Journal profile · ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
CAPjournal
ISSN 1996-5621 · eISSN 1996-563X · International Astronomical Union · Germany
CAPjournal: CAS Zone 4 · Physics & Astronomy (2025 upgraded edition); diamond open access (no APC); no APC; review about 10 weeks (community reports); 28 articles in 2025; indexed in ESCI.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
CAPjournal is published by International Astronomical Union and is in Zone 4 of Physics & Astronomy in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are History and Developments in Astronomy, Historical Astronomy and Related Studies and Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life, together about 38.4% of its articles. Its main subfields are Astronomy and Astrophysics. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal (CAPjournal) is the only fully open access peer-reviewed journal dedicated to astronomy communication. Science communication is an integral part of the scientific process, though it is often considered auxiliary. At CAPjournal, we are dedicated to the professionalisation and promotion of astronomy communication. We support this vibrant community with free to read and free to publish articles on a wide range of topics from virtual reality to mobile planetariums, and beyond.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
Editor-in-chief Kelly BlumenthalPublisher website
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- History and Developments in AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy23.2%
- Historical Astronomy and Related StudiesPhysics and Astronomy7.8%
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial LifePhysics and Astronomy7.4%
- Climate Change Communication and PerceptionSocial Sciences6.3%
- Conferences and Exhibitions ManagementSocial Sciences6%
- Space exploration and regulationPhysics and Astronomy5.4%
- Historical and Architectural StudiesArts and Humanities5.1%
- Science Education and PerceptionsPsychology4%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Physics & Astronomy Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Physics & Astronomy | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Astronomy & Astrophysics | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Physics & Astronomy Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Physics & Astronomy | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Astronomy & Astrophysics | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Not covered
Not covered by this edition.
Database indexing
ESCIDOAJLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- h-index
- 4OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 0OpenAlex ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 0%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 5LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 285 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2025 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| 2024 | 31 | 31 | 0 |
| 2023 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| 2022 | 16 | 16 | 4 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 10 weeksLetPub ·
- Submission to publication (journal-reported)
- about 10 weeksDOAJ ·
- Peer review
- Unspecified peer reviewDOAJ
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Diamond open access (no APC)DOAJ
Every article is open access and authors pay no article processing charge.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOAJ | No APC | No | CC BY | |
| LetPub | No APC | No | — | |
| Publisher website | Yes, amount not published | — | — |
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 150 words
- Keywords
- ≤ 3
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 7,000 words
- Templates
- Word
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
Article types accepted8, with length limits
- best practicesBest Practices articles are in-depth guides to cutting-edge methods and techniques in astronomy communication, public engagement, and related fields.Length not stated
- case studyResearch & ApplicationsResearch & Applications articles, or simply research articles, present recent research that has been performed in astronomy communication…main text ≤ 2,000 words
- columnColumns explore topics in astronomy communication related to current events, important initiatives, conferences, or other relevant activities.Length not stated
- interviewInterviews present conversations with influential members of our community and serve to preserve their knowledge and advice.Length not stated
- literature reviewResearch & ApplicationsResearch & Applications articles, or simply research articles, present recent research that has been performed in astronomy communication…main text ≤ 7,000 words · abstract ≤ 150 words
- research & applicationsResearch & Applications articles, or simply research articles, present recent research that has been performed in astronomy communication, public engagement, or…Length not stated
- research articleResearch & ApplicationsResearch & Applications articles, or simply research articles, present recent research that has been performed in astronomy communication…main text ≤ 7,000 words
- reviewResearch & ApplicationsResearch & Applications articles, or simply research articles, present recent research that has been performed in astronomy communication…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websitePublication ethics, License & copyright, Peer review
- Publication ethics
Privacy Policy Model summary
Privacy Policy|Cookies Policy|Terms and Conditions|Ethics Policy
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright
CC-BY Creative Commons 4.0 license; authors retain the copyright Model summary
CAPjournal publishes under a CC-BY Creative Commons 4.0 license; authors retain the copyright.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Review Process
When an article is submitted, it is immediately reviewed by the Editorial Staff at the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach. If an article is deemed appropriate, relevant to the CAPjournal readership and contains no identifying information, a member of the Editorial Board will be assigned to the article to begin the double-anonymous Editorial Review.The Editorial Board member and author will work tog…
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- International Astronomical Union
- Country or region
- Germany
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 1996-5621
- Electronic ISSN
- 1996-563X
- Official links
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about CAPjournal
What CAS zone is CAPjournal in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, CAPjournal is in Zone 4 of Physics & Astronomy, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Astronomy & Astrophysics. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 4 of Physics & Astronomy. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
How long does peer review take at CAPjournal?
Authors report an average review time of about 10 weeks. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of CAPjournal?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 150 words; Keywords: ≤ 3; Manuscript length: ≤ 7,000 words; Templates: Word; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Which databases index CAPjournal?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, CAPjournal is indexed in ESCI and DOAJ.
Is CAPjournal open access, and what is the APC?
CAPjournal is a diamond open-access journal (no APC). It charges no article processing charge.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, DOAJ, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .