The Planetary Science Journal Archives

Modeled global distribution of annual atmospheric formaldehyde (H₂CO) delivery to the surface of early Mars, overlaid on present-day topography with rover landing sites. Darker colors indicate higher delivery. Credit Shungo Koyama et al.-- Tohoku University

Following Ancient Rain Toward The Origins Of Life On Mars

by Keith CowingOctober 2, 2026October 2, 2026

[Tohoku University] The Mars we know today is a cold, dry world of dust and rocks. However, around 3.8-3.6 billion years ago, it may have looked very different. Geological and […]

Graphical Abstract -- Brookhaven National Laboratory

Meteorites & Asteroids

A Glimpse of the Solar System’s Origins: Striking Details on the Molecules Inside a Meteorite

by Keith CowingSeptember 29, 2026September 29, 2026

[Brookhaven National Laboratory] Researchers at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory have teamed up to get a fresh look at the complex makeup of meteorites and […]

Schematic diagram (not to scale) of the experimental apparatus used for benzene ice nucleation and growth studies (adapted from D. Dubois et al. 2021). Pressure was measured with a capacitance manometer (P1) and an ion gauge (P2). The inset shows a top view of the cooled sample holder with the positions of the three K-type thermocouple gauges (red dots) used for temperature measurements. The ice sample formed on either or both sides of the silicon substrate/tholin sample (gray), which was in the path of the IR beam of the Thermo Fisher iS50. IR transmission spectra were collected with a liquid N2-cooled MCT/A detector. -- The Planetary Science Journal

Titan

Experimental Measurements of Benzene Ice Critical Saturation Ratios on Titan Tholins and Impact on the Microphysical Modeling of Titan’s South Polar Benzene Cloud

by Keith CowingSeptember 1, 2026September 1, 2026

[The Planetary Science Journal] The Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer revealed the presence of a benzene (C6H6) ice cloud in Titan’s autumn south polar stratosphere following the northern spring equinox in […]

Example Uranus orbit insertion outside the zeta ring. Uranus orbit insertion maneuver traverses Uranus’s ring plane in the epsilon-ν ring gap (left). Uranus orbit insertion (UOI) burn (1.62 hr duration, 1331 m s−1) as viewed from Earth (right). While this example occurs in full view of ground stations, this is not a feature of all UOI geometries, where some portion of the burn is typically occulted with respect to Earth. Uranus’s orbital velocity vector is indicated for reference. Reproduced from D. Ellison et al. (2025).

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Ice Giant, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Status Report, Uranus

Uranus Orbiter and Probe: Mission Challenges and Concept Updates Since the Origins, Worlds, and Life Decadal Survey

by Keith CowingJune 14, 2026June 14, 2026

Origins, Worlds, and Life: Planetary Science and Astrobiology in the Next Decade identified a Uranus Orbiter and Probe as the highest-priority strategic mission for the decade 2023–2032, as it enables […]

Locations (yellow circles) of ROIs that include paterae, potential flows, and cryovolcanic candidate regions (K. Stephan et al. 2021a) on top of the global geological map of Ganymede from G. C. Collins et al. (2013). Mercator projection. -- The Planetary Science Journal

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Ganymede, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Missions & Hardware, Status Report

Potential Cryovolcanic Regions on Ganymede: A Priority Target for JUICE

by Keith CowingJune 7, 2026June 26, 2026

One of the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission goals of the European Space Agency, launched in 2023 April, is the detailed characterization of Ganymede, Jupiter’s largest moon and a […]

Artist’s impression of Dragonfly landing on Titan. Image: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Status Report, Titan, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Science Goals and Objectives for the Dragonfly Titan Rotorcraft Relocatable Lander

by Keith CowingApril 28, 2026April 28, 2026

NASA’s Dragonfly mission will send a rotorcraft lander to the surface of Titan in the mid-2030s. Dragonfly’s science themes include investigation of Titan’s prebiotic chemistry, habitability, and potential chemical biosignatures […]

Schematic of the procedure in two sets of experiments performed with carbonated water. The Planetary Science Journal

Analog Studies, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Europa, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

The Fate of Frozen Carbonated Water at Europa-like Conditions

by Keith CowingMarch 20, 2026

We present the results of experiments probing the retention of CO2 in crystalline water ice, frozen sodium chloride (NaCl) brines, and flash-frozen carbonated water using diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy.

