CAS major category
Physics & Astronomy SCI Journals
The Physics & Astronomy major category of the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition) holds 435 journals. This page ranks them by impact factor and gives each one's CAS zone, review time, APC and open-access status (as of October 2026). Largest minor categories: Physics, Multidisciplinary (102), Optics (81), Astronomy & Astrophysics (76), Physics, Applied (62), Physics, Condensed Matter (41), Physics, Particles & Fields (33), Physics, Mathematical (33), Physics, Nuclear (23).
Physics & Astronomy SCI Journals by impact factor
International Journal of Mathematics and Physics
ISSN 2218-7987 · al-Farabi Kazakh State National UniversityMultiple
IF 86CAS Zone 4 · Physics & AstronomyReview: about 40 days (submission to acceptance, publisher)APC charged, amount not publishedGold OA22 articles/yrESCI · Scopus
View journal profile →Living Reviews in Relativity
ISSN 1433-8351 · Springer International Publishing · GermanyPhysics and Astronomy-Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
IF 64.18CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: median 229 days to acceptanceNo APCDiamond OA10 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →Reviews of Modern Physics
ISSN 0034-6861 · American Physical Society · UNITED STATESPhysics, Multidisciplinary
IF 48.63CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: median 709 days to acceptanceSubscription45 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Nature Reviews Physics
ISSN 2522-5820 · SPRINGERNATURE · ENGLANDMultiple
IF 46.46CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopSubscription115 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Nature Photonics
ISSN 1749-4885 · Springer Nature · ENGLANDOptics
IF 37.76CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: median 238 days to acceptanceAPC about USD 12,690Hybrid OA236 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics
ISSN 0066-4146 · Annual Reviews Inc. · UNITED STATESAstronomy & Astrophysics
IF 36.89CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopSubscription14 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →eLight
ISSN 2097-1710 · Springer NatureOPTICS
IF 31.4CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: median 111 days to acceptanceAPC about USD 2,590Gold OA34 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →Advances in Optics and Photonics
ISSN 1943-8206 · The Optical Society · UNITED STATESOPTICS
IF 30.2CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: median 181 days to acceptanceHybrid OA12 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Living Reviews in Solar Physics
ISSN 1614-4961 · Springer International Publishing · GERMANYASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
IF 29.4CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopNo APCDiamond OA4 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →Living Reviews in Solar Physics
ISSN 2367-3648 · Springer International Publishing · GermanyEarth and Planetary Sciences-Space and Planetary Science
IF 29.4CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: about 20 weeksAPC charged, amount not publishedGold OA4 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →Annual Review of Condensed Matter Physics
ISSN 1947-5454 · Annual Reviews Inc. · UNITED STATESPHYSICS, CONDENSED MATTER
IF 28.44CAS Zone 2 · Physics & AstronomySubscription20 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →PHYSICS REPORTS-REVIEW SECTION OF PHYSICS LETTERS
ISSN 0370-1573 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDSPhysics, Multidisciplinary
IF 27.1CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: about 146 days (submission to acceptance, publisher)APC about USD 6,240Hybrid OA99 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Opto-Electronic Science
ISSN 2097-0382 · Editorial Office of Opto-Electronic Journals, Institute of Optics and Electronics, CAS, China · ChinaPhysics and Astronomy-Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
IF 26.9Review: about 12 weeksNo APCDiamond OA23 articles/yrESCI · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →Light-Science & Applications
ISSN 2047-7538 · Springer Nature · ENGLANDOPTICS
IF 24.01CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: median 174 days to acceptanceAPC about USD 4,290Gold OA395 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →Opto-Electronic Advances
ISSN 2096-4579 · CHINESE ACAD SCI, INST OPTICS & ELECTRONICS, ED OFF OPTO-ELECTRONIC ADV · CHINA MAINLANDOPTICS
IF 22.97CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: about 26 weeksAPC about USD 2,500Gold OA61 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS REVIEW
ISSN 0935-4956 · Springer Berlin Heidelberg · GERMANYAstronomy & Astrophysics
