LibGuides: Astronomy: Reference Sources

Start With Reference Sources

Astronomy reference sources can be useful for getting a brief, well-organized overview of your topic. These sources may also refer you to related books, articles, and other helpful materials. They are therefore often ideal for beginning your research.

Reference Databases and E-books

These are online collections of articles from reference sources including encyclopedias and dictionaries.

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Online reference library that provides access to a growing selection of reference books.
Online reference library that provides access to a growing selection of reference books. Includes encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, books of quotations, and a range of subject-specific titles from art to accountancy and literature to law. Credo Reference generates a network of cross-references that provide an easy-to-follow trail to related information contained anywhere within the library.

Credo Reference Subject Guides

Astronomy Books in Credo Reference
Includes History of the Solar System, The Handy Astronomy Answer Book, Atlas of the Universe, and several others.

AccessScience This link opens in a new window
Collection of science reference materials including articles, videos, and animations.
AccessScience is a collection of science reference materials with full search capabilities of the 10th edition of the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology and Research Updates from the McGraw-Hill Yearbooks of Science & Technology. AccessScience also includes access to 110,000+ definitions from the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, biographies of scientists, late-breaking science and technology news, and bibliographies containing more than 28,000 literature citations. It provides links to evaluated related learning resources including web sites, study guides, and images. Includes a Q&A section that is updated weekly.
Science Reference Source This link opens in a new window
Full text for science encyclopedias, reference books, and periodicals.
Science Reference Center™ provides access to a multitude of full-text science-oriented content. Science Reference Center™ contains full text for hundreds of science encyclopedias, reference books, periodicals and other sources. Topics covered include biology, chemistry, earth and space science, environmental science, health and medicine, history of science, life science, physics, science and society, science as inquiry, scientists, technology and wildlife. Science Reference Center™ also satisfies the demand for standards-based content by providing teachers and librarians with articles correlated to state and national curriculum standards.

Help video
System Requirements
Salem Press This link opens in a new window
Salem Press includes two Astronomy books: The Solar System and Principles of Astronomy.
Salem Press titles in literature, history, science, and health. Includes Magill's Literary Annual 1977-current, Masterplots, Magill's Medical Guide, the Great Events and Great Lives from History reference series, and several science encyclopedias.

PDF Guide

Reference Books at the Campus Libraries

Most print reference sources must be used in the library. Photocopies are 15 cents per page. In some of the campus libraries, you can scan pages onto a flash drive free of charge.

Tip: Search for reference books in the library catalog by adding a term such as encyclopedia, dictionary or atlas to a keyword search. Example keyword search: encyclopedia and astronomy

Click on a title to find the campus location(s). At some libraries items may be in the stacks (and eligible for check-out) rather than reference.