19 August 2015

Introducing AAS Nova: Research Highlights from Our Journals

Richard Fienberg

Richard Fienberg American Astronomical Society

One challenge that all scientific researchers struggle with is dealing with the huge number of new papers published on a daily basis. The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is committed to finding ways to better support the astronomical community, so we are pleased to introduce a new service to address this challenge: AAS Nova.

This new site (http://aasnova.org), curated by Dr. Susanna Kohler, provides brief highlights of recently published articles from the AAS journals — the Astronomical Journal (AJ), the Astrophysical Journal (ApJ)ApJ Letters, and ApJ Supplements — to inform researchers, science journalists, and others interested in astronomy about breakthroughs and discoveries they might otherwise overlook. AAS Nova was unveiled earlier this month in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the XXIX General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union. The AAS publishes its journals in partnership with Institute of Physics (IOP) Publishing in Bristol, U.K., and Washington, D.C., which built the AAS Nova website to specifications provided by the AAS.

"We are extremely excited Susanna has joined the AAS team," says Julie Steffen, AAS Director of Publishing. "She has long been dedicated to the communication of astronomy research through contributions to both Astrobites and ComSciCon, and the launch of AAS Nova will provide her with an additional opportunity to inform the field of hot science published in the AAS journals."

Ethan Vishniac, Editor in Chief of the Astrophysical Journal, adds, "We are thrilled that Susanna will provide this service to highlight the excellent work authors publish in the AAS journals, and are confident this will help readers stay abreast of the latest research in the field."

"I'm delighted to continue sharing exciting astrophysics developments with astronomy researchers and enthusiasts," says Susanna Kohler, Editor of AAS Nova. "I look forward to helping our authors' work gain wider exposure and providing a way for the busy researcher to keep up with some of the breakthroughs and discoveries in the broader field."