Initiated by researchers from the Paris Globe Physics Institute (IPGP) and their partners, the journal adopts the "diamond open access" model. This principle ensures free access to articles for all readers and no publication fees for authors. Planetary Research thus positions itself as the first diamond open access journal exclusively dedicated to planetary sciences.
The inaugural issue, published on August 27, 2026, covers topics such as dating planetary surfaces through impact crater studies, the geology of lunar landing sites, and the composition of the surfaces of the Moon and Mercury. A second issue followed in September, featuring work on icy moons and the atmosphere of Venus.
Beyond its free access, the journal is distinguished by its governance model. It is owned by the Planetary Research Cooperative, a non-profit association administered by planetary science researchers, and is published in cooperation with the Open Publishing Services (OPUS) of Université Paris Cité.
The objective is to place the scientific community at the heart of the editorial process, from article evaluation to defining strategic directions. This operational model aims to foster diverse international representation, regardless of the scientists' country of practice or career stage.
The IPGP plays a significant role in this endeavor. Mark Wieczorek, a researcher at IPGP, serves as the Editor-in-Chief, leading an editorial board comprising specialists from institutions in numerous countries. Antoine Lucas, also an IPGP researcher, participates in the steering of the Planetary Research Cooperative.
Planetary Research also encourages the sharing of data and software associated with published works to facilitate the verification, reproducibility, and reuse of scientific results, supported by a specific policy on data and code availability.
This approach is part of a broader project by the Planetary Research Cooperative to create tools for exchange and knowledge sharing within the planetary science community, including an open blog and collaborative services.
With Planetary Research, its initiators aim to demonstrate that an alternative model for scientific publishing can be built: one without financial barriers for authors or readers, without profit motives, and with governance directly driven by the scientific community. The project receives support in France from the CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Université Paris-Saclay, and IPGP.
