AASTeX LaTeX Guide: Class Setup & Author Workflow

Q: Why are line numbers mandatory in AASTeX?

The American Astronomical Society requires the linenumbers option for all initial submissions and peer review revisions across all AAS journals. Continuous line numbers enable peer reviewers and scientific editors to refer directly to specific passages, equations, and data tables in their referee reports.

Q: What is the difference between aastex twocolumn and modern styles?

The twocolumn option formats the manuscript into tight, 10-point, double-column pages resembling the final published journal layout. In contrast, the modern option formats the paper into a stylish single column with wide side margins, optimized for on-screen reading and digital markup.

AASTeX is the official LaTeX document class package created and maintained by the American Astronomical Society (AAS) for authoring manuscripts across its peer-reviewed publications. First released in the early 1990s, the package provides standardized macros, layout environments, and citation styles tailored specifically for research papers in astronomy, astrophysics, and planetary science.

Whether preparing a letter for The Astrophysical Journal Letters (ApJL) or an observational survey for The Astronomical Journal (AJ), authors use AASTeX to ensure manuscript formatting complies directly with AAS editorial requirements before completing their ApJ journal submission. In 2025, the AAS introduced AASTeX v7 (updating to v7.0.1 in May 2025), replacing legacy RevTeX dependencies with a modern, streamlined class architecture.

What AASTeX Is Used for in Research

In observational and theoretical astrophysics, AASTeX serves as the common markup standard connecting authors, peer reviewers, and journal publishers. It establishes uniform environments for mathematical equations, astronomical coordinate formatting, multi-page data tables, and structured metadata.

Specifically, AASTeX is designed to support:

AAS Journal Portfolio Submissions: Formatting manuscripts for The Astrophysical Journal (ApJ), The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series (ApJS), The Astronomical Journal (AJ), The Planetary Science Journal (PSJ), and Research Notes of the AAS (RNAAS).
Standardized Astronomical Objects and Metadata: Dedicated commands for astronomical facility tags (such as space telescopes and ground observatories) and software citations.
Persistent Identifier Integration: Direct linking of author ORCIDs, dataset accession numbers, and journal article records via Crossref DOIs.
Review and Production Workflows: Automated line numbering for peer review tracking, dual-anonymous review obfuscation, and revision highlighting.

Install or Access AASTeX

AASTeX is distributed as open software under the LaTeX Project Public License (LPPL) and can be accessed through multiple standard distribution channels:

TeX Live & MacTeX Distributions: AASTeX is included by default in TeX Live and MacTeX distributions under the aastex package identifier. Updates can be synchronized via the TeX Live Manager (tlmgr update aastex).
MiKTeX (Windows): Available through the MiKTeX Package Manager. If not pre-installed, MiKTeX prompts for automated on-the-fly installation upon first compilation.
Comprehensive TeX Archive Network (CTAN): The canonical archive package can be downloaded directly from CTAN at ctan.org/pkg/aastex.
Official AAS GitHub Repositories: Current class files (v7+) are maintained at github.com/AASJournals/AASTeX7, while legacy v6 files reside at github.com/AASJournals/AASTeX60.
Cloud TeX Platforms: Pre-configured AASTeX templates are accessible on cloud platforms like Overleaf via official AAS template galleries.

Step-by-Step Task: Setting Up an AASTeX Template

Follow these steps to construct a compliant manuscript using the current AASTeX v7.0.1 class:

Declare the Document Class: Open your root LaTeX document and specify the document class with required operational arguments. For AAS submissions, line numbers are mandatory:
```
documentclass[linenumbers,trackchanges]{aastex701}
```
Note: If authoring for The Planetary Science Journal, you must also pass the longbib option to print full article titles in the bibliography.
Configure Hyperref Options (Optional): While AASTeX loads hyperref automatically, custom link colors can be adjusted in the preamble:
```
hypersetup{linkcolor=blue,citecolor=green,filecolor=cyan,urlcolor=magenta}
```
Enter Manuscript History and Journal Destination: Provide the target journal and submission status markers in the preamble:
```
submitjournal{ApJ}
received{January 15, 2026}
revised{March 10, 2026}
accepted{today}
```

Define Title and Author Affiliations: Structure author credits using verified ORCIDs and indexed affiliation institutions:

title{Observational Constraints on High-Redshift Starburst Galaxies}
author[0000-0002-1825-0097]{Jane Doe}
affiliation{Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA}
author{John Smith}
affiliation{Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA}

Insert Abstract and UAT Keywords: Add the structured abstract and Unified Astronomy Thesaurus (UAT) concept terms:

begin{abstract}
We present spectroscopic observations of starburst galaxies...
end{abstract}
keywords{Starburst galaxies (1570) --- High-redshift galaxies (734) --- Galaxy evolution (594)}

Format Astronomical Data Tables: Use the native deluxetable environment for multi-column astronomical data:

begin{deluxetable*}{lcccc}
tablecaption{Spectroscopic Line Flux Measurementslabel{tab:fluxes}}
tablewidth{0pt}
tablehead{
colhead{Target} & colhead{z} & colhead{F([O III])} & colhead{F(H$beta$)} & colhead{Ratio}
}
startdata
Galaxy-A & 2.14 & 14.2 $pm$ 0.8 & 4.1 $pm$ 0.3 & 3.46 \
Galaxy-B & 2.45 & 9.8 $pm$ 0.5 & 3.0 $pm$ 0.2 & 3.27 \
enddata
tablecomments{Fluxes reported in units of $10^{-17}$ erg s$^{-1}$ cm$^{-2}$.}
end{deluxetable*}

Tag Facilities and Software: Explicitly acknowledge telescopes and analysis software packages before the bibliography:

facilities{HST(STIS), Keck:I(LRIS), ALMA}
software{Astropy (Astropy Collaboration 2022), CASA (McMullin et al. 2007)}

Compile with BibTeX: Compile using pdflatex, run bibtex with the official aasjournalv7.bst style file, and run pdflatex twice more to resolve citations and cross-references.

