II 13. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 14. Planetary Science Journal - New Papers 15. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets - New Papers 16. Planetary Research - New Papers Commercial/Fundraising Announcements: C1. Paid, Remote AI Evaluation Work for Planetary Scientists, Physicists and Astronomers (Part-time, Contract) 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 PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY IMAGE OF THE MONTH The November image of the month is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page: https://planetarygeomorphology.wordpress.com This month's topic is 'Boiling that builds instead of destroys: sedimentary volcanism reproduced under Martian-like pressure', contributed by Dr. Ondrej Kryza, Institute of Geophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic. You can also follow IAG Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month on BlueSky (@planetarygeomorph.bsky.social) and online: https://bsky.app/profile/planetarygeomorph.bsky.social Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/PlanetaryGeomorphology Best wishes, Noe Le Becq (Chair, IAG Planetary Geomorphology working group) 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 MEPAG VIRTUAL MEETING REMINDER AND EXMAG SURVEY Here's your reminder to join us for the MEPAG virtual meeting next Monday/Tuesday November 9-10. Agenda and connection info available here: https://tinyurl.com/mwnzy98c And below please consider this request from ExMAG for input on extraterrestrial materials research: https://tinyurl.com/3d69da9n 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 POSTDOC POSITION IN EXPERIMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND GEOCHEMICAL MODELLING OF VOLCANIC SEEPAGE ON MARS AT THE SPACE RESEARCH PAS The Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences (CBK PAN) invites applications for a postdoctoral position in the NCN-funded project EXOMHYCL on experimental geochemistry and geochemical modelling of volcanic seepage on Mars. The ACS instrument of ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) has detected trace gases in the lower atmosphere of Mars that are hardly explained by atmospheric chemistry, and possibly indicate volcanic seepage. The postdoc will combine simulations of interactions between volcanic gases and permafrost constituents in the Mars simulation chamber of the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, University of Arkansas (UARK), and geochemical modelling. The position is based at the Wroclaw Branch of CBK PAN, Poland, and will include long stays at UARK. Supervisors: Daniel Mege (CBK PAN, TGO Interdisciplinary Scientist) and Vincent Chevrier (University of Arkansas). Requirements: PhD, publications, and strong experience with planetary simulation chambers; geochemical modelling is an asset. Duration: 12 months, extendable to 42 (32 months in Poland, 10 in Arkansas). Attractive salary. Deadline: 6 December 2026. Start: 1 April 2027 (negotiable). Full description and application procedure: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/469218 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 [NASA] COMPASS WORKSHOP AT AGU Attendees of the meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) are invited to join us for a workshop to learn about NASA SMD's Collaborative Opportunities for Mentorship, Partnership and Academic Success in Science (COMPASS) Program that funds collaborations between NASA and academic institutions that are not highly research intensive. Workshop Title: NASA SMD COMPASS Program - Funding Faculty and Student Research at a Broad Range of Institutions Date and Time: Sunday, December 6 2026, 08:30 - 12:00 PST Location: Moscone Center, Room 313-314 - South Participants will learn about strategies for responding to the proposal call, including how to address the components in each of the required elements of Scientific Overview, Collaboration Description, and Student Development Plan. Participants will also gain information about accessing the NASA proposal submission portal (NSPIRES) and understanding NASA Grants and Cooperative Agreements. If you are interested, please select the workshop via the meeting registration portal at: https://www.agu.org/annual-meeting For more information contact Dr. Padi Boyd at patricia.t.boyd@nasa.gov. [Edited for length] 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 [NASA] APERIODIC PDS DATA RELEASES in 2026.10 In October 2026, PDS ingested and made available the following data, none of which were regularly released with an ongoing mission: MAVEN SEP, Mars Express Mars MRS, New Horizons Spice, Juno Microwave Radiometer, Juno Gravity, Juno UVS, Cassini UVIS, Voyager 2 RSS, Voyager 1 RSS, MEX Mars VMC, Cassini RPWS, ExoMars SPICE, Mariner 5 Magnetomer, Mars Odyssey GRS, Mars Odyssey MARIE, Juno J. To access those data, go to: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20261031.shtml