Amateur astronomy has evolved dramatically over recent years. A motivated amateur, with his/her backyard instrument and available software is nowadays capable of getting high-resolution planetary images in different wavelengths (better than many professional observatories could achieve 20 years ago). Topics well covered by amateur astronomers include: high-resolution imaging of solar system planets, high-precision photometry of stellar occultations by minor objects and giant planets' atmospheres, satellites' mutual phenomena and high-precision photometry of exoplanet transits. Additionally amateurs use dedicated all-sky cameras or radio-antennae to provide continuous meteor-detection coverage of the sky near their location and they start to contribute to spectroscopic studies of solar system objects.

Hundreds of regular observers are sharing their work providing very valuable data to professional astronomers. This is very valuable at a time when professional astronomers face increasing competition accessing observational resources. Additionally, networks of amateur observers can react at very short notice when triggered by a new event occurring on a solar system object requiring observations, or can contribute to a global observation campaign along with professional telescopes.

Moreover, some experienced amateur astronomers use advanced methods for analysing their data meeting the requirements of professional researchers, thereby facilitating regular and close collaboration with professionals. Often this leads to publication of results in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Examples include planetary meteorology of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune or Venus; meteoroid or bolide impacts on Jupiter; asteroid studies, cometary or exoplanet research.

Space missions also sollicitate amateur astronomers support. For example, to understand the atmospheric dynamics of the planet at the time of Juno flybys, NASA collaborates with amateur astronomers observing the Giant Planet. It showcases an exciting opportunity for amateurs to provide an unique dataset that is used to plan the high-resolution observations from JunoCam and that advances our knowledge of the Giant planet Jupiter. Contribution of amateurs range from their own images to Junocam images processing and support on selecting by vote the feature to be observed during the flybys. Other probes like Ariel or Lucy sollicitate amateur astronomers observation to support exoplanets and small bodies science.

This session will showcase results from amateur astronomers, working either by themselves or in collaboration with members of the professional community. In addition, members from both communities will be invited to share their experiences of pro-am partnerships and offer suggestions on how these should evolve in the future.

We are living in a state of climate emergency. More than a century of burning fossil fuels as well as unequal and unsustainable energy and land use has led to global warming of 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. This has resulted in more frequent and more intense extreme weather events that have caused increasingly dangerous impacts on nature and people in every region of the world (IPCC 2023). Climate anxiety, a distress about climate change and its impacts on the landscape and human existence, is on the rise, especially among the youth, with significant impact on collective mental health and wellbeing, and side effects from constant consumption of news to an overall sense of helplessness. How does the community studying planet Earth’s immediate neighbourhood reflect on the consequences of climate change on our cosmic home? How do we communicate planetary science in a time when our beautiful “pale blue dot”, the only habitable world in the Solar System, is facing global challenges that put at risk the survival of many living species, including our own?

This session invites communication and public engagement practitioners as well as planetary scientists engaged in outreach activities to share their ongoing projects along with future plans and possible pitches on how this fascinating and poignant scientific topic can be put to use in the communication of a more sustainable future. We welcome examples of initiatives, narratives and interdisciplinary collaborations that employ the unique point-of-view of astronomical, planetary and space science imagery and research to nurture and raise awareness towards taking action for reversing climate change. We challenge participants to imagine new public outreach and communications scenarios in the context of planetary science that engage with specific needs of different audiences, drawing on the scientific content to inspire as well as to provide actual tools for sustainable development. Target audience analysis with respect to the climate emergency, climate anxiety and related issues is also encouraged, along with community and institutional efforts tackling the problem. We especially welcome contributions from developing countries and marginalised communities, who have contributed least to the current crisis and yet are at greatest risk of climate vulnerability.

The needs and practice of science communication have shifted dramatically in the past ~decade, mainly due to the increased use of social media communication channels, accompanied with somewhat diminishing role of traditional sci-comm media approaches, and recently also generative AI. The COVID19 pandemic exposed a lot of weaknesses of current science communication, especially not addressing a wider “polluted information system”, helping people navigate it to reach reliable evidence-based information and engaging in participatory rather than only top-down communication.