IF 20CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: median 137 days to acceptanceAPC about USD 5,290Hybrid OA8 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Advanced Photonics
ISSN 2577-5421 · SPIE; Chinese Laser Press · United StatesOPTICS
IF 19.24CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: about 18 weeksAPC about USD 2,100Gold OA109 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →PhotoniX
ISSN 2662-1991 · SpringerOpen · United KingdomOPTICS
IF 18.01CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: median 131 days to acceptanceAPC about USD 2,317Gold OA60 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →Nature Physics
ISSN 1745-2473 · Springer Nature · ENGLANDPhysics, Multidisciplinary
IF 17.73CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: median 306 days to acceptanceAPC about USD 12,690Hybrid OA418 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Physical Review X
ISSN 2160-3308 · American Physical Society · UNITED STATESPHYSICS, MULTIDISCIPLINARY
IF 16.22CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: median 220 days to acceptanceAPC about USD 4,685Gold OA342 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics
ISSN 0146-6410 · Elsevier · ENGLANDPhysics, Nuclear
IF 16CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: about 189 days (submission to acceptance, publisher)APC about USD 4,780Hybrid OA29 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Advances In Physics
ISSN 0001-8732 · Taylor and Francis Ltd. · ENGLANDPhysics, Condensed Matter
IF 15.29CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: about 39 days (submission to first decision, publisher)Subscription3 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →New Astronomy Reviews
ISSN 1387-6473 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDSAstronomy & Astrophysics
IF 15.25CAS Zone 2 · Physics & AstronomyReview: about 141 days (submission to acceptance, publisher)APC about USD 4,350Hybrid OA10 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Nature Astronomy
ISSN 2397-3366 · Springer Nature · United KingdomPhysics and Astronomy-Astronomy and Astrophysics
IF 15.01CAS Zone 1 · Physics & Astronomy · TopReview: median 233 days to acceptanceAPC about USD 12,690Hybrid OA292 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Physics & Astronomy journals: frequently asked questions
How many SCI journals are there in Physics & Astronomy?
As of October 2026, JournalCompass lists 435 journals in the Physics & Astronomy major category of the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition): 40 in Zone 1, 75 in Zone 2, 98 in Zone 3 and 209 in Zone 4, 50 of them Top journals. By database: SCIE 324, SSCI 0, A&HCI 0 and ESCI 102 (a journal can be indexed in more than one).
Which Physics & Astronomy journals are in CAS Zone 1?
By impact factor, the Zone 1 journals in Physics & Astronomy include Living Reviews in Relativity (impact factor 64.18), Reviews of Modern Physics (impact factor 48.63), Nature Reviews Physics (impact factor 46.46), Nature Photonics (impact factor 37.76), Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics (impact factor 36.89), 40 in all; see the full list of Zone 1 Physics & Astronomy journals.
Which Physics & Astronomy journals have fast peer review?
Across the 385 Physics & Astronomy journals with review-time data, the median review time is about 13 weeks. Among Zone 1–2 journals, fast ones include ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS (about 1.5 weeks, community reports), Physical Review C (about 1.5 weeks, community reports), Chinese Physics C (about 3.4 weeks, publisher figure), Advances In Physics (about 5.6 weeks, publisher figure), Chinese Physics Letters (about 6 weeks, article statistics). Review times come first from article statistics (the median from submission to acceptance over the last 24 months), then from publisher figures and community reports; a single manuscript can take much longer or shorter.
Which Physics & Astronomy journals charge no APC?
36 journals in Physics & Astronomy charge authors no article processing charge (APC); those with the highest impact factors include Living Reviews in Relativity (impact factor 64.18), Living Reviews in Solar Physics (impact factor 29.4), Opto-Electronic Science (impact factor 26.9), Space: Science & Technology (impact factor 6.4), ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS (impact factor 6.06); see the list of Physics & Astronomy journals with no APC. Subscription journals usually charge no APC but may charge for colour figures or extra pages; check the journal's website before submitting.
Further reading: How to read journal rankings · How to read review times and acceptance rates · Find journals from your abstract