Research Notes of the AAS Are Back and Better Than Ever

The American Astronomical Society (AAS) and its publications partner the Institute of Physics (IOP) Publishing announce the return of Research Notes of the AAS (RNAAS) — short communications for the rapid publication and distribution of new and exciting results.

Last published in print in the 1970s, RNAAS have been brought up to date for digital publication by the AAS editorial team, led by AAS Editor in Chief Ethan Vishniac and Oxford University astrophysicist Chris Lintott, who serves as the AAS journals’ Lead Editor for Instrumentation, Software, Laboratory Astrophysics, and Data.

“Research Notes are short communications — at most 1,000 words and one figure or table — that provide an indexed and secure record of works in progress, comments and clarifications, null results, and timely reports of observations, such as the spectrum of a supernova,” explains Lintott. “They will also cover results that wouldn’t traditionally merit a full paper, such as the discovery of a single exoplanet or contributions to the monitoring of variable sources.

“We want them to be as accessible as possible for the community,” continues Lintott, “so currently they are free both to publish and to read. Moreover, they are citable and searchable in the SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS), just like other papers in our journals.”

Research Notes are not subject to the same peer-review process as standard journal articles. Instead they are checked by a member of the AAS Journals Editorial Board to make sure they are appropriate and meet the guidelines for subject and format, then published as submitted, with no copy-editing or other production services. “The AAS’s priority for Research Notes is fast dissemination of knowledge,” says Lintott, “and this abbreviated publishing process ensures that they are available online within 72 hours of acceptance.”

Contacts:
Rick Fienberg
Press Officer
American Astronomical Society
+1 202-328-2010 x116
rick.fienberg@aas.org

Simon Davies
Senior PR Officer
IOP Publishing
+44 (0)117 930 1110
simon.davies@iop.org

Chris Lintott
Professor of Astrophysics, Oxford University
Lead Editor, AAS Journals
+44 (0)780 816 7288
chris.lintott@physics.ox.ac.uk

Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society (RNAAS):
http://rn.aas.org

Editorial: Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society:
http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2515-5172/aa93da

Scope of Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society:
http://journals.aas.org/scope-rnaas.html

The American Astronomical Society (AAS, https://aas.org), established in 1899, is the major organization of professional astronomers in North America. The membership (approx. 8,000) also includes physicists, mathematicians, geologists, engineers, and others whose research interests lie within the broad spectrum of subjects now comprising contemporary astronomy. The mission of the American Astronomical Society is to enhance and share humanity’s scientific understanding of the universe, which it achieves through publishing, meeting organization, education and outreach, and training and professional development.

IOP Publishing (http://ioppublishing.org) provides publications through which leading-edge scientific research is distributed worldwide. Beyond IOP’s core journals program of more than 70 publications, high-value scientific information is made easily accessible through an ever-evolving portfolio of community websites, magazines, open-access conference proceedings, and a multitude of electronic services. The company is focused on making the most of new technologies and continually improving electronic interfaces to make it easier for researchers to find exactly what they need, when they need it, in the format that suits them best. IOP Publishing is part of the Institute of Physics (IOP), a leading scientific society with more than 50,000 international members. The Institute aims to advance physics for the benefit of all by working to advance physics research, application, and education; and engaging with policymakers and the public to develop awareness and understanding of physics. Any financial surplus earned by IOP Publishing goes to support science through the activities of the Institute.