The year 2016 marks the 25th anniversary of the first issue of JGR: Planets. We marked this occasion with a collection of review papers focused on enduring and fundamental themes in planetary science that have framed the past quarter century and will strongly influence research and exploration in the next quarter century. With topics covering bodies small and large, processes on and in solid planets and giant planets, in atmospheres, and around other stars, this collection samples the broad scope of planetary science and of JGR: Planets.

KEY POINTS


The review papers in this collection are intended as a sample of the scientific themes that inspire and drive the planetary science community Exploration, participation, and understanding of planetary bodies throughout the universe has burgeoned in last 25 years
"Each day, we see new insights from the cornerstones of planetary science: observations from Earth and space-based telescopes, orbital and in situ exploration, laboratory and field studies, theory, and numerical modeling. The next frontier in planetary science is the melding of understanding of our solar system with our increasing knowledge of exoplanets. We at JGR: Planets are looking forward to the next 25 years of exploration and discovery in the science of planets."

-Steven A. Hauck II, David Baratoux, Sabine Stanley