PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 20, Number 1 (January 4, 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. Tenure-track Faculty Position, Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder 2. Call for Student Proposals: 2026 Schweickart Prize 3. Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month 4. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship - Application Deadline March 1, 2026 5. [AbSciCon 2026] Session 06: Exoplanet Surface Biosignatures 6. [AbSciCon 2026] Session 17: Interpreting Signs of Life on Evolving Oxic and Anoxic Worlds 7. Invitation to Join Roman Space Telescope Strategic Proposal Planning 8. [NASA] PDS: Aperiodic PDS Releases 2025.12 9. [NASA] PDS: Odyssey Data Release 94 10. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions 11. Planetary Science Journal - New Papers 12. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets - New Papers 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 TENURE-TRACK FACULTY POSITION, DEPARTMENT OF ASTROPHYSICAL AND PLANETARY SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER The Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences (APS) Department at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) is conducting a search for a new faculty member. The search is targeted at the Assistant Professor rank. We are interested in candidates from a broad range of astrophysical and planetary sciences, including researchers specializing in instrumentation, observation, and theoretical and computational approaches. This position requires the ability to develop and conduct an innovative independent research program, dedication to teaching in our undergraduate and graduate programs, and commitment to supporting the diverse student populations in our department. The APS department recognizes that contributions from a broad range of perspectives strengthen the effectiveness and creativity of a group. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/?jobId=69040 [Edited for length] 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 CALL FOR STUDENT PROPOSALS: 2026 SCHWEICKART PRIZE The 2026 Schweickart Prize is now accepting applications from graduate students and recent postgraduate fellows with ideas that advance planetary defense and our understanding of near-Earth objects. The prize supports innovative proposals spanning asteroid detection and mitigation, space policy and governance, and public engagement around planetary hazards. Application Deadline is February 4, 2026. The selected winner will receive a $10,000 USD award, a museum-quality prize, public recognition through a dedicated press campaign, and mentorship from the Schweickart Prize Selection Committee, including Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart. To support interested applicants, two information webinars with live Q&A will be held on January 21 and 22 at 9am PDT / 12pm EDT / 6pm CEST. These sessions will feature members of the Prize Committee alongside insights from the 2025 Schweickart Prize winner. RSVP for webinar details: https://bit.ly/4qko54N Learn more: https://www.schweickartprize.org/ Sign up for updates: https://bit.ly/3PKJvqJ 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 PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY IMAGE OF THE MONTH The January image of the month is now available on the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page: https://planetarygeomorphology.wordpress.com This month's topic is 'Lobate Forms: Mass Movements Directly Linked to Impact Cratering Processes', contributed by Alistair Blance, PhD candidate at the Open University, UK. You can follow IAG Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/planetarygeomorph.bsky.social or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlanetaryGeomorphology Best wishes, Lonneke Roelofs (Chair, IAG Planetary Geomorphology working group) 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 POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP - APPLICATION DEADLINE MARCH 1, 2026 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: https://npp.orau.org/applicants/opportunities.html 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: https://npp.orau.org/applicants/eligibility.html 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: https://npp.orau.org/applicants/index.html Questions: npp@orau.org 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 [ABSCICON 2026] SESSION 06: EXOPLANET SURFACE BIOSIGNATURES We invite submissions to the following AbSciCon session entitled "Exoplanet Surface Biosignatures": https://agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon26/prelim.cgi/Session/276541 Surface biosignatures are planetary-scale spectral features that result from the interaction of light with biological pigments or structures covering the surface of a planet, as exemplified by the vegetation red edge. These surface biosignatures can offer multiple lines of evidence to corroborate atmospheric biosignatures such as oxygen, helping to reduce the risk of false positives. These features may be detectable in reflected light by the Astrophysics Flagship Mission, the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). This session encourages submissions from astronomers, planetary scientists, geologists, biologists, and polarimetry experts characterizing photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic surface pigment biosignatures, assessing their detectability, and considering potential false positives from minerals, rocks, and snow or ice. We welcome laboratory-based, field-based, theoretical, and modeling studies. Contributions may offer valuable insights for optimizing HWO mission designs and trade studies. Abstract submissions are due 14 January 2026 at 23:59 EDT (03:59 UTC). [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 [ABSCICON 2026] SESSION 17: INTERPRETING SIGNS OF LIFE ON EVOLVING OXIC AND ANOXIC WORLDS We invite submissions to the following AbSciCon session entitled "Interpreting Signs of Life on Evolving Oxic and Anoxic Worlds": https://agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon26/prelim.cgi/Session/275700 Earth's atmospheric history encompasses a range of distinct compositions that collectively serve as a reference for exoplanet characterization. But utilizing this