Journal profile · Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
International Journal of Astrobiology
ISSN 1473-5504 · eISSN 1475-3006 · Cambridge University Press · UNITED STATES · Quarterly · Founded 2002
International Journal of Astrobiology: CAS Zone 4 · Physics & Astronomy (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 0.96; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,550; review over 12 weeks (community reports); community-reported acceptance: easy; 28 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
International Journal of Astrobiology is published by Cambridge University Press 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 Planetary Science and Exploration, Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life and Astro and Planetary Science, together about 45.5% of its articles. Its main subfields are Astronomy and Astrophysics. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
International Journal of Astrobiology is the Gold Open Access peer-reviewed forum for practitioners in this exciting interdisciplinary field. Coverage includes cosmic chemistry, planetary evolution, the search for planetary systems and habitable zones, extremophile biology and experimental simulation of extraterrestrial environments, life detection in our solar system and beyond, the future of life on Earth and beyond, the interaction between life and its environment, climate modeling and the evolution of life, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, the history of the science of astrobiology, as well as societal and educational aspects of astrobiology.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Editorial board by country: 1 in mainland China (about 13%); most named United Kingdom 2, Mainland China 1, Hong Kong, China 1, United States 1, Japan 1 (8 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Planetary Science and ExplorationPhysics and Astronomy17.1%
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial LifePhysics and Astronomy16%
- Astro and Planetary SciencePhysics and Astronomy12.4%
- Origins and Evolution of LifePhysics and Astronomy7.6%
- Spaceflight effects on biologyMedicine4.9%
- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studiesPhysics and Astronomy4.6%
- Earth Systems and Cosmic EvolutionEarth and Planetary Sciences4.4%
- Polar Research and EcologyEnvironmental Science3.2%
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 |
| Minor | Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Physics & Astronomy Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Physics & Astronomy | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Astronomy & Astrophysics | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Physics & Astronomy Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Physics & Astronomy | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Astronomy & Astrophysics | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
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
- Impact factor
- 0.96LetPub ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 2.5LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.26LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.39LetPub ·
- h-index
- 31LetPub ·
- h-index
- 53OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 457OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.75OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 10%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 88.16%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 28LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 1,001 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18 | 18 | 4 |
| 2025 | 28 | 28 | 53 |
| 2024 | 21 | 21 | 60 |
| 2023 | 29 | 24 | 109 |
| 2022 | 50 | 36 | 303 |
| 2021 | 36 | 18 | 317 |
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)
- over 12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
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 3,550 / GBP 2,460 | — | — |
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.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 2002
- ISSN
- 1473-5504
- Electronic ISSN
- 1475-3006
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about International Journal of Astrobiology
What CAS zone is International Journal of Astrobiology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, International Journal of Astrobiology is in Zone 4 of Physics & Astronomy, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Astronomy & Astrophysics / Biology / Geosciences, Multidisciplinary. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Physics & Astronomy. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of International Journal of Astrobiology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 0.96; CiteScore 2.5, h-index 53.
How long does peer review take at International Journal of Astrobiology?
Authors report an average review time of over 12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “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.
Where are the editorial board members of International Journal of Astrobiology based?
Of the 8 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 1 (about 13%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United Kingdom (2), Mainland China (1) and Hong Kong, China (1). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index International Journal of Astrobiology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, International Journal of Astrobiology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is International Journal of Astrobiology open access, and what is the APC?
International Journal of Astrobiology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,550.
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 2026-08-26). Last updated: .