Key facts
- The Planetary Society, founded in 1980 by Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray, and Louis Friedman, advocates for public support of planetary exploration and space science through research, education, and political advocacy.
- Voting for the ‘Best of 2026’ poll closes on November 30, 2026, with results expected to be announced via email in early December 2026.
- The Planetary Society encourages readers who miss the ballot to share their favorite 2026 space achievements in its online member community, accessible only to Planetary Society members.
- The Planetary Society’s public polls, such as ‘Best of 2026,’ help gauge community priorities in space exploration, providing insight into what missions and discoveries resonate most with the public.
On Nov. 2, 2026, The Planetary Society opened its annual reader poll, “Best of 2026,” and invited the public to pick the standout space exploration and science achievements of the year.
Voting closes Nov. 30, 2026, and the society expects to announce results by email in early December 2026. Visitors can sign up at planetary.org/connect to receive the poll results after voting ends. It functions as a year-in-review showcase for space science and exploration missions, discoveries, and milestones.
The society asks visitors to name the top highlights of the last year in space science and exploration and then cast a ballot. It invites public participation to spotlight standout missions, discoveries, and milestones from 2026. The announcement does not detail specific mission or science categories.
Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray, and Louis Friedman founded The Planetary Society in 1980. Its work centers on research, education, and political advocacy to build public backing for planetary exploration and space science. Its mission is to empower citizens around the world to move space science and exploration forward, emphasizing planetary science, the search for extraterrestrial life, and planetary defense.
The organization says its public polls help measure community priorities in space exploration and show which missions and discoveries resonate most with the public. These polls function as a tool to boost public enthusiasm and push for ongoing backing of space science initiatives.
Readers who miss the ballot can share favorite 2026 space achievements in the society’s online member community, which is open only to Planetary Society members. The announcement ties this community to the poll by asking people whose favorites were left off the ballot to share them there.
In 1980, during a difficult stretch for planetary exploration, the society came into being to show public support by existing. Once politicians and policymakers took notice, the group started funding research, producing a magazine and website, hosting events, and educating upcoming space explorers. LightSail counts among its science and technology projects. The group still pushes for planetary science funding, and its writers and bloggers tell stories of robotic ambassadors from Earth.
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