information requires studying both long-lived compositional environments and the complex transitional periods in between. For example, atmospheric O2 has evolved repeatedly over time - such as the mid-Phanerozoic O2 maximum after the advent of the first forests, or uncertainty about the rate of its rise throughout the Great Oxidation Event - which emphasizes how the establishment of an atmospheric biosignature may be nonlinear or nuanced. This session invites any contributions related to atmospheric composition throughout Earth history and its value for exoplanet observation and characterization. Topics include, but are not limited to: modeling, fieldwork, or laboratory work on the evolution of the anoxic and oxic Earth, key atmospheric biosignatures such as O2 over time, retrievals of such gases, and implications for interpreting stages of biosphere-atmosphere evolution with data from current and future missions (e.g., JWST, HWO). [Edited for length] 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 INVITATION TO JOIN ROMAN SPACE TELESCOPE STRATEGIC PROPOSAL PLANNING The Roman Space Telescope is preparing to launch in late 2026. Three core community surveys and one General Astrophysics Survey (GAS) have already been designed: https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov/ The Cycle 1 Call for Proposals solicits for: Analysis of Roman data, new GASs, theory and laboratory astrophysics, public ancillary data analysis and TOOs. It is due March 17. While all the current surveys will produce data for Solar System science, none are specifically designed for such. The Exoplanets and Solar System (SS) Working Group leads invite you to participate in discussion for proposal designs and preparation, which are differently structured than typical space-telescope calls. For new datasets science applications outside Exoplanet and SS are important factors and the data have NO proprietary period. For analysis we desire input from the community to learn both what tools might already exist/can be adapted, and what tools need to be developed. We meet the first Tuesday of each month and invite you to join us. Our next meeting is 13 January 2026 from 3-4pm EST at: https://osu.zoom.us/j/93405766421?pwd=sEKhbq64QfBcjv7fn62rHZsb67LvNn.1 To connect before our next meeting or have questions, please contact: Susan Benecchi, susank@psi.edu SS/Exoplanet Working group co-lead 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 [NASA] PDS: APERIODIC PDS RELEASES 2025.12 In December 2025, PDS ingested and made available the following data, none of which were regularly released with an ongoing mission: Mars Express: - HRSC Radiometric RDR Extension9 V4.0 - MaRS (Radio Science) 1/2/3 Extension9 (4469, 4469, 4458, 4453, 4450, 4449,4447,4446,4444,4442,4441) - MaRS (Radio Science) Occultation New Horizons: - LORRI Pluto Encounter Raw Data - LORRI Pluto Encounter Partially Processed Data MAVEN: - MAG Part of Release 43 (late) - EUV Modelled Bundle Part of Release 43 (late) - EUV Calibrated Bundle Part of Release 43 (late) - EUV Derived Data Part of Release 43 (late) Voyager 2: - PLS Uranus Encounter Data Bundle - PLS Neptune Encounter Data Bundle - Jupiter Trajectory Heliographic Coordinates - Jupiter Trajectory System III (1965) Coordinates - Neptune Trajectory Heliographic Coordinates 48s - Neptune Trajectory NLS Coords 12s - Saturn Trajectory Heliographic Coordinates - Saturn Trajectory Kronographic (L1) Coordinates - Uranus Trajectory Heliographic Coordinates 48s - Uranus Trajectory Uranus Longitude (U1) Coords 48s Other: - Friability of Meteorites - Psyche SPICE Kernel Archive - Pioneer Venus Probes DLBI - Voyager 1 Saturn Low Energy Charged Particle Data To access those data: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20251231.shtml To access all data archived in PDS: https://pds.nasa.gov 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 [NASA] PDS: ODYSSEY DATA RELEASE 94 The NASA Planetary Data System announces Release 94 of data from the Mars Odyssey Orbiter. This release contains raw, calibrated, and derived data products nominally covering the time period April 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025, for the GRS/HEND/NS suite, and March 4, 2025 through June 2, 2025, for THEMIS. Since the previous Mars Odyssey release, two raw Radio Science data volumes have been released, with data covering the period July 1, 2025 to October 31, 2025. GRS/HEND/NS and Radio Science data are archived at the PDS Geosciences Node, THEMIS data at the THEMIS Data Node, and SPICE data at the PDS NAIF Node. Odyssey releases occur every three months. The next release is scheduled for April 1, 2026. The data may be accessed from: https://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/odyssey/ or for a more dataset-oriented view: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-20260102.shtml All available PDS data may be found at: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/data-search/ To access the latest PDS Data Releases, please visit the following link: https://pds.nasa.gov/datasearch/subscription-service/SS-Release.shtml For further information, see the PDS Home Page: https://pds.nasa.gov/ 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 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 May 17-22, 2026 Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) https://www.agu.org/abscicon Madison, WI August 10-14, 2026 Substellar Astrophysics https://substellarerc.github.io/conference2026/ Tordesillas, Spain 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL - NEW PAPERS Direct Links to Open Access Papers Editor, Faith Vilas https://psj.aas.org No new papers. 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 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 Structure of Jupiter's High-Latitude Storms: Folded Filamentary Regions Revealed by Juno L. N. Fletcher et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009315 Characterization of a Lava Plain NW of Ascraeus Mons, Mars, Through Surface Morphometric Analyses and SHARAD Subsurface Detections G. Nodjoumi et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE008968 *********************************************************************** * 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. 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