Journal profile · Astronomy & Astrophysics
Experimental Astronomy
ISSN 0922-6435 · eISSN 1572-9508 · Springer Netherlands · NETHERLANDS · Bimonthly · Founded 1989
Experimental Astronomy: CAS Zone 4 · Physics & Astronomy (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.8; hybrid open access; APC about USD 2,590; median 161 days to acceptance (99 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: fairly easy; 66 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Experimental Astronomy is published by Springer Netherlands 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 Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies, Astronomy and Astrophysical Research and Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing, together about 26.5% of its articles. Its main subfields are Astronomy and Astrophysics. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Four centuries after the invention of the telescope, astronomy once again broadens its horizon. In addition to observing the Universe through all electromagnetic windows from radio waves to gamma rays, and exploring the solar system both remotely and in situ, three new channels of astrophysical information have recently emerged: gravitational waves, neutrinos and ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. By combining these new channels with information from the electromagnetic windows, astronomy has entered a new era in the exploration of the Universe: multi-messenger astronomy. Experimental Astronomy is a medium for the publication of papers of contemporary scientific interest on astrophysical instrumentation and methods throughout all five channels of information: Electromagnetic Radiation Astronomy Solar System Observation and Exploration Cosmic-Ray Detection Neutrino Astronomy Gravitational-Wave Astronomy Experimental Astronomy publishes full-length articles, research letters and reviews on developments in detection techniques, instruments, and data analysis and image processing techniques. Occasional special issues are published, giving an in-depth presentation of the instrumentation and/or analysis connected with specific projects, such as satellite experiments or ground-based telescopes, or of specialized techniques. All papers published in Experimental Astronomy are subject to thorough and strict peer-reviewing. As a hybrid journal, Experimental Astronomy does not levy page charges to authors that wish to publish their manuscripts under a subscription access model. As an option, authors can publish their paper immediately Open Access (OA). This can be done by paying an APC (article processing charge) or the charges can be covered through one of Springer Nature’s several “Transformative Deals”. To benefit from one of the deals, the corresponding author of the manuscript must be affiliated to an institution included in one of the agreements. The paper will then be eligible to be published immediately OA at no personal cost to the authors. See the “Transformative Agreements” section in the link below for further information. https://www.springernature.com/gp/open-research/institutional-agreements
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Astronomy & Astrophysics
Editor-in-chief Peter von Ballmoos InstitutPublisher website
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named United States 7, Germany 6, United Kingdom 4, France 4, Italy 3 (31 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studiesPhysics and Astronomy10.7%
- Astronomy and Astrophysical ResearchPhysics and Astronomy8.9%
- Adaptive optics and wavefront sensingPhysics and Astronomy6.9%
- Astrophysics and Cosmic PhenomenaPhysics and Astronomy6.7%
- Astro and Planetary SciencePhysics and Astronomy6.5%
- Radio Astronomy Observations and TechnologyPhysics and Astronomy6%
- Gamma-ray bursts and supernovaePhysics and Astronomy5.9%
- Particle Detector Development and PerformancePhysics and Astronomy4.8%
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)Physics & Astronomy Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Physics & Astronomy | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Astronomy & Astrophysics | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
INSPECCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, Astrophysics Data System, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
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
- Impact factor
- 2.8LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2.9Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2.9Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 5.6LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.79LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.19LetPub ·
- h-index
- 37LetPub ·
- h-index
- 61OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 537OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.69OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 10.3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 33.54%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 65LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 369,800Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 1,538 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 42 | 22 | 9 |
| 2025 | 66 | 33 | 330 |
| 2024 | 55 | 33 | 263 |
| 2023 | 40 | 22 | 313 |
| 2022 | 59 | 50 | 455 |
| 2021 | 129 | 118 | 2,121 |
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
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
161 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 101 days – 226 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 13 days (99 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 179 days
- Sample
- 99 articles with submission and acceptance dates (126 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- 6–12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly easyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 13 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
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
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 2,590 / EUR 3,890 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
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)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- AI use Generative AI Images
LLMs such as ChatGPT do not satisfy authorship criteria; use of an LLM should be documented in the Methods section; AI-assisted copy editing need not be declared. Model summary
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
Authors are required to disclose financial or non-financial interests directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication. Model summary
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
All original research must include a data availability statement explaining how to access supporting data, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets. Model summary
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
Journal follows COPE guidelines on misconduct; authors should not misrepresent research results; plagiarism screening software may be used. Model summary
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
Open Choice articles retain copyright with the author and are published under a Creative Commons license. Model summary
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Experimental Astronomy, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review
Authors may suggest suitable reviewers and/or request exclusion of certain individuals at submission; suggested reviewers must be independent and provide institutional email addresses. Model summary
Authors are welcome to suggest suitable reviewers and/or request the exclusion of certain individuals when they submit their manuscripts.
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
- Springer Netherlands
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- Founded
- 1989
- ISSN
- 0922-6435
- Electronic ISSN
- 1572-9508
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Experimental Astronomy
What CAS zone is Experimental Astronomy in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Experimental Astronomy 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.
What is the impact factor of Experimental Astronomy?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.8; CiteScore 5.6, h-index 61.
How long does peer review take at Experimental Astronomy?
Based on the dates recorded on 99 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 161 days (interquartile range 101–226 days); authors report an average review time of 6–12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly easy”. 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 Experimental Astronomy?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: Author–date; Suggested reviewers: Optional. 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.
Where are the editorial board members of Experimental Astronomy based?
Of the 31 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (7), Germany (6) and United Kingdom (4). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Experimental Astronomy?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Experimental Astronomy is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists INSPEC and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Experimental Astronomy open access, and what is the APC?
Experimental Astronomy is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 2,590.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, 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 2026-08-25). Last updated: .