Introduction

Abstract

Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstracts begins documentation and abstracting from the year 1969. For information on astronomical literature before this date consultation of one of the following bibliographies is suggested:

• (1) J. J. de Lalande, Bibliographie Astronomique, Paris 1803 (this work covers the time from 480 B. C. to the year 1803, VIII + 966 pages).

• (2) J. C. Houzeau, A. Lancaster, Bibliographie générale de l’astronomie, Volume I (in two parts), Bruxelles 1882, 1887, Volume II, Bruxelles 1889. The complete title of Volume II is “Bibliographie générale de l’astronomie ou catalogue méthodique des ouvrages, des mémoires et des observations astronomiques, publiés depuis l’origine de l’imprimerie jusqu’en 1880”. A new edition of these volumes was prepared by D. W. Dewhirst in 1964.

• (3) Bibliography of Astronomy, 1881–1898. The literature of this period was recorded on standard slips by the Observatoire Royal de Belgique. From the material (some 52,000 items) a microfilm version was produced by University Microfilms Limited, Tylers Green, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, in 1970.

• (4) Astronomischer Jahresbericht, 1899 gegründet Walter Wislicenus, herausgegeben vom Astronomischen Rechen-Institut in Heidelberg (formerly in Berlin), Verlag W. de Gruyter, Berlin. For the period from 1899 to 1968 sixty-eight volumes were published, each of which, in general, covers the literature of one year.

• (5) Bulletin Signalétique — Section 120: Astronomie, Physique Spatiale, Géophysique. Published by Centre de Documentation du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris. This publication is a continuation of “Bibliographie Mensuelle de l’Astronomie” founded in 1933 by the Société Astronomique de France. The publication is continued.

• (6) Referativnyj Zhurnal. Founded in 1953 and published by Vsesoyuznyj Institut Nauchnoj i Tekhnicheskoj Informatsii, Akademiya Nauk, Moskva. The publication is continued.