PHYSICS ABSTRACTS AS A SOURCE OF ABSTRACTS IN ASTRONOMY

The frequency and consistency of selection by Physics Abstracts of astronomical articles from three major journals, Nature, Astrophysical Journal , and Icarus , have been investigated. This has involved an examination of the probability of selection of an article as a function of its subject matter. As a result, it is possible to specify which fields of astronomy are best covered by Physics Abstracts . The time‐lag between the appearance of these articles and the subsequent appearance of their abstracts has also been examined.