Section headings and selected papers: Preface. Magnetospheres. Thermal plasma in outer planet magnetospheres, J W Belcher et al . Planetary magnetic fields: a comparative view, M Schulz & G A Pauli;as. Remote sensing of planetary plasma by means of natural radio emissions, D Jones. Atmospheres. A comparison of the deep atmospheres of the giant planets, I de Pater. Physical parameters for the atmosphere of Uranus, B Petropoulos et al . Current ideas about the production of the electroglow of Uranus, J T Clarke. Satellites. Titan, J I Lunine. Shapes, masses and interiors of satellites, S F Dermott & P C Thoma;. On the angle and wavelength dependencies of the radar backscatter from the icy Galilean moons of Jupiter, E M Gurrola & V R Eshle;an. Rings. The new rings: contributions of recent ground-based and space observations to our knowledge of planetary rings, B Sicardy & A Brahic.;Models of Neptune's arc rings, J J Lissauer & P D Nicho;son. International Jupiter watch: a program to study the time variability of the Jovian system, C T Russell et al . Author index.