While the same issues are less pressing from the point of view of planetary science, they are relevant for the community as well, since discoveries in the Earth’s history and climate, exoplanet science, astrobiology and other fields can end up heavily distorted in the current information ecosystem. Increased engagement with planetary science is important not only for its own sake and because of the passion for science that we share, but also for practical reasons such as raising the next generation of scientists, teaching the scientific method and inquiry, promoting overall critical thinking and helping people understand issues such as climate change and its impacts.

Rather than parceling the central question of science communication for the 21st century into individual topics such as sci-comm on social media, role of books in current sci-comm, AI art in sci-comm, risks and benefits of AI in sci-comm, citizen science involvement for sci-comm, limiting misinformation (especially in high-interest areas for the public, such as astrobiology or exoplanets) etc., we decided to invite you to share your activities, insights, experience and perspectives connecting to the underlying key question of how to use all these approaches in synergy, effectively share scientific discoveries and increase public interest and participation in science in the coming years.

The benefits of diversity and inclusiveness in the scientific community are incontrovertible. Following the success of previous years, this session aims to foster debate within the planetary sciences community about the reasons behind the under-representation of different groups (gender, cultural, ethnic origin, and national) and best practices to make the research environment more inclusive identifying and addressing barriers to equality.

We invite abstracts focusing on under-representation (gender, cultural, ethnic origin, and nationality biases) supported by statistics and data; outreach and education activities to reach broad and diverse audiences, best practices to support inclusiveness; and case studies on mentoring and bias-concerned activities.

What kind of educational and outreach projects related to planetary science have been successfully transformed in fully sustainable proposals in the past? What do you need to consider when planning to create your own business out of an outreach or an education activity related to science? In this session we want to hear the stories of different outreach and education activities that were transformed into business activities or other sustainable projects, focusing on difficulties and opportunities that the main actors encountered. The objective is to start the discussion and to identify new opportunities, ideas and possible actions for the Education and Outreach community involved in Planetary Science. Participants will be invited to present examples and case studies, showcasing their projects and products to stimulate the discussion.

The rapid evolution of augmented reality, virtual reality, 3D visualisation tools, and digital platforms has revolutionized outreach and dissemination activities in the field of planetary sciences. These innovative technologies offer immersive experiences that allow individuals to explore different environments from unprecedented perspectives. Moreover, they serve as engaging and accessible tools for individuals of all ages, fostering interactive learning experiences and skills development.
In this session, we invite participants to share their experiences and insights into leveraging virtual realities for planetary sciences outreach. Through case studies and examples, we will explore the diverse applications of these technologies, from designing immersive environments to facilitating skills development and training initiatives. Additionally, we will address challenges and opportunities related to intuitiveness, inclusiveness, and the future directions of virtual reality in outreach efforts.

Knowledge creation is a collaborative process including synergies between different disciplines, communities and stakeholders. The framework of open science is also connected to the involvement of people outside academia, such as amateur societies, school students, corporate partners etc. Open science has a variety of aspects and applications. What are the efforts done in the field of planetary sciences to establish and increase openness? To what degree planetary science researchers and practitioners endeavour accessibility within the various communities - academics and non-academics? During this session these and other relevant questions will be addressed through the presentation of open planetary science projects, tools, data and platforms. Furthermore, the current status and the potential for future efforts towards an open and public planetary science scheme will be discussed. Building upon the success of the session in the previous years, planetary scientists, researchers and other stakeholders are welcome to present new projects and the developments of previous ones, in the context of promoting open & public science.

The session aims to 1) collect first results on long transits, 2) discuss strategies to advertise and collect long-period transits in the global South and particular moderate southern latitudes, 3) compare the design of campaigns to aid candidate validation of the space transit searches and, 4) in particular discuss the "contamination" photometry with small telescopes.

With the choice of the southern direction of PLATO's first long observation phase and the concentration of long period transit events near the ecliptic poles for the TESS objects of interest, including planetary candidates a new challenge is taking shape for community photometry of exoplanets and exoplanet candidates.

With the increasing orbital periods of planet-discoveries, also the duration of the transits become longer reaching the length of an equinoctial night for an Earth orbit around a solar-like stars. This poses new detection-challenges, in particular towards terrestrial sized planet candidate transit-like signals discovered with relatively low angular resolution space-photometers.

The challeges for citizen photometry are manifold: 1) the long transits require new observation strategies because with increasing periods it is increasingly difficult to apply standard community procedures, as e.g. in the Exoplanet transit database, 2) the number of citizen observers in the global South is much smaller than in the North and they need to be specifically addressed.

A key goal is to collect experience to formulate observational and technical requirements for the citizen photometry of rare events reminding of the transit of Venus.

As our reliance on space resources grows, asteroids present a promising frontier rich in valuable materials. From rare metals to potential sources of fuel, unlocking the secrets of asteroids holds the key to addressing future resource challenges and facilitating sustainable space exploration. Now more than ever, the convergence of new laboratory studies, technological developments, modeling efforts, and asteroid mining mission concepts demands our collective attention. The rapid pace of technological innovation, coupled with the surge in international interest and collaborative initiatives, underscores the urgency of discussing and advancing this work.
This dedicated session serves as a dynamic forum for presenting and discussing the latest breakthroughs in laboratory studies, technological innovations, modeling endeavors, and diverse research efforts crucial for the exploration and sustainable utilization of asteroid resources.
Key Focus Areas:

1. Laboratory Studies: Delve into the microscopic world of asteroids through innovative laboratory studies. Explore mineralogical compositions, understand physical properties, and analyze extraterrestrial materials, laying the groundwork for future space endeavors.
2. Technological Developments: Unveil the latest advancements in asteroid exploration technologies. From state-of-the-art instrumentation to revolutionary propulsion systems, discover how technology is shaping the future of asteroid resource utilization.
3. Modeling Work: Peer into the theoretical realms of asteroid dynamics and behavior. Presentations on orbital dynamics, trajectory optimization, and economic modeling will provide insights into the intricate dance of asteroids in our solar system.
4. Asteroid Mining Mission Concepts: Engage with experts in asteroid mining mission concept studies. Explore the feasibility, challenges, and potential of extracting resources from asteroids, paving the way for a new era in space resource utilization.
5. Interdisciplinary Contributions: Beyond the traditional domains, welcome contributions from diverse fields such as ethics, international collaboration, legal frameworks, and public engagement. Understand the broader implications and responsibilities associated with asteroid resource utilization.
We welcome experts, researchers, and industry professionals to deliberate on the state of the art, share insights, and forge collaborations that will shape the trajectory of asteroid resource utilization in the coming years.

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the development of computer software capable of performing tasks that would typically require human intelligence. Machine learning (ML) is a branch of computer science that explores algorithms that can learn from data. It is primarily divided into supervised learning, where the algorithm is presented with examples of labeled entries and the goal is to learn a general rule that maps inputs to outputs, and unsupervised learning, where no label is provided to the learning algorithm, allowing it to autonomously identify structures. Deep learning is a branch of machine learning based on multiple layers of artificial neural networks, which are computing systems inspired by the biological neural networks found in animal brains. This session aims to provide a forum for discussing recent advancements in the applications of AI and ML to planetary science.

More than ten thousand tons of extraterrestrial objects, ranging in size from a few microns to tens of meters in diameter, enter Earth’s atmosphere annually. A small fraction of these objects yields free samples of extraterrestrial matter—meteorites—for laboratory study. The majority of these objects burn up or ablate completely in the Earth’s atmosphere, appearing as visible meteors in the night sky. By recording meteor activity and modeling the process of ablation, we can directly measure the flux of small planetary impactors. This provides ground truth for estimating present cratering rates and planetary surface ages.

The rapid advancement of observational and modeling techniques has elevated meteor science to one of the primary avenues for investigating the nature and origin of interplanetary matter and its parent bodies. This session aims to serve as a platform for presenting fundamental results and innovative concepts in this field, while also informing the broader planetary science community about the interdisciplinary impact of ongoing and future research efforts.