Physics and Astronomy

Introduction

This is a selective guide to information resources in physics and astronomy. Most of the print sources listed here are located in the Science & Engineering area on the second floor of the library ("Sci Ref").

Course Guide

• PHY 100
• PHY 200

Databases

Use these databases to find citations or references to journal articles To read the full text of an article, see Finding Items at Fogler Library and Getting Items from Other Libraries.

• arXiv.org e-Print archive (ca. 1991+)
  Electronic preprint (prepublication) collection covering astrophysics and physics, mathematics, nonlinear sciences, computer science, and quantitative biology. On Fogler Library workstations, select PDF format when viewing full text.
• Compendex (Engineering Index) (1970+)
  Covers all areas of engineering and physics. Partial coverage of astronomy. Includes citations to conference proceedings, reports, and foreign-language publications. Can be searched jointly with INSPEC.
• GeoRef (1693+)
  Covers geology and related disciplines, including astronomy. Includes citations to books, proceedings, and other literature, and foreign-language publications.
• GeoRef In Process
  Citations that will eventually appear in GeoRef. Records may be incomplete. Rolling file: dates covered vary.
• IEEE Xplore & IEEE/IET Electronic Library (1913+)
  Journals and conference proceedings published by the IEEE and IET.
• INSPEC (1969+)
  Covers physics, astronomy, and electronics. Includes citations to books, proceedings, dissertations, and other materials, and foreign-language publications. Can be searched jointly with Compendex.
• SAO/NASA ADS: ADS Home Page [Astrophysics Data System] (ca. 1975+)
  Database indexing and abstracting literature on astronomy, astrophysics, geophysics, instrumentation, physics, and other topics. Links to scanned images of journal articles, conference proceedings, and books, as well as astronomical data catalogs and other resources.
• SciFinder Scholar (1907+)
  Covers all areas of chemistry and related sciences. Includes citations to patents and other materials, and foreign-language publications.
• SPIN: Searchable Physics Information Notices [including Scitation] (ca. 1975+)
  Scientific journals published by the American Institute of Physics and its Member Societies.

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

• AccessScience including the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, Sci Ref Q 121 M3 2007 and the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, Sci Ref Q 123 M15 2003
• Astronomy Encyclopedia Sci Ref QB 14 P45 2002
• Cambridge Illustrated Dictionary of Astronomy Sci Ref QB 14 M578 2007
• Encyclopedia of Applied Physics Sci Ref QC 5 E543 1991
• Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology Sci Ref Q 123 E497 2002
• Encyclopedia of Physics Sci Ref QC 5 E545 2005
• The Firefly Encyclopedia of Astronomy Sci Ref QB 14 F575 2004
• Macmillan Encyclopedia of Physics Sci Ref QC 5 M15 1996
• The Penguin Dictionary of Physics Sci Ref QC 5 P46 2000

Field Guides and Catalogs

Many field guides and catalogs of astronomical objects are shelved in the regular book stacks. Search the URSUS catalog to locate these items. Representative subject headings include astronomy amateurs manuals, astronomy observers manuals, galaxies catalogs, nebulae charts diagrams etc, and stars atlases.

• The Cambridge Star Atlas Sci Ref QB 65 T537 2001
• The New Atlas of the Stars: Constellations, Stars and Celestial Objects Sci Ref QB 65 M4513 2005
• Skyatlas 2000.0 Sci Ref QB 65 T54 1998
• A Walk Through the Southern Sky: A Guide to Stars and Constellations and Their Legends Sci Ref QB 63 H376 2007

Handbooks, Manuals, and Tables

• AIP Physics Desk Reference Sci Ref QC 61 A37 2003
• AIP Style Manual Sci Ref QC 5.45 A45 1990
• American Institute of Physics Handbook Sci Ref QC 61 A5 1972
• Astronomical Almanac for the Year... Sci Ref QB 9 U5 2009
• Astronomical Phenomena for the Year... Sci Ref QB 9 U55 2009
• The Cambridge Handbook of Physics Formulas Sci Ref QC 61 .W67 2000
• CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics Sci Ref QD 65 H3 89th ed. 2008-2009
• Fundamental Physical Constants from NIST
• Handbook of Physics Sci Ref QC 61 H37 2002
• International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology Sci Ref Q 199 N32
• Knovel Unit Converter
• Landolt-Bornstein Numerical Data and Functional Relationships... [Zahlenwerte und Funktionen...] Sci Ref QC 61 L33 and Sci Ref QC 61 L332
• The Observer's Handbook Sci Ref QB 9 R7 101st ed. 2009
• Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme: PACS
• Solar System Live [interactive orrery]
• Tables of Physical and Chemical Constants Sci Ref QC 61 K3 1995
• This Week's Sky at a Glance
• VNR Index of Chemical and Physical Data Sci Ref QC 61 J36 1992

Physics Education

• American Association of Physics Teachers
• Physical Sciences Resource Center

Virtual Libraries

• AstroWeb: Astronomy/Astrophysics on the Internet
• Physics | The WWW Virtual Library
• physicsworld.com
• Resources in Astronomy
• Resources in Physics

Local Links

• Center for Science and Mathematics Education Research
• Department of Physics & Astronomy
• LASST (Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology)
• Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium
• Physics Education Research Laboratory: PERLnet

Questions?

Nancy Curtis, 581-1679 Science & Engineering Center, 581-1691

Reference Desk, 581-1673 Ask A Librarian

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Created by: Nancy Curtis | Revised: 12/28/2012