The scope of the meeting reflects the extraordinary breadth of modern planetary research. Sessions will span the full spectrum of the discipline: new results from the Solar System, the characterization of exoplanetary and interstellar bodies, updates on current and forthcoming space missions, ground-based observational campaigns, and the increasingly prominent role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in extracting insight from planetary data. Planetary defence, the emergence of life in our Solar System and beyond, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence — SETI — all feature prominently on the programme, a signal of how far the field has expanded from its geology-and-telescopes origins into a genuinely interdisciplinary enterprise that touches on astrobiology, engineering, data science and even public policy.

The choice of host city carries a poetic resonance for attendees. The Hague holds a singular place in the history of astronomy: it was the birthplace of Christiaan Huygens, the seventeenth-century polymath who pioneered the telescope and discovered Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. The city was also the site of the world’s first published written account of an astronomical observation made with a telescope — a milestone that effectively inaugurated the era of observational planetary science. Four centuries later, a Congress devoted to exploring Titan’s methane lakes, Saturn’s rings and the distant corners of the Solar System returning to Huygens’ hometown is more than a logistical coincidence; it is a deliberate act of historical continuity. Organizers have embraced this connection, planning an extensive public outreach programme in the run-up to and during the conference week, including a walking tour threading through the city’s astronomical heritage, concerts, arts installations, public lectures and events designed for local schools.

For media representatives, the Congress offers unusually rich material. Media registration is free, and bona fide journalists can register by contacting the Europlanet press office. Press briefings will be livestreamed for remote audiences, and the EPSC2026 Press Office will issue press notices throughout the week highlighting presentations of particular interest. Two briefings, in particular, are already generating considerable buzz among space scientists and space journalists alike — and both concern European missions arriving at pivotal moments in their operational lifetimes.

The first, scheduled for Monday 7 September at 11:00 CEST, will focus on the European Space Agency’s Hera mission as it counts down to its arrival at the Didymos binary asteroid system. Hera represents the follow-up act to one of the most dramatic planetary science experiments ever conducted: NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, which deliberately impacted the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos in September 2022 to test humanity’s ability to alter the trajectory of a near-Earth object. DART succeeded spectacularly, shortening Dimorphos’ orbital period around its parent asteroid and proving that the kinetic impactor technique is a viable planetary defence strategy. But the experiment left behind critical unanswered questions — most notably, the precise internal structure of Dimorphos and the detailed physics of how the impact crater formed and how momentum was transferred. Hera, arriving at the system in November 2026, will conduct a detailed post-impact survey of Dimorphos, transforming a one-off experiment into a fully characterized planetary defence benchmark.

The press briefing will provide updates on the status and plans for the mission post-arrival, but organizers have also promised something more: the Hera team will unveil what they describe as a revolutionary way for the public to engage with the mission and become part of its space adventure. The briefing will also cover the ESA/JAXA RAMSES mission, which will rendezvous with the asteroid (99942) Apophis and accompany it during its exceptionally close flyby of Earth on 13 April 2029 — a natural experiment in asteroid science that occurs only once every few thousand years for an object of this size. Speakers will include Michael Küppers, ESA Hera Project Scientist at ESA-ESAC in Spain; Patrick Michel, Hera Mission Principal Investigator, RAMSES ESA Project Scientist and Director of Research at CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur in France; and Heli Greus of the Hera and RAMSES ESA project teams. Together, these missions represent Europe’s commitment to building a comprehensive, layered planetary defence capability — from impact prediction to impact response.

The second major briefing, on Wednesday 9 September at 12:45 CEST, concerns the long-awaited arrival of the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission at Mercury. After an eight-year journey through the inner Solar System, involving a series of gravity assists that have tested the patience of mission planners and the endurance of the spacecraft’s thermal systems, BepiColombo will finally reach its destination this autumn. The timeline is tightly choreographed: separation of the European and Japanese orbiters from the Mercury Transfer Module will take place on 3 September, orbit insertion follows on 21 November, and the ESA Mercury Planetary Orbiter and JAXA’s Mio spacecraft will separate from each other on 9–10 December. From that moment, BepiColombo will officially become the first two-spacecraft mission operating at Mercury, with the science phase beginning in April 2027.

