Begun in 1895 by George E. Hale and James E. Keeler, The Astrophysical Journal is the foremost research journal in the world devoted to recent developments, discoveries, and theories in astronomy and astrophysics. Many of the classic discoveries of the twentieth century have first been reported in the Journal, which has also presented much of the important recent work on quasars, pulsars, neutron stars, black holes, solar and stellar magnetic fields, X-rays, and interstellar matter. In addition, videos that complement specific issues are periodically available.

The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series has been published since 1953 in conjunction with The Astrophysical Journal. Designed to bring substantial, extensive support to the material found in the Journal, the Supplement Series contains many of the most frequently cited papers in astronomical literature.

The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series

Manuscripts containing extensive amounts of data or calculations with relatively little analysis or interpretations, or manuscripts of very specialized interest should be submitted to The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. The criteria of novelty and significance will be applied here as well. Note that a Scientific Editor, perhaps based on the recommendation of a referee, may judge that a manuscript be published in the Supplement rather than in the main Journal. Surveys have shown that Supplement papers are referenced in the astronomical literature almost twice as frequently on the average as papers in the main Journal.