¹John F. Mustard
Journal of Geophysical Research Planets (in Press) Link to Article [DOI: 10.1002/2017JE005315]
¹Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons

Remotely sensed data and the instruments that acquire them are core parts of Earth and planetary observation systems. They are used to quantify the Earth’s interconnected systems, and remote sensing is the only way to get a daily, or more frequent, snapshot of the status of the Earth. It really is the Earth’s stethoscope. In a similar manner remote sensing is the rock hammer of the planetary scientist and the only way comprehensive data sets can be acquired. To risk offending many remotely sensed data acquired across the electromagnetic spectrum, it is the tricorder to explore known and unknown planets. Arriving where we are today in the use of remotely sensed data in the solar system has been a continually evolving synergy between Earth observation, planetary exploration, and fundamental laboratory work.