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An anomalous journal impact factor
Author(s) -
Abt H. A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
astronomische nachrichten
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.394
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-3994
pISSN - 0004-6337
DOI - 10.1002/asna.200510622
Subject(s) - impact factor , citation , series (stratigraphy) , physics , astrophysics , meteorology , library science , engineering physics , geology , political science , computer science , law , paleontology
The impact factor (average number of citations per paper) for the Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series jumped between 2003 and 2004 from 6.247 to 15.231, giving it the world's second highest impact factor for an astronomical journal in 2004. Was this change due to a computing error or to an unusual occurrence? It is shown that it was due to the extremely high citation rates (average of 160 citations per year) for 13 papers in the special issue devoted to the WilkinsonMicrowave Anisotropy Probe. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)