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Astronomy

This guide will help you navigate information resources in astronomy.

Catalogs

Library Search
Use the Library Search to find print and electronic books and periodicals (journals, magazines, newspapers) owned by the Library, as well as other media. Use the drop-down menus to specify the type of search you want to conduct. When Vassar does not have the book you need or our copy is not available, search Connect NY.

ConnectNY
Search the combined catalogs of 14 academic libraries in New York (including Vassar). You can request books not owned by Vassar or books that are checked out at Vassar; books arrive in 2-4 days.
WorldCat
WorldCat is the world's largest network of library content and provides a search interface for the combined collections of college, university, public, and special libraries across the United States as well as some international holdings.

E-Book Collections

Springer eBooks
The Library provides access to thousands of e-books published by Springer spanning the fields of astronomy, chemistry, computer science, life science, earth science, math, and physics. Coverage extends from 2005 to present; accessible titles are indicated by a green square. These books can also be found by searching the Vassar Library Catalog.
Google Books -- Astronomy
A service from Google that searches the full text of books that Google has scanned and stored in its digital database. Depending on copyright restrictions, you may only be able to preview a small portion of the book.

Search Tips for Using the Vassar Library Search

When you find a book of interest, note the location, write down the call number, and check the status. Also look at the subject headings assigned to the book; you might find it useful to click on these headings to find similar books on your topic.

Call Numbers in Astronomy

Books in Vassar Library are assigned a call number according to the Library of Congress classification system. The call number consists of a combination of letters and numbers, and is designed so that books on similar topics will be near each other on the shelf and easy to browse.

If you want to browse the collections, call number ranges are as follows:

QB1 to QB139	General Astronomy
QB140 to QB237	Practical & Spherical Astronomy
QB275 to QB343	Geodesy
QB349 to QB421	Theoretical Astronomy & Celestial Mechanics
QB455 to QB456	Astrogeology
QB460 to QB466	Astrophysics
QB468 to QB490	Non-optical Methods of Astronomy
QB495 to QB903	Descriptive Astronomy
QB980 to QB991	Cosmogony & Cosmology