Strength of key long-term feedbacks governing Earth’s climate system (D. S. Abbot 2016; D. D. B. Koll & T. W. Cronin 2018; C. W. Arnscheidt & D. H. Rothman 2020; P. Forster et al. 2021). Each bar represents the feedback parameter in W m−2 K−1, estimated from Earth system model assessments and paleoclimate constraints. The upper axis shows the approximate feedback strength associated with a 50 K climate perturbation, representative of transitions between major states (e.g., snowball to temperate). Feedbacks are sorted by magnitude. Negative values (blue) represent stabilizing feedback that dampens temperature changes, while positive values (orange) indicate destabilizing feedback that amplifies them. Outgoing longwave radiation and the carbonate–silicate cycle are among the strongest stabilizing processes, while the ice–albedo feedback exerts a strong destabilizing influence. Models incorporating the three dominant types of feedback explain the general behavior of Earth’s long-term mean climate. -- The Planetary Science Journal

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Status Report

Not Earth-like Yet Temperate? More Generic Climate Feedback Configurations Still Allow Temperate Climates in Habitable Zone Exo-Earth Candidates

by Keith CowingMarch 20, 2026March 20, 2026

Earth’s climate is influenced by over a dozen types of feedback, but only three dominate its long-term climate behavior. Models of the exoplanet habitable zone (HZ) assume that this is […]

Spectra of NEOs with (potential) 3 μm absorption features. (A) Spectrum of (161989) Cacus as observed on 2022 September 3 and 4. (B) (756998) 2024 CR9 as observed on 2024 June 9. (C) 1998 HH 49 as observed on 2023 October 19. (D) 2006 WB as observed on 2024 November 27. The blue points represent the reflectance spectra (thermal component removed) and the red dashed lines are the reflected continua. -- The Planetary Science Journal via X-mol.net

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Meteorites & Asteroids, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report

Hydration Features on Near-Earth Objects: Integrating New Data with Prior Results

by Keith CowingMarch 10, 2026March 10, 2026

Near-Earth objects (NEOs) are excellent laboratories for testing processes that affect airless bodies, as well as informing us about solar system history.

Contour plots of surface temperature, cloud water column, albedo, and OLR for our four representative climate states. -- Planetary Science Journal

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, TRAPPIST-1

Chemistry, Climate, And Transmission Spectra Of TRAPPIST-1 e Explored With A Multimodel Sparse Sampled Ensemble

by Keith CowingOctober 16, 2025October 16, 2025

TRAPPIST-1 e is one of a few habitable zone exoplanets that is amenable to characterization in the near term. In this study our motivations are both scientific and technical.

The Planetary Science Journal

Following Ancient Rain Toward The Origins Of Life On Mars

A Glimpse of the Solar System’s Origins: Striking Details on the Molecules Inside a Meteorite

Experimental Measurements of Benzene Ice Critical Saturation Ratios on Titan Tholins and Impact on the Microphysical Modeling of Titan’s South Polar Benzene Cloud

Uranus Orbiter and Probe: Mission Challenges and Concept Updates Since the Origins, Worlds, and Life Decadal Survey

Potential Cryovolcanic Regions on Ganymede: A Priority Target for JUICE

Science Goals and Objectives for the Dragonfly Titan Rotorcraft Relocatable Lander

The Fate of Frozen Carbonated Water at Europa-like Conditions

Not Earth-like Yet Temperate? More Generic Climate Feedback Configurations Still Allow Temperate Climates in Habitable Zone Exo-Earth Candidates

Hydration Features on Near-Earth Objects: Integrating New Data with Prior Results

Chemistry, Climate, And Transmission Spectra Of TRAPPIST-1 e Explored With A Multimodel Sparse Sampled Ensemble

5 Questions About Astrobiology’s Future At NASA

The First Decade of Breakthrough Listen

Mars’ Oddest Cloud May Be Even Odder Than We Thought

A Technosignature Survey Of The Anti-Solar Point: The SETI Institute’s Largest-Ever Campaign With The Allen Telescope Array

Complex Organic Molecules in Protostars with ALMA Spectral Surveys (COMPASS) II. Approach To Data Reduction And Products For Line-rich Broadband (sub)millimeter Spectra