Output and How to Read It

Compiling an AASTeX source document produces a PDF structured according to AAS journal layout standards. In default or manuscript mode, the text is single-column, allowing reviewers ample space to read margin notes and examine figures. In twocolumn mode, the output closely mimics the final published journal format, allowing authors to estimate article length and check column wrapping.

When reviewing your compiled proof:

Continuous Line Numbers: Confirm that line numbering runs uninterrupted through all body sections in the left margin. This is required by editors to reference specific sentences during peer review.
Table Placement: Ensure that deluxetable* structures span both columns cleanly and do not clip numeric data or footnotes.
Hyperlinked References: Click several inline citations to confirm they link directly to the corresponding entry in the bibliography, and check that references resolve to persistent URLs.

Troubleshooting Common Compilation Errors

Astronomy authors frequently encounter specific errors when compiling AASTeX documents:

RevTeX Clashes in v7: In AASTeX v6, RevTeX was loaded internally. In AASTeX v7+, RevTeX has been removed. If your document manually includes usepackage{revtex4-1} or calls deprecated RevTeX commands, compilation will fail with package clash errors. Remove manual RevTeX calls.
Overfull hbox in Two-Column Mode: Long mathematical equations or wide tables may bleed across the center gutter in twocolumn mode. Enclose wide equations in begin{widetext} ... end{widetext} and wide tables in deluxetable*.
Undefined Control Sequence with Deluxetable: Missing startdata or unbalanced enddata tags inside a deluxetable environment will cause TeX to abort. Always verify that startdata immediately follows tablehead.
Missing Lineno Package: If compiling on a minimal TeX installation, passing the mandatory linenumbers option may report lineno.sty not found. Install the lineno package via your TeX distribution package manager.
BibTeX Author Formatting Errors: Using older BST files with modern `@misc` or software records can lead to missing field warnings. Ensure you use aasjournalv7.bst for v7 manuscripts or aasjournal.bst (v1.18b+) for v6.

Free Alternatives to AASTeX

While AASTeX is mandatory for submitting to AAS journals, astronomers use other free and open document classes when submitting to international astronomy and physics journals:

Class / Template	Primary Target Journals	Developer / Steward	Column Format Options	Specialized Features
AASTeX (v701 / v631)	ApJ, AJ, ApJL, ApJS, PSJ, RNAAS	American Astronomical Society (AAS)	Single-column, twocolumn, modern	`deluxetable`, UAT keywords, `facilities`, `software`
mnras.cls	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS)	Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) / OUP	Strict twocolumn camera-ready	Custom author affiliation blocks, MNRAS reference style
aa.cls	Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A)	EDP Sciences / European Southern Observatory	Structured abstract, twocolumn	Language-specific formatting, structured abstract tags
REVTeX (v4.2)	Physical Review series (PRL, PRA-E, PRX)	American Physical Society (APS)	Single and twocolumn	APS citation styles, endnote integration
Standard article.cls	General physics and preprint repositories	LaTeX3 Project	Single or twocolumn	General-purpose; requires manual package loading

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AASTeX v6.3.1 still accepted for AAS journal submissions?

Yes. While AASTeX v7.0.1 is the latest release, the AAS continues to accept manuscripts formatted in AASTeX v6.3.1. However, authors starting new manuscripts are encouraged to use v701 to benefit from updated package compatibility and the removal of RevTeX dependencies.

Can I submit an AASTeX manuscript directly to arXiv?

Yes. arXiv natively supports AASTeX class files in its automated TeX compilation engine. When submitting to arXiv, include your root .tex file, any local figure files, and the compiled .bbl bibliography file generated during your local compilation.

Why are line numbers mandatory in AASTeX?

The American Astronomical Society requires the linenumbers option for all initial submissions and peer review revisions across all AAS journals. Continuous line numbers enable peer reviewers and scientific editors to refer directly to specific passages, equations, and data tables in their referee reports.

What is the difference between aastex twocolumn and modern styles?

The twocolumn option formats the manuscript into tight, 10-point, double-column pages resembling the final published journal layout. In contrast, the modern option formats the paper into a stylish single column with wide side margins, optimized for on-screen reading and digital markup.

Sources

Comprehensive TeX Archive Network (CTAN). (2026). The AASTeX Package. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://www.ctan.org/pkg/aastex
American Astronomical Society (AAS). (2025). AASTeX v7.0.1 Class Files and Documentation. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AASJournals/AASTeX7/main/README.md
American Astronomical Society (AAS). (2025). Sample Manuscript and Macro Guide for AASTeX v701. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AASJournals/AASTeX7/main/sample/sample701.tex
American Astronomical Society (AAS). (2024). AASTeX v6.3.2 Release and BST Style Documentation. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AASJournals/AASTeX60/master/README.md