The significance of this architecture cannot be overstated. Mercury remains the least explored of the terrestrial planets, a world of extremes where surface temperatures swing from searing daylight to frigid darkness and where a surprisingly strong magnetic field hints at a partially molten core. Operating two spacecraft simultaneously — one optimized by ESA, the other by JAXA with a complementary instrument suite — allows scientists to make coordinated, two-point measurements of the planet’s magnetic environment, exosphere and magnetospheric dynamics that no single spacecraft could achieve. The briefing will feature Santa Martinez, Mission Manager; Ignacio Tanco, Head of the Inner Solar System Missions Unit; Geraint Jones, Lead ESA Project Scientist; and Go Murakami, JAXA Project Scientist, offering an update on the spacecraft’s condition following the transfer module separation and an overview of the critical steps ahead.

Beyond the headline briefings, the Congress programme offers a window into the techniques reshaping planetary science itself. The dedicated sessions on artificial intelligence and machine learning reflect a discipline undergoing a methodological transformation: convolutional neural networks now classify craters and surface features across vast planetary image archives, while machine learning pipelines sift through the exponential growth of data returned by modern instrumentation. Sessions on interstellar bodies will revisit the paradigm shift that began with the detection of objects such as ‘Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov — visitors from other star systems whose compositions offer the only direct sampling of material formed around alien suns. Planetary defence sessions will build on the momentum of DART and the anticipation surrounding both Hera and RAMSES, while astrobiology and SETI sessions will tackle what many consider the deepest question in science: whether life is a cosmic inevitability or an improbable fluke.

The hybrid format, which proved its worth in recent editions of the Congress, ensures that scientists unable to travel — whether for financial, political or personal reasons — can still participate fully in sessions and discussions, a model that has measurably broadened participation across the more than 40 countries represented. Details of scientific sessions and presentation abstracts are available through the official EPSC2026 website, alongside a programme overview and information about the public walking trail and events in The Hague. The meeting hashtag, #EPSC2026, will aggregate real-time discussion throughout the week.

What emerges from the programme as a whole is a portrait of planetary science at an inflection point. Within a single year, Europe has missions arriving at Mercury and at a battered asteroid moonlet, a planetary defence mission to Apophis in development, and a community embracing computational tools that would have seemed like science fiction a generation ago. That all of this converges in the city where humanity first recorded what it saw through a telescope gives EPSC2026 a narrative arc that few scientific conferences can claim. From Huygens’ crude refractor to a two-spacecraft orbital mission at the innermost planet, the through-line is unbroken: an unrelenting curiosity about the worlds beyond our own, now armed with instruments and international cooperation that the Dutch master himself could scarcely have imagined. For the 1,200 scientists gathering in The Hague this September, the next chapter of that four-century-old story is about to be written.

News Publication Date: 6-Sep-2026

Web References: Not provided

References: Media reminder: Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC) 2026. EurekAlert! Not provided.

Keywords

Europlanet Science Congress, EPSC2026, planetary science, Hera mission, BepiColombo, Mercury, Dimorphos, asteroid deflection, planetary defence, RAMSES, Apophis, The Hague

The impact with Dimorphos produced an astonishing amount of material, which was observed utilizing both ground-based and space-based telescopes, including the renowned Hubble Space Telescope. This enormous expulsion of ejecta—fragments forced off the asteroid’s surface through the force of the collision—has unveiled critical insights essential for enhancing the effectiveness of future asteroid deflection missions. The findings from these studies could redefine our understanding of how best to approach asteroid defense.

