General LaTeX links to get started

I learned LaTeX as an undergrad using the instructive sample files available at: ​http://ugastro.berkeley.edu/docs/latex/index.html

For astronomy, the AASTeX macro is something you will need: ​http://ucpjournals.uchicago.edu/AAS/AASTeX/

For finding latex symbol code, I like this page that matches your scribbles to similar latex symbols: ​http://detexify.kirelabs.org/classify.html

-Kathryn

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Useful Bits of Code

Using the natbib package, \citep{Kreckel2010} gives you the citation with parenthesis already: (Kreckel et al. 2010). \citealt{Kreckel2010} gives you the citation as if it were in parenthesis but without the parenthesis: Kreckel et al. 2010. See ​http://dopey.mcmaster.ca/AASTeX/using_natbib.html for more useful citation commands.

To continue a figure to a second page with a second file, but have it be part of the original figure (same figure number) use \Continuedfloat after the \begin{figure} command.

To have no page numbering use \pagestyle{empty} before \begin{document}

-Kathryn

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"How'd they do that?"

If you're wondering how to do something in LaTex (like how to make an equation, table or caption appear a certain way), look up a paper on arXiv that does it. Then, click on "other" for the view options and click on the download option for the source file. This will get you the latex codes the authors used to produce the preprint, and save you a lot of time in figuring out certain formatting tricks (or a fellow student in showing you how). ~Taka

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natbib and bibtex

Learn to use bibtex for your references. The first paper I wrote from beginning to end, I entered all references manually, and it's probably one of the single dumbest things I've ever done professionally (right up there with submitting a paper -- and going through the entire editorial process to acceptance -- to the wrong jounal). ~ Taka

NASA ADS (​http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html) abstract search provides BibTeX info for each abstract, which can be easily incorporated into your tex files: ​http://ads.harvard.edu/pubs/bibtex/

Some more info on using the natbib citation package: ​http://dopey.mcmaster.ca/AASTeX/using_natbib.html -Kathryn