About the Journal

Aims and Scope

The Mongolian Journal of Astronomy and Geophysics (MJAG) aims to establish itself as a solid, internationally recognised, peer-reviewed, high-quality open-access journal in astronomy, geophysics, and the geosciences. Published by the Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics under the auspices of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and hosted on MongoliaJOL, the journal publishes research spanning from national to global scales.

The journal prioritises original contributions in observational and experimental studies, theoretical developments, numerical modelling, and methodological advances, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches and regionally grounded research of global relevance. Submissions are expected to demonstrate scientific rigour, reproducibility, and a clear contribution to the advancement of the field.

Since its transition to an online format in 2025, MJAG accepts manuscripts in Mongolian, English, and Russian to support regional accessibility and scientific exchange. As part of its internationalisation strategy, the journal is moving toward English as its primary language of publication, with full adoption planned for 2028.

The journal supports the dissemination of research in original languages to enhance accessibility and preserve scientific communication within its regional context, while ensuring integration into the international scientific domain. It also serves as a structured archive of scientific outputs, promoting transparency, long-term data availability, and continuity in research.

MJAG covers a broad range of topics, including geomagnetism, electromagnetic induction, seismology, potential fields, geodynamics, space physics, and astrophysics. Particular priority is given to studies from Mongolia and Central Asia with global scientific relevance. Authors are encouraged to ensure reproducibility by providing access to data and code in accordance with international standards. The journal welcomes methodological advances, data-driven studies, and interdisciplinary research that links geophysics to geological and environmental applications.

Through this framework, MJAG contributes to strengthening scientific capacity, fostering collaboration, and advancing the visibility of Mongolian and regional research within the global scientific community.

Types of Manuscripts

MJAG accepts the following categories of manuscripts:

1. Research Articles
Full-length papers presenting original and unpublished results. These manuscripts should include a rigorous methodological framework, quantitative analysis, and a clear scientific contribution to astronomy, geophysics, or geosciences. Reproducibility and data transparency are expected.

2. Review Articles
Comprehensive and critical syntheses of specific research domains. Reviews should not merely summarize literature but provide analytical insight, identify knowledge gaps, and propose future research directions, particularly relevant to regional and global contexts.

3. Data Papers
Manuscripts describing high-quality datasets, including acquisition, processing workflows, validation, and structure. Emphasis should be placed on data quality control, metadata completeness, and long-term usability. This category is particularly relevant for observatory data (e.g., geomagnetic, seismology, or geodetic datasets).

4. Methodological / Technical Papers
Articles introducing new methods, algorithms, instrumentation, or computational frameworks. Submissions must demonstrate validation (synthetic or real-data based) and clear advantages over existing approaches.

5. Short Communications
Concise reports of novel findings, preliminary results, or significant observations that warrant rapid dissemination but do not require a full-length article.

6. Case Studies / Applied Studies
Focused investigations of specific regions, datasets, or applied problems (e.g., exploration geophysics, hazard assessment, geothermal systems). These should maintain scientific rigor while emphasizing practical implications.

7. Perspectives / Commentary
Scholarly discussions addressing emerging concepts, scientific debates, or future directions in astronomy and geophysics. These are typically invited or subject to editorial approval.

Article Processing Charges (APC)

MJAG does not charge article processing charges (APCs). All submissions, peer review, and publication are free of charge.

Peer Review Process

MJAG operates a double-blind peer review system, in which both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other throughout the evaluation process. Manuscripts and review reports are handled confidentially and communicated through the editorial office.

Each manuscript is evaluated by two to three independent reviewers with relevant expertise. Reviewers are selected by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with members of the Editorial Board, based on their scientific competence and absence of conflicts of interest. Reviewers may include members of the Editorial Board; however, if a Board member is an author of a submission, independent reviewers without conflicts of interest are appointed.

To ensure impartiality, the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Secretary do not act as reviewers. Reviewers are expected to submit their reports within 4-5 weeks of accepting the invitation to review.

Detailed reviewer guidelines and evaluation criteria are defined in the journal’s official reviewer instructions.

Editorial Decision and Revision Process

Following completion of the peer review process, the Editor-in-Chief makes a final decision in consultation with the associated (leading) Editor. Based on reviewers’ evaluations, manuscripts may be:

  • Accepted
  • Accepted with minor revisions
  • Invited for major revisions
  • Rejected

Authors are normally expected to submit revised manuscripts within 2 weeks for minor revisions and within a reasonable period for major revisions. Submissions requiring substantial revision may be treated as new submissions and may undergo an additional round of peer review.

Revised manuscripts may be returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation, depending on the extent of the revisions. Following final acceptance, manuscripts proceed to copy-editing and production.

The average duration from submission to final decision is approximately 8–12 weeks, depending on the review process and revision requirements.

Publication Frequency

MJAG is published annually as a single volume, comprising between 1 and 4 issues, depending on the volume and quality of accepted submissions.

Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability

Editorial Board and publisher make no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the content published in the journal.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the journal, its editors, and publisher shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages arising out of or in connection with the use of, or inability to use, the information contained in the journal, including but not limited to errors or omissions in the content.

The views, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in published articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the publisher, or affiliated institutions. Publication does not constitute endorsement of the results or conclusions presented.

