14 November 2022

Update on JWST Name

Many AAS members are concerned about the response of NASA to the JWST name and process, and we wanted to provide a brief update. In response to our most recent letter, Administrator Nelson replied that NASA’s Acting Chief Historian as well as a contract historian were reviewing records and that NASA would share the findings publicly after completion. Nelson also agreed that the mission naming policy for NASA must be reexamined and that will also be shared. We await these results.

The Publication Committee would like to remind members that it is the current policy of the AAS journals that the acronym JWST need not be spelled out upon its first use in scientific papers. This policy is documented in the AAS Style Guide on the journals web page.

— The AAS Board of Trustees

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