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Sciences for Continuing Education: Astronomy and Physics

A guide to Library resources for the Sciences

Journals

The Rewley House Continuing Education Library does not subscribe to any printed journals in this subject. However, many electronic journals are available through PCs in the Library and in the Resource Room at Ewert House. Titles include:

Astronomical Journal

Astronomy and geophysics

Physics World

Finding articles

Try the following bibliographic databases for a structured literature search:

INSPEC  (Available through Web of Science)

SCOPUS

Web of Science

Freely available articles

The following are open access sources:

Advances in Astronomy  An open access, peer-reviewed journal

arXiv Open access e-prints in various subjects including Physics

NASA Technical Reports Server  Access to NASR literature since 1994

Public Library resources

Reference material

Most public library authorities give members access to a range of online reference material. You can access much of this at home using your public library card.

Oxfordshire's Reference Online resources include:

  • Credo Reference
  • Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (find out about astronomers and physicists)
  • Oxford Reference Online (a collection of OUP reference works)

Other public library services will provide similar resources. Find your local library service on the UK.Gov website https://www.gov.uk/local-library-services

Journal articles

Access to Research logoAccess to Research is an initiative which provides free access to academic e-journals in public libraries. Note that you cannot access them at home, only in libraries. You can find a full list of participating libraries as well as information about the journals included on the Access to Research website http://www.accesstoresearch.org.uk/

Continuing Education collections

Books for Astronomy and Physics are on the lower floor of the Library. Reference books such as dictionaries and encyclopedias can be found in the Jessup Reading Room. Key numbers are:

520 General astronomy 523.8 Stars
522 Observation, telescopes           530.09 History of Physics, Physicists  and Astronomers
523.1 Universe, Cosmology 530.11 Relativity
523.2 Solar system 530.12 Quantum physics
523.4 Planets 539.7 Atomic and nuclear physics
523.7 Sun 539.72 Particle physics

E-books

Many e-books purchased by Bodleian Libraries are available and can be found on SOLO. You can access the content of these on PCs in the Library or in the Resource room at Ewert House. For more information about e-books, see Finding books

Here is a selection of titles:

Free online resources

You can find many good quality, free resources on the internet. Here are a few suggestions to get you started: