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Astronomy
Selector: Mary Foppiani
GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE COLLECTION
In order to support programs of study in the Department of Astronomy,
the Michael D. Papagiannis Astronomy Library is located on the 6th
floor of 725 Commonwealth Avenue. Used equally by the Astronomy
Department and the Department of Space Physics, this research collection
includes approximately 50 scientific journals, and monographs in
all areas of the field.
Books in all aspects of astronomy and astrophysics are collected
with special emphasis on stellar studies, black holes, neutron stars,
pulsars, nebulae, galaxy formation and evolution, planets, quasars,
telescopes and observational instrumentation, and cosmology. Research
level monographs in these subject areas are collected while basic
and general treatment works on these topics are more selectively
acquired. Since proceedings from conferences, workshops, and schools
are so important in the field, there has been greater emphasis in
the past few years on collecting these materials. Proceedings are
acquired based on subject area and usefulness in support of ongoing
departmental research.
The Department of Astronomy
of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the Graduate School
of Arts and Sciences (GRS) offers BA, MA, and PhD degrees leading
to careers in astronomy, space science, or related fields. Faculty in Astronomy and Space Physics work in broad areas of astrophysics and space physics. Specific faculty
research interests include: observational and theoretical studies
in galactic and extragalactic astrophysics, planetary and gravitational
atmospheres, comets, clusters, cosmic and space plasma physics, cosmic gas
dynamics, auroral physics, space weather, solar winds, interstellar clouds, magnetic
storms and substorms, astronomical spectroscopy, radiospectroscopy, photometric and
spectoscopic instrumentation, optical observational astronomy, gravitational lensing, galactic
structure, starburst galaxies, star formation and variable stars,
stellar systems, interstellar chemistry, quasars, radio astrophysics,
high-energy astrophysics, and cosmology.
Department members are also actively involved in research programs
using space probes, airborne infrared telescopes, satellites, and
sounding rockets. Facilities for optical observing and instruction
are maintained by the Astronomy Department on the roof of the College
of Arts and Sciences building.
Adjacent to the Department of Astronomy is the Center
for Space Physics, a unit devoted to research in solar system
atmospheres, plasmas, experimental astrophysics and magnetospheric
and ionospheric physics. A number of faculty and graduate students
in the Department of Astronomy are also members of the Center. In
addition to direct support for the Department of Astronomy and the
Center for Space Physics, the astronomy collection also supports
work being done by the Institute
for Astrophysical Research and the Center
for Integrated Space Weather Modeling at Boston University.
SCOPE OF COVERAGE
1. Languages collected (primary and selective) or excluded: English language works are primarily collected. Works written in languages other than English are acquired very selectively.
2. Geographical areas covered by the collections in terms of intellectual content, publication sources, or both, and specific areas excluded, as appropriate: There are no geographical limitations in the selection of materials. However, emphasis is placed on works published in North America.
3. Chronological periods covered by the collection in terms of intellectual content, movements or schools, and specific periods excluded, as appropriate: Works on the history of modern astronomy are represented in the collection. In areas of research and theory, recent materials are more valuable in supporting the department's work.
4. Chronological periods collected in terms of publication dates, and specific periods excluded, as appropriate: Although there are no specific chronological limits, current materials are generally selected.
GENERAL SUBJECT BOUNDARIES AND LIBRARY LOCATIONS
The subject scope of this collection is primarily determined by the Library of Congress call number range QB. Most items are housed in the Astronomy Library.
| QB 1-999 | Astronomy |
| Z 5151-5156 | Astronomy Bibliography |
| Z 8001-8999 | Personal Bibliography
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RELATED SUBJECTS AND INTERDISCIPLINARY RELATIONSHIPS
Interdisciplinary in nature, the Astronomy collection may support
related work in other departments. Therefore, consultation with
other selectors occurs in the following disciplines:
Earth Science: The Astronomy Selector collects works on planetary
geology and geodesy.
Physics: The Astronomy Selector generally acquires works on astrophysics,
space plasmas and cosmology.
TYPES
OF MATERIALS
Collected: Monographs, periodicals, proceedings from conferences, symposia, and workshops, and reference materials including indexes and abstracts, dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, bibliographies, handbooks, sky atlases, and astronomical maps.
Collected Selectively: Electronic resources, textbooks, and popular works.
Not Collected: Patents, newsletters, preprints, and government documents.
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