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Many, many times we get asked what books to read to get started in amateur astronomy. This page is a list of books, publishers, periodicals and sometimes authors of books on or by amateur astronomers.  While this list is not exclusive or an exhaustive look into the world of astronomy or even amateur astronomy, it is a list that many of us have read, used and/or own.  We've found them helpful and useful and hope you do as well.  Disclaimer:  This list does not represent an endorsement of either the publishers or authors by the Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford, it's officers or members.  No remuneration or gifts were received or even were we encouraged to post these titles.  We simply like them and think you, the read of this site, will as well.


Periodicals

Sky and Telescope - On Line http://www.skyandtelescope.com/

Astronomy Magazine http://www.astronomy.com/

Astronomy Technology Today http://www.astronomytechnologytoday.com/

BBC Sky at Night http://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/

Sky News http://www.skynews.ca/

 


General Interest Observing Astronomy Books
Listed in MLA format for your convenience. the additional info provided will help your online searches and are provided in no particular order - especially not alphabetically .

Dickinson, Terence. NightWatch - A Practical Guide to Viewing the UniverseBuffalo: Firefly Books, 2006.  Now in its 4th edition.   ISBN-13:  978-1554071470.  
(Comment by member, Dave Allen.  -Nightwatch by Terence Dickinson has carried me from naked eye, to binoculars,and my first telescope and that's where i am right now. I put together a ORION 8 inch reflector dobsonian with a point to computer and have used the information in the book to work my way at the Universe along with charts. It also has a section on Photgraphing the night sky. The book is very easy for me to read with my High School Education.)

Dickinson, Terence and Dyer, Alan.  The Backyard Astronomer's Guide. Buffalo: Firefly Books, 2008.  Now in its 3rd edition. ISBN-13:  978-1554073443   

Consolmagno, Guy & Davis, Dan M. Turn Left At Orion.  Cambridge:  Cambridge University Press. 1989.  (10th printing 2010).  

Ferris, Timothy.  Seeing in the Dark.   New York:  Simon & Schuster. 2002.  ISBN:  0-684-86580-7

Sinnot, Roger.  Sky and Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas .  Cambridge:  Sky Publishing, 2006.  ISBN-13: 978-1931559317.

Rey, H. A. The Stars - A New Way To See Them.  HMH Books, 2008, 2nd Edition.  ISBN-13: 978-0547132808   Originally published in the 1950's, this Curious George author's work is appropriate for ages 12 and up and still stands up after all this time.

Harrington, Philip S.  StarWatch: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Finding, Observing, and Learning about Over 125 Celestial Objects.  Hoboken:  Wiley, 2003.  ISBN: 0471418048.

Harrington, Philip S.  StarWare: the amateur astronomer’s guide to choosing, buying, and using telescopes and accessories.  Hoboken:  Wiley,  2007.  4th Edition. ISBN-13: 978-0471750635

Harrington, Philip S.  Touring the Universe Through Binoculars - A Complete Astronomer's Guidebook.  Hoboken:  Wiley,  1990.  ISBN: 0471513377.

National Audobon Society. National Audobon Society's Field Guide to the Night Sky. New York:  Knopf.  1990-98.  ISBN:  0-679-40852-5

Ottewell, Guy.  The Astronomical Calendar. Universal Workshop. 2011.  This publication is annual.  The year of publication is for the year coming.  For example, 2011 publication is for use in the calendar year 2012. 

Ridpath, Ian, Ed., Norton's Star Atlas and Reference Handbook, 20th edition. New York:  Pi Press.  2004.  ISBN:  0-13-146164-2

Rukl, Antonin.  Atlas of the Moon .  Waukesha: Kalmbach Publishing.  1990-96.  ISBN:  0-913135-17-8


Special Interest Observing Astronomy Books

 

American Association of Variable Star Observers.  AAVSO Manual for Visual Observing of Variable Stars.  Boston, MA  (on-line) http://www.aavso.org/visual-observing-manual.  ISBN 1-878174-66-5

Greenberg, Richard.  Unmasking Europa.  New York:  Copernicus Books (Springer Publishing), 2008.  ISBN: 978-0-387-47936-1

 

Levy, David. David Levy's Guide to Variable Stars, 2nd edition.   Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.  ISBN-13: 978-0521608602

 

Morrison, David, Wolff, Sidney and Fraknoi, Andrew. Abell's Exploration of the Universe (Abell's Exploration of the Universe, 7th ed).  San Diego: Harcourt College Pub; 1995. ISBN-13: 978-0030010347

 

Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, (RASC).  Observer's Handbook 2012.  2011. ISBN-13: 978-0981329260.  This publication is annual. The year of publication is for the year coming. For example, 2011 publication is for use in the calendar year 2012.  (NB:  JSillasen - this publication is provided with membership in the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, http://www.rasc.ca)

 


Telescope Making Books

 

Thompson, Allyn J.  Making Your Own Telescope.  Dover Publications, 2011.  ISBN-13: 978-0486428833.
 
Texereau, Jean.  How to Make A Telescope, 2nd Edition. Richmond:  Willmann-Bell. 1984.  ISBN-10: 0943396042.

Brown, Sam.  All About Telescopes

Richard Berry.  Build Your Own Telescope, 3rd Edition. Richmond:  Willmann-Bell. 2001.   ISBN-13: 978-0943396699.

Ingalls, Albert , ed.  Amateur Telescope Making Vol's 1-III.  Richmond:  Willmann-Bell.   Originally printed in the 1920's.  1996. ISBN-10: 0943396492.

Suiter, Richard.  Star Testing Astronomical Telescopes. 2nd Edition.   Richmond:  Willmann-Bell.  2009.  ISBN-10: 0943396905.

Kriege,  David and Berry, Richard.  The Dobsonian Telescope, 1st Edition.  Richmond:  Willmann-Bell.  1997. ISBN-10: 0943396557.



AstroPhotography Books


Lodriguss, Jerry.  A Beginner's Guide to DSLR Astrophotography, 3rd Printing.  Published on CD by the Author, GA.  2011.  http://www.astropix.com/

Lodriguss, Jerry.  An Advanced Guide to Astrophotography with DSLR Cameras, 6th Printing.  Published on CD by the Author, GA. 2011.  http://www.astropix.com/

Lodriguss, Jerry.  Photoshop for Astrophotographers.  Published as a download only by the Author, GA. 2004.  http://www.astropix.com/ 

Reeves, Robert.  Wide-Field Astrophotography.  Richmond, Willmann-Bell.  2000.  ISBN:  0-943396-65-4.
Comment by member, J. Sillasen.   While essentially dealing with film, this book is still quite a useful guide to setup, equipment, alignment and guiding.  There is 1 chapter on the digital darkroom.

Coviington, Michael A.  Astrophotography for the Amateur, 2nd Edition.  New York:  Cambridge University Press.  2000.  ISBN:  0-521-62740-0 (paperback). 

Wodaski, Ron.  The New CCD Astronomy.  Duvall:  New Astronomy Press.  2002.  ISBN:  0-9711237-0-5.


Publishers of Astronomy Related Books
This section is a members quick reference resource and does not imply an endorsement by ASGH

Willman Bell - http://willbell.com/

Sky Publishing - http://www.shopatsky.com/

Springer Publishing - http://www.springer.com/

Cambridge University Press - http://www.cambridge.org/
 


Books by Club Members

Bob Gendler CCD Photographs. These are a must-see at  http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/ He has a large collection up now and they are superb. Adjectives fail... 


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