Checking the Literature Arne A Henden Director AAVSO

Checking the Literature Arne A. Henden Director, AAVSO Arne@aavso. org

Reasons ðDon’t reinvent the wheel ðAcknowledge those that came before ðLearn what is known about an object ðLook for new ideas ðLearn how to write ðGet your paper published!

Reviewer ðWill check references for accuracy ðWill use references for learning about a subject ðExpects good references; otherwise, suspects your research

Basic searching - Simbad ðBest starting point for individual objects ðNot perfect - many GSC stars, for example, not catalogued. More up to date info often located elsewhere ðhttp: //simbad. u-strasbg. fr/Simbad ðMirror at http: //simbad. harvard. edu/Simbad

Astrophysics Data System ðhttp: //adsabs. harvard. edu/abstract_service. html ðContains both recent and historical literature ðRecent literature often has restrictions ðOvercome restrictions via preprint, or direct author query

Preprint server ðhttp: //xxx. lanl. gov/abs/astro-ph ðSometimes used for self-publishing; don’t even think about it!

Vizie. R ðhttp: //vizier. u-strasbg. fr/viz-bin/Vizie. R ðhttp: //vizier. cfa. harvard. edu/vizier/ ðBest source for published data

Specific catalogs ðhttp: //dogwood. physics. mcmaster. ca/Cepheid/ /Home. Page. html ðDownes CV catalog ðGoogle works wonders

Specific surveys ðASAS ðNSVS ðOGLE/MACHO ðSDSS ðTASS ðAAVSO database!

Variable-star journals ðIBVS ðJAAVSO ðPeremennye Zvezdy http: //www. astronet. ru/db/varstars/ ðhttp: //var. astro. cz/oejv

Other resources ðO-C gateway http: //var. astro. cz/ocgate/index. php? lang=en ðWeb pages of individual researchers ðMaillists (cvnet, baavss, vsnet, etc. ) ðgoogle

Summary ðYou must do literature searching before writing a paper ðIt is easy in the Internet Era