The Astrophysical Journal Citation Rate 2026
0004-637X
eISSN 1538-4357
IOP Publishing
GB
Q1 Quartile Open Access Top Tier
About The Astrophysical Journal
The Astrophysical Journal (AJ) is a peer-reviewed academic journal, published by IOP Publishing in GB, catalogued under ISSN 0004-637X (e-ISSN 1538-4357). As of 2026, it has a 2025 2-Year Citation Rate (OpenAlex) of 5.13 (Q1 quartile) — the average number of citations its recent articles received over a two-year window, computed from OpenAlex open citation data, not the Clarivate (JCR) Impact Factor. It is fully open access.
The Astrophysical Journal Citation Rate 2026 — In Context
The Astrophysical Journal has a 2025 2-Year Citation Rate (OpenAlex) of 5.13, placing it in the Q1 quartile. This is the average number of citations the journal's recent articles received over a two-year window, computed from OpenAlex open citation data — not the Clarivate (JCR) Journal Impact Factor.
As a fully open-access publication, The Astrophysical Journal makes all articles freely available to readers.
Researchers looking to publish in The Astrophysical Journal should review the journal's submission tips and verify the latest indexing status against Scopus, DOAJ, and Web of Science using our indexing tracker. To compare The Astrophysical Journal against similar journals in the field, use our journal comparison tool.
| ISSN (Print) | 0004-637X |
|---|---|
| ISSN (Online) | 1538-4357 |
| Publisher | IOP Publishing |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| APC / Cost | Inquire with Publisher |
| h-index | 702 |
| Total Works | 135,017 |
| Total Citations | 7,574,859 |
| 2-yr Mean Citedness | 5.47 (OpenAlex) |
| DOAJ | Listed |
In-depth profile & metrics
The Astrophysical Journal is published by IOP Publishing and based in United Kingdom. It publishes on an open-access basis.
Editorially, The Astrophysical Journal concentrates on Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies, Astronomy and Astrophysical Research and Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies, within the broader field of Physics and Astronomy.
The Astrophysical Journal is indexed in the DOAJ and OpenAlex. DOAJ listing confirms the journal's open-access policies have been independently vetted.
OpenAlex records 135,017 works that have together drawn 7,574,859 citations, giving the journal an h-index of 702; its most recent citation rate stands at 5.130; OpenAlex puts its two-year mean citedness at 5.47.
Links
Continue on JournalsHub
Put what you just read into practice with these free tools.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Astrophysical Journal
Live Indexing Status
Updated July 2026Track real-time indexing metrics to ensure this journal meets your academic requirements.
Citation Rate
Historical Trend
Initial data points onlyCitation Rate by Year
| Year | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5.130 | 2-Year Mean Citedness (OpenAlex) |
Metrics are sourced from OpenAlex, DOAJ and Scopus and reflect the latest data we hold. The headline figure is a 2-year citation rate (OpenAlex), not a Clarivate Impact Factor. Always verify against the journal's official site before relying on it. See our Methodology or report a correction.
Works Published per Year (2014–2025)
Annual publication volume sourced from OpenAlex. Current year omitted (partial data).
Publication & citation history by year
| Year | Works published | Citations received |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,168 | 18,822 |
| 2024 | 3,834 | 40,692 |
| 2023 | 2,944 | 45,988 |
| 2022 | 3,345 | 60,226 |
| 2021 | 3,005 | 64,581 |
| 2020 | 3,082 | 94,047 |
| 2019 | 3,212 | 123,490 |
| 2018 | 3,039 | 134,270 |
| 2017 | 3,082 | 139,978 |
| 2016 | 3,068 | 159,469 |
| 2015 | 3,022 | 174,455 |
| 2014 | 2,776 | 175,805 |
Journal at a Glance
Source: OpenAlex — refreshed daily.
Top Research Topics
The areas where The Astrophysical Journal most frequently publishes, ranked by article volume. Click a topic to see the best journals for it.
Research Highlights
Recently published high-impact papers in this journal:
-
White Dwarf Merger Remnants with Cooling Delays on the Q Branch Lack Strong Magnetism
Lou Baya Ould Rouis, J. J. Hermes, Joseph A. Guidry • 2026
Explore More Journals
Metadata
Last updated: Jul 12, 2026
Updated by: system
Get weekly updates
Free. Monday morning. New citation rates, CFPs, indexing alerts, predatory watch list. One-click unsubscribe.