Authors are solely responsible for the content of their manuscripts, including the accuracy of data, references, permissions, and compliance with applicable ethical and legal standards.

Open Access Policy

MJAG provides immediate and permanent open access to all published content, ensuring that research is freely available without subscription or access fees.

All articles are published under an open-access model hosted on MongoliaJOL, allowing users to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles without prior permission, provided that proper attribution to the original work is given.

Authors retain copyright of their work while granting the journal the right to publish and disseminate the article. Unless otherwise specified, articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are properly cited.

The journal supports the principles of open scientific communication and encourages the sharing of data, code, and supplementary materials in accordance with international standards and best practices.

Open Access Policy

MJAG provides immediate and permanent open access to all published content, ensuring that research is freely available without subscription or access fees.

All articles are published under an open-access model hosted on MongoliaJOL, allowing users to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles without prior permission, provided that proper attribution to the original work is given.

Authors retain copyright of their work while granting the journal the right to publish and disseminate the article. Unless otherwise specified, articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are properly cited.

The journal supports the principles of open scientific communication and encourages the sharing of data, code, and supplementary materials in accordance with international standards and best practices.

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

MJAG adheres to internationally recognized standards of publication ethics and is committed to ensuring integrity, transparency, and accountability in scholarly publishing. The journal follows best practices consistent with the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics.

Editorial Structure and Responsibilities

MJAG is managed by an Editorial Board that oversees the peer-review process and ensures the quality and integrity of published content. The journal is published by the Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics under the auspices of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences.

The Editorial Board consists of an Editor-in-Chief, an  Associate Editor, and Editorial Board Members. Members are active researchers with relevant expertise and are selected based on their scientific qualifications and experience. The composition of the Editorial Board aims to maintain professional competence, ethical standards, and gender balance.

Responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Office

The Editor-in-Chief, supported by the Associated Editors, is responsible for the overall editorial process, including:

  • Receiving and managing manuscript submissions
  • Ensuring confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and author information
  • Conducting an initial assessment of submissions for scope, quality, and compliance
  • Anonymizing manuscripts for double-blind peer review and assigning unique identification codes
  • Coordinating the peer review process and communication between authors and reviewers
  • Making final publication decisions in consultation with the Editorial Board

Responsibilities of the Editorial Board

The Editorial Board supports the editorial process by:

  • Evaluating the scientific quality, methodology, and relevance of submitted manuscripts
  • Recommending whether manuscripts should proceed to peer review
  • Selecting appropriate independent reviewers based on expertise
  • Assessing revised manuscripts and recommending acceptance or rejection
  • Addressing author appeals and ethical concerns when necessary
  • Supporting the continuous and consistent operation of the journal

Ethical Standards

All Editorial Board members are expected to:

  • Act with integrity, objectivity, and confidentiality
  • Avoid conflicts of interest and disclose any potential conflicts
  • Ensure fair and unbiased evaluation of manuscripts
  • Maintain the confidentiality of all submitted materials

The editorial process is conducted in accordance with established ethical standards to ensure transparency, fairness, and scientific quality.

Reviewer Responsibilities and Ethics

  • Reviewers are expected to uphold the highest standards of scientific integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism throughout the peer review process.
  • Reviewers must possess the appropriate expertise and experience to evaluate the manuscript and be able to provide a thorough and timely assessment. By accepting a review invitation, reviewers commit to delivering an objective and well-reasoned evaluation within the agreed timeframe.
  • All manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not disclose any information regarding the manuscript to third parties, nor use any unpublished material, data, or ideas obtained through the review process for personal research or advantage.
  • Reviewers are required to declare any conflicts of interest and must decline to review a manuscript if such conflicts may affect their impartiality. If a potential conflict arises during the review process, it must be reported to the Editorial Board.
  • Evaluations must be conducted objectively and constructively. Reviewers should avoid hostile, defamatory, discriminatory, or personal remarks. Assessments must not be influenced by the authors’ nationality, ethnicity, religion, political views, gender, age, or institutional affiliation.
  • Peer review is considered a collaborative scientific process. Reviewers are expected to provide fair, honest, and constructive feedback that contributes to improving the manuscript and advancing the field.
  • The journal ensures that reviewer expertise and credentials are accurately represented. Substitution of reviewers or delegation of the review to another individual without prior editorial approval is strictly prohibited and constitutes a serious breach of ethical standards.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must ensure that their work is original, has not been published previously, and is not under consideration elsewhere. All sources must be properly cited. Data presented should be accurate and reproducible, and authors are responsible for retaining and, where appropriate, providing access to underlying data. Plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, and redundant publication are strictly prohibited.  See more information from the Author Guidelines. 

Publisher

MJAG is published by the Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics under the auspices of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences. The journal is hosted on the Mongolia Journals Online (MongoliaJOL) platform. 

Publisher’s Confirmation

The publisher confirms its responsibility for the publication, dissemination, and long-term accessibility of the journal’s content.

The publisher supports the Editorial Board's editorial independence and ensures that all editorial decisions are made solely on the basis of scientific merit, without interference from institutional or external interests.

The publisher is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics, transparency in editorial processes, and compliance with internationally recognized best practices in scholarly publishing. The publisher further assumes responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the publication record and for implementing corrections, retractions, or updates when necessary.