To access all data archived in PDS: https://pds.nasa.gov [Edited for length] 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 SAVE THE DATE: SBAG36 The 36th meeting of the Small Bodies Assessment Group will be fully virtual on April 20-22, 2027. Information about the specific times of day we will meet, the agenda, etc. will be shared in the new year. All the best, Terik Daly SBAG Chair 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 [NASA] PLANETARY SCIENCE DIVISION TOWN HALL, NOVEMBER 12 The NASA Planetary Science Division (PSD) will host a virtual community town hall on Thursday November 12, from 1 to 2 pm Eastern Time. The townhall will feature the new PSD Director (Acting), Dr. Lindsay Hays, and other members of PSD, who will discuss several topics, including new models for NASA-industry partnerships, the new competition model for PSD missions, and research updates. Members of the planetary science community and public are invited to join the virtual town hall at: https://tinyurl.com/3csenebz Participants may submit questions and vote on questions submitted by others at: https://nasa.cnf.io/sessions/qnjm/#!/dashboard Questions will be screened for spam and inappropriate content before appearing publicly, and those with similar content may be combined. 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 15TH ELSI INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM: REDEFINING THE LIMITS OF DETECTION Theme: Redefining the Limits of Detection - Tracing Life from the Deep Past to Planetary Frontiers Date: January 6-8, 2027 Location: Institute of Science Tokyo, Ookayama Campus, Tokyo, Japan Registration/Poster Deadline: November 30, 2026 (Poster submissions may close earlier if capacity is reached.) How can we distinguish traces of life from non-biological signals when evidence approaches the limits of detection? The symposium will bring together researchers in planetary science, geoscience, biology, chemistry, and astronomy to discuss biosignatures in ancient terrestrial rocks and extreme environments, life detection on Mars and icy moons, sample return missions and laboratory analyses, and atmospheric signatures of exoplanets. For more information and registration: https://sympo15.elsi.jp 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 DESIGN INSTRUMENTS FOR LUNAR PENETRATORS In partnership with the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI), Potomac Database Systems is looking to partner with lunar surface instrument makers. These instruments would specifically be for the Pathfinder high-G tolerant lunar impacting penetrators, roughly the size and mass of a 3-6u CubeSat and flying to the Moon in the 2028-2029 timeframe. Please indicate your interest in a follow-up conversation with Potomac here: https://forms.gle/HPD4SSsFEELUtdS77 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 ICE GIANT SYSTEMS SEMINAR SERIES: NOVEMBER 10, ROBIN CANUP (SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE) Date/Time: November 10, 11am ET Topic: Origin of the Uranian System Abstract: The origin of Uranus and its system of satellites remains a puzzle. I will review some of the main aspects of this system that present challenges to both planet and satellite formation models and discuss both recent advances and desired future data. 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 the series website: https://icegiantsseminar.jhuapl.edu 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 [NASA] SPACE TECHNOLOGY GRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES RELEASED Go to: https://nspires.nasaprs.com/ The solicitation is also available at: https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/NNH26ZTR001N-26NSTGRO_B4 Through this fellowship opportunity, NASA seeks to sponsor U.S. citizen, U.S. national, and permanent-resident graduate-student research that has significant potential to contribute to NASA's goal of creating innovative space technologies for our Nation's science, exploration, and economic future. This call solicits research proposals on behalf of individuals pursuing or planning to pursue master's or doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in relevant space technology disciplines at U.S. institutions of higher education (IHEs). Proposing students must have a bachelor's degree prior to the fall 2027 term and be enrolled in a full-time master's or doctoral degree program at a U.S. IHE at the start of the fall 2027 term. Mandatory preliminary proposals are due on or before December 9, 2026, 6 pm Eastern Time, and the target deadline for invited full proposals is March 18, 2027, 6 pm Eastern Time. Detailed submission instructions are provided under "Other Documents" on the NSPIRES webpage associated with the NSTGRO27 solicitation. Comments and questions may be addressed by email to the Space Technology Research Grants Program, at HQ-NSTGRO-Call@mail.nasa.gov. [Edited for length] 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 THE ORIGIN & HABITABILITY OF THE GALILEAN MOONS II 23-25 March 2027 Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) Tokyo, Japan The conference will explore four interconnected themes - Formation, Evolution, Habitability, and Missions - bringing together researchers from a wide range of disciplines to discuss the origin, evolution, and potential habitability of the Galilean moons. Go to: https://sites.google.com/elsi.jp/galilean-moons-origin-habit-ii Deadline for abstracts: 15 December, 2026. 