Since 1979 the Fachinformationszentrum Karlsruhe produces the bibliographic database PHYS which covers the worldwide literature in physics. The database is available on STN International. The database contains about 1,2 million citations in all fields of physics ranging from mathematical physics, elementary particles and field theories, nuclear, atomic and molecular physics, optics, acoustics and fluid dynamics, plasma physics, condensed matter physics, materials science, physical chemistry and biophysics up to geophysics, astronomy and astrophysics. The annual update contains more than 120.000 citations. The database is updated bimonthly. All kinds of literature are included from journal articles, conference papers, books and reports up to dissertations. The citations in the database are in English, publications in other languages have translated English title and abstract. Astronomy and astrophysics are covered in PHYS completely as possible. In 1987 there were more than 21.000 citations in these fields. There are many citations which are classified in PHYS into other fields like atomic or plasma physics and optics and which are not numbered to astronomy but may have a specific relevance for astronomers.