This planetary science research meeting is the 58th annual gathering of the American Astronomical Society’s Division for Planetary Sciences, organised for its specialist scientific community. Its plenaries, contributed talks, posters and splinter meetings cover planets, moons, small bodies, missions and exoplanets for planetary scientists, astronomers, students, instrument teams and related researchers.
About DPS 58
DPS 58 is the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Astronomical Society’s Division for Planetary Sciences. It takes place at Spokane Convention Center from 25 to 30 October 2026 and provides a dedicated forum for research on the Solar System, exoplanets and planetary processes. The programme combines plenary and prize talks with contributed research presentations, posters, workshops and smaller meetings organised around scientific or professional questions.
The topical categories range from asteroid dynamics and planetary surfaces to atmospheres, interiors, magnetospheres, missions and comparative planetology. Special sessions connect current mission data and anniversaries of active or long-running exploration programmes with wider scientific questions. Abstract categories guide the scientific organising committee when it builds coherent sessions, so the final programme may group related submissions under titles that differ from the initial category labels. Splinter meetings add space for focused scientific or programmatic discussion alongside the main schedule. This structure makes DPS 58 a research-led astronomy meeting rather than a public space festival or aerospace exhibition. Attendees should use the online programme and abstract record to identify relevant talks, posters and specialist meetings once final scheduling is available.
Event history and organiser
The Division for Planetary Sciences is the American Astronomical Society’s professional division for researchers studying planets, moons, small bodies and planetary systems. Its annual meeting has reached a 58th edition, reflecting a continuous specialist forum that has evolved alongside robotic exploration, new observatories and the growth of exoplanet science. The Division and AAS organise the meeting, publish abstracts and programme material, manage registration and apply the Society’s meeting policies. Recurring prize lectures and named awards connect current research with professional recognition across career stages. The host city changes between editions, while the scientific identity remains tied to contributed research, community discussion and division business. For Spokane, the programme includes plenaries, topical sessions, posters and eligible splinter meetings within the main registration framework. Historical mission anniversaries may shape individual special sessions, but the full meeting covers the breadth of planetary science rather than functioning as a conference for any single mission or destination.
Topics and themes
DPS 58 organises research by planetary target, physical process and observing method. Its categories help connect mission results, laboratory work, modelling and telescope observations within coherent sessions.
- Planetary surfaces and interiors: geology, geophysics and composition reveal how rocky and icy worlds formed and continue to change.
- Small bodies and dynamics: asteroids, comets, rings and orbital populations preserve early Solar System evidence and present exploration targets.
- Atmospheres, climates and magnetospheres: observations and models compare the environments surrounding planets and moons across different regimes.
- Mission science and instrumentation: spacecraft observations, coordinated campaigns and new instruments connect engineering capability with planetary discovery and comparative analysis.
- Exoplanets and comparative planetology: worlds around other stars expand the range of climates, compositions and system architectures available for scientific comparison.
Who should attend?
DPS 58 is primarily for planetary scientists, astronomers and mission researchers who want to present or follow current work across Solar System and exoplanet studies. Spacecraft science teams, telescope observers, laboratory researchers, modellers and instrument specialists can use the programme to compare evidence obtained through different methods. Graduate students and early-career scientists gain access to contributed talks, posters, professional recognition and networking within a specialist division. Researchers in geology, atmospheric science, astrobiology, dynamics or data analysis may also find direct relevance where their methods apply to planetary targets. Educators and science communicators can follow research developments, although the meeting is structured for professional exchange rather than casual public attendance. Exhibitors and sponsors have defined AAS routes, but the central value remains the scientific programme and community discussion.
View DPS 58 informationPractical information
DPS 58 runs at Spokane Convention Center from 25 to 30 October. Registration is open through AAS, with separate published information for housing, travel, meeting policies and eligible grants.
Authors should confirm abstract scheduling and presentation instructions. All delegates should check whether workshops, special events or splinter meetings require separate advance registration beyond the main meeting badge.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is DPS 58?
The 58th Annual Meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences runs from 25 to 30 October 2026 at Spokane Convention Center in central Spokane, Washington, United States.
What kind of meeting is DPS 58?
It is a specialist planetary science research meeting organised through the American Astronomical Society, with plenaries, contributed research talks, posters, workshops and smaller scientific meetings.
Which subjects does DPS 58 cover?
Topics span planets, moons, asteroids, comets, rings, surfaces, interiors, atmospheres, magnetospheres, exploration missions, instrumentation, exoplanets, astrobiology and comparative studies of planetary systems.
Who should attend DPS 58?
The meeting is for planetary scientists, astronomers, mission and instrument teams, laboratory researchers, computational modellers, graduate students, early-career scientists and related professional communities.
How do researchers present work?
Researchers use the AAS abstract process and should follow the published scheduling and presentation instructions. The final scientific programme determines whether accepted work appears as an oral talk or poster.
Are splinter meetings part of DPS 58?
Approved splinter meetings are considered part of the main DPS programme. Participants generally need full meeting registration, and individual specialist scientific sessions may be open to delegates or invitation-only.