The department of physics at the University of South Alabama has launched a new quarterly
e-journal for astronomers, the Journal of Double Star Observations.

The new journal is aimed at amateur and professional astronomers interested in double stars. The publication's main goal is to promote observation and research in the field of binary and multiple stars, and it will publish articles on all aspects of astronomy involving double and binary stars. It is especially interested in observations made by amateur astronomers. The observations will be used by professional astronomers in studying these types of stars.

Observations of double and binary stars reported in the journal will also be used by the U.S. Naval Observatory in maintaining its database of multiple stars.

Dr. Kent Clark, professor of physics at USA, is the lead editor of the journal. Other contributing editors include: Rod Mollise, an astronomy lab instructor at USA and a nationally-known amateur astronomer; Dr. Justin Sanders, associate professor of physics at USA; and Dr. William Burling, professor of English at Southwest Missouri State University and active double star observer. Dr. Brian Mason, project manager of the Double Star Program at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., will serve as an advisory editor. The journal Web site will be maintained by Daniel LaBrier, an instructor in the department of physics at USA.

The first issue was released in April and is available for free on the Web at https://www.southalabama.edu/physics/jdso. Readers can download entire issues or individual articles.