The Astronomical Journal debuts design changes and e-first publishing

["Suzanne Wu" <sw@press.uchicago.edu>]

With apologies for cross-posting.

For Immediate Release: June 6, 2006
Contact: Suzanne Wu / 773-834-0386 / swu@press.uchicago.edu

The Astronomical Journal debuts design changes and e-first 
publishing

The Astronomical Journal, published by the University of Chicago 
Press on behalf of the American Astronomical Society, will offer 
e-first publication of papers with the July 2006 issue (Vol. 132, 
Issue 1). This volume also marks a reorganization of the AJ Web 
site to include more information of interest to authors, 
referees, and librarians.

With e-first publication, papers in an issue are published as 
soon as ready on the newly redesigned AJ Web site, 
www.journals.uchicago.edu/AJ, with final volume, issue, and page 
numbers. Without the constraints of a traditional print schedule, 
this vital step along the path opened by electronic publishing 
technologies ensures significantly earlier publication and 
availability of final citation information.

"This service joins a number of electronic publishing features 
already in place at the AJ, including machine-readable tables, 
online color figures, and electronic figure sets," writes AJ 
editor-in-chief John S. Gallagher III. "Throughout the coming 
year, we will also be planning further enhancements for the 
presentation of online materials."

About The Astronomical Journal: Founded in 1849 by B.A. Gould, 
The Astronomical Journal is one of the world's finest journals in 
the field. With an emphasis on observational papers and a 
generally short publication time, The Astronomical Journal 
attracts many seminal papers, and is an indispensable journal for 
serious astronomers.

About the American Astronomical Society: The American 
Astronomical Society (AAS), established 1899, is the major 
organization of professional astronomers in North America. AAS 
promotes the advancement of astronomy and closely related 
branches of science.

About the University of Chicago Press: Founded in 1891, the 
University of Chicago Press is the largest American university 
press. The Journals Division currently publishes forty-seven 
award-winning periodicals and serials in a wide range of 
disciplines, including several journals that were the first 
scholarly publications in their respective fields. Online since 
1995, the Journals Division has also been a pioneer in electronic 
publishing, delivering original, peer-reviewed research from 
international scholars to a worldwide audience.

--
Suzanne Wu
Public Relations Manager
Journals Division
The University of Chicago Press
Chicago, IL 60637
swu@press.uchicago.edu
www.journals.uchicago.edu