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 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 January 6-8, 2027 15th ELSI International Symposium: Redefining the Limits of Detection https://sympo15.elsi.jp Tokyo, Japan March 23-25, 2027 The Origin & Habitability of the Galilean Moons II https://sites.google.com/elsi.jp/galilean-moons-origin-habit-ii Tokyo, Japan 14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14 PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS Direct Links to Open Access Papers Editor, Brian Jackson https://psj.aas.org The Limits of Tidal Circularization and Atmospheric Escape for Mini- Neptunes and Super-Earths: The Case of TOI-2257 b Michael Kent A. Olohoy et al. 2026 PSJ 7:250 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/aeb37d A Cassini/CAPS Survey of Ionospheric Outflow at Saturn and Its Internal and External Drivers M. Felici et al. 2026 PSJ 7:251 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/aeb1d4 Insights into the Micromechanical Properties of Different Planetary Bodies: Nanoindentation Studies of Martian Olivines and Pyroxenes Pau Grebol-Tomas et al. 2026 PSJ 7:252 https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/aeb1ae 15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15 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 Sulfidation Reaction Mechanisms of Olivine and Diopside at Mercury's Reducing Conditions Rody C. Erftemeijer, Thomas Muller, Christian J. Renggli https://doi.org/10.1029/2026JE010018 An Analysis of the Recent Global Geologic History of Europa: Evidence for Clustered Resurfacing and a Lack of True Polar Wander Erin J. Leonard, D. Alex Patthoff, David A. Senske https://doi.org/10.1029/2026JE009941 Preferential Orientations of Subjovian Patera and Northern Hemisphere Mountain Populations on Io C. H. Seeger & K. de Kleer https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009638 New Constraints on the Lunar Crust and Upper Mantle From Multiple Geophysical Data Sets Xiang Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2026JE009866 Photometric Characterization of the Moon's Silicic Sites: Insights Into the Origin of Silica-Rich Magmas S. R. Burnette et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2026JE009717 Quantitative Morphometry of the Ape Cave Lava Tube: A Statistical Framework for Terrestrial Analogue Studies of Planetary Subsurface Voids Sarai Montanez Munoz et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2026JE010115 Depositional History of the Otis Peak Formation, Western Fan, Jezero Crater, Mars Samantha Gwizd et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2026JE009715 When Laboratory Studies of Plumes Shed the Veil of the Enceladus' Interior Yael R. A. Bourgeois, Stephanie M. Cazaux, Fabrizio Giordano https://doi.org/10.1029/2026JE009968 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16-16 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: ANNOUNCEMENT OF PROPOSAL-WRITING COURSES FOR SPRING 2027 Register your interest for either of two intensive, instructor-led courses for Spring 2027, designed to help break down barriers faced by early-career researchers as they seek independent funding. Course 1: Getting Your Message Across - A proposal-writing bootcamp for early career researchers This course focuses on effective communication of an existing proposal concept; best for those who have a proposal partly or fully written, or wish to resubmit a previously-submitted proposal. 6 live 2-hour sessions; limited to 8 participants; cost: $1975 Course 2: From idea to submission - How to develop a research proposal This course focuses on developing a proposal concept from scratch; best for those who are new to proposal-writing, or who want to improve their ability to write proposals in a systematic and timely fashion. 8 live 2-hour sessions; limited to 6 participants; cost: $2495 You can find detailed information and FAQ at: https://www.writetrack.co Use the contact form or email info@writetrack.co to register interest in Spring 2027 courses. Come visit us in the Fall AGU meeting exhibit hall from Monday, December 7 to Thursday, December 10! We'll be at Booth #1741 in the Academic Showcase: https://tinyurl.com/WriteTrackBooth *********************************************************************** * 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. All editorial work is * volunteer. ***********************************************************************