Astronomy
Your Librarian
740 North Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003-93006
Welcome and Overview
Welcome to the Astronomy Research Guide
This guide will give you some ideas for places to start gathering information about topics in astronomy, as well as some tips and tricks for researching your topic.
The tabs on the left have more information about the following topics:
- Getting started with your research
- Plan your search
- Gather information
- How to get materials you find
For help with your research, please contact your librarian, Anne Graham.
Types of Information in Library Databases
|
Information Type |
Content and uses |
Authority |
Audience |
Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Books |
Technical information written by experts Learn about a topic, gather background information, historical and/or technical overviews |
Author's and publisher's credentials | Varies depending on author's intent |  |
| Newspapers and Trade Magazines |
News and journalistic reporting on events, industry developments Follow events, industry trends |
Written & edited by journalists and industry experts | General public, scholars, and professionals |  |
| Scholarly Journals & Conference Proceedings |
Research conducted by experts in a field Content is advanced & technical Read about primary research written by scholars |
Peer-reviewed, edited by experts | Scholars, researchers, and professionals |  |
| Patents |
Legal document disclosing a novel, useful invention Identify new research fronts or learn how something works |
Created by inventors, reviewed by government patent examiners | Innovators and scholars |  |
| Technical Reports | Report on research to funding agency | Created by researchers | Funding agencies |  |