The initial study, led by Professor Fabio Ferrari from the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology at Politecnico di Milano, involved collaboration with fellow researchers Paolo Panicucci and Carmine Giordano. Their research delves deeply into the quantification of the ejecta’s evolution following the DART impact. This analysis was supplemented by numerical simulations and meticulous evaluations of Hubble Space Telescope images, allowing the team to successfully estimate crucial attributes of the ejected particles, including their mass, velocity, and size.

Prof. Ferrari elaborated on their methods, stating, “We utilized images from the Hubble Space Telescope and numerical simulations to establish a viable mechanism for understanding the evolution of ejecta.” He pointed to the complex interactions between these particles and both the asteroid system and solar radiation pressure, where sunlight plays a pivotal role in influencing the trajectory of ejecta particles. This understanding is vital for designing effective future interventions in planetary defense.

The second study was spearheaded by Georgia Tech’s Professor Masatoshi Hirabayashi, who offered a radical perspective on the relationship between the asteroid’s shape and the resulting ejecta trajectories. The study highlighted an unexpected outcome: the geometry of the asteroid’s surface reduced the effectiveness of the asteroid’s push by a whopping 56% compared to if Dimorphos had been a completely flat surface. Therefore, merely deploying a large impactor does not necessarily translate to a substantial deflection of the asteroid.

Prof. Hirabayashi further emphasized the importance of these findings. “If the impact is substantial, a greater volume of ejecta is expelled; however, the uneven surface substantially complicates the directionality of these particles,” he explained. According to his analysis, larger impacts create incompletely predictable ejecta, causing deviations that diminish the effectiveness of the push imparted on the asteroid. This finding urges the reconsideration of tactics in planetary defense, suggesting that smaller, multiple projectiles may prove more effective than singular large impacts due to the increased directional stability of the ejecta.

Ferrari concurs, recognizing that understanding the forces at play during these impacts is crucial for deciphering the nature of asteroids, their evolutionary pathways, and their potential future trajectories. He stated, “Understanding these impact processes and their outcomes is fundamentally important for analyzing the properties of asteroids. This knowledge will ultimately aid in devising effective mitigation strategies for planetary defense.”

Such nuanced insights into the mechanics of ejecta and interaction dynamics are essential for progressing our planetary defense strategies. Further investigations into the conditions surrounding the production and subsequent movement of ejecta can enhance our preparedness responses concerning near-Earth objects. This can ensure that humanity remains vigilant against the threats posed by such celestial bodies in the future.

The studies underscore a compelling narrative in which a deeper understanding of asteroids’ physical characteristics and the dynamics of impact can shape future endeavors in planetary defense. By dissecting the complexities of ejecta behavior resulting from asteroid impacts, researchers may refine methodologies and protocols intended to safeguard Earth from potential catastrophe.

As the scientific community continues to address planetary defense mechanisms, the collaborative efforts of institutions like Politecnico di Milano and Georgia Institute of Technology exemplify how international partnerships can forge impactful research. The ongoing analysis of asteroid interaction dynamics holds immeasurable significance, potentially paving the way for the next generation of planetary defense technologies and strategies designed to shield Earth from imminent peril.

Indeed, as we tread further into this century’s challenges, the findings presented in these studies shine a light on promising pathways for integrating science, technology, and collaboration towards a safer future. Thus, while we are not without our challenges, the commitment of researchers to understanding and mitigating risks associated with near-Earth objects grants hope for the continued protection of our planet and its inhabitants.

The findings of these studies are being celebrated within the scientific community as groundbreaking realizations in planetary defense strategy, fostering optimism about our scientific advancements and collaborative efforts toward addressing global threats.

Subject of Research: Not specified
Article Title: Morphology of ejecta features from the impact on asteroid Dimorphos
News Publication Date: 14-Feb-2025
Web References: Link to DOI
References: Not specified
Image Credits: Not specified

Keywords

Planetary defense, asteroid impact, ejecta dynamics, DART mission, Dimorphos, near-Earth objects, NASA, Hubble Space Telescope, asteroid deflection strategies, astrophysics research