What was your first astronomy book

[Weird1]

Recently found in storage, have had this little book since 1963. This was my first of many astronomy books that have led to countless hours gazing into the heavens.:astron::stargaze:
Cheers Keith.

[AstralTraveller]

'Secrets of the Sky' Presented to me in 1970 for coming third in my class. It's still on my bookshelf. I have in my care a few older books, the oldest being 'Practical Astronomy' from 1874.

[leon]

My first ever Astronomy book was "Building a Low Cost Telescope", by someone named (Coombes,) I think ??
I used this book to build my first 8 inch reflector from bits and pieces from the shed.

Leon

[StuTodd]

The 1973 (4th edition) of The Story of Astronomy by the late, great Patrick Moore is the book which kicked off my interest in space.

[Tinderboxsky]

1962 edition. Still relevant today.

Cheers

Steve

[pfitzgerald]

I think that these two 'How & Why Wonder Books' were my first Astronomy books - they were given to me by my parents - probably around the time of Apollo 11.

Paul

[bojan]

Found it in my dad's library when 10 yo... and have been hooked since.

[noeyedeer]

when I was like 3 in 1980 my dad bought me a tasco refractor and the hard cover "the amateur astronomer" and soft cover "travellers through time and space". I still have them but in my sisters roof so I can't take pics.
being 3 years old I really didn't know how to use the scope, nor did my dad as he worked in Sydney and had to take the fish and chips line to springwood and was too tired to show me.
but I enjoyed reading about our solar system, and the universe, though I never could understand Patrick Moore's book. I will read it again when I get my books back 36+ years later
Matt

[speach]

I think it was called something like Flamsteed

[IanT]

Keith
Like you I have a copy of Orr's little book. I received it along with a 50mm Royal Astro refractor (which I also still have) for my 12th birthday in 1964. The simple circular star charts are as clear in my mind now as they were back then.
Ian

[PeterM]

Patrick Moore - The Observers Book of Astronomy. Had the good fortune to have Patrick autograph it when I met him in 1988. Even gave me one of his business cards which I stuck inside.
Page 215 " Membership of some organised body is strongly recommended. The beginner will not only learn but will come into contact with those who have similar interests, with results that can hardly fail
to be beneficial "

[Ric]

Yep, got that one as well, a classic. :thumbsup:

[tonybarry]

Patrick Moore, 1959, "Guide to the moon" which my dad got me in maybe 1967 when I was around eight.

I read that book at least a hundred times. Really really good.

Dad got me Moore's "Guide to the planets" a few years later. Also a truly great read, back in the era when information was so hard to obtain and libraries were the only source ... it staggers me just how easy it is to obtain information today, and of good quality.

Regards,
Tony Barry

[pixelsaurus]

My mother's copy of Sir James Jeans "The Universe Around Us". She bought a 1960 reprint sometime in the early 60's. She apparently regretted buying it as it consumed my life at the tender age of 10. Then someone bought me Patrick Moore's "Observer's Book of Astronomy" for Xmas and I spiralled out of control.

[MichaelSW]

Encyclopedia of Discovery - Skywatching. I borrowed this almost continuously for 12 months from Brisbane City Library in 2010/11. This book led me along many paths of further reading.

Found a second hand copy on-line in a Balmain Bookstore coincidental to having a free return flight to Sydney. The fellow wouldn't believe I came down just to buy the book.

The book cost me $28.00. Probably a bit expensive, but it was mine. And still is.

I have jagged a few more at Lifeline Bookfests over time (only $3-$5 each!). I give them to the Teachers when my astro group does School Nights.

[raymo]

I can't remember what it was called, and its too late to find out because the
writing has worn off of the clay surface.
raymo

[blink138]

the same one as prof cox for me!
the race into space.......... collectors cards from the english pg tips (i think) loose leaf tea haha!

[DJT]

Hartungs, 1995 edition..:P. It's a really good read.

[Rick Parrott]

"The Universe" which was a hardcover from Life (early 60's), part of a series along with "The Fishes", "Evolution", "The Insects", "The Reptiles" and "The Plants".

Loved that book!

[Stonius]

Anyone remember 'Astronomy Now' by Jay M Paschoff? I loved that book. Read it to death. It was either that one or Norton's star atlas...

[Peter Ward]

Awesome. Rare, and no doubt to be cherished :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Peter Ward]

Deluxe Golden Book: The World of Science...1965.

I must have read the Astronomy chapter hundreds of times: "If the earth were the size of a quarter dollar (my mum told me that was about the same size as a shilling...decimal currency had not yet arrived ) the Sun would be a 9 foot ball, 1000 feet away.....

This helped me understand how mind-bogglingly big space really is.

I suspect Douglas Adams read the same book. :)

Bugger...feeling a little ancient :sadeyes:

[UniPol]

I still have my copy of "Planets - Other Worlds of Our Solar System" I got for my 10th birthday in 1960 albeit in somewhat beat up condition. Still a good read today but could do with some updating :). I recall receiving other Golden books on successive birthday's and Christmas's namely, "Prehistoric Animals", "Space Flight" and "The Moon" which I no longer have.

[John W]

My first astronomy book was a 1965 edition of "The sky observers guide" by Mayall et al. Published by Golden press, NY. I was about 12 at the time - don't know why I got into astronomy then but I have been ever since. It was a handy book and I still have a copy. My first scope (also about 1965) was a Yosco? 4" reflector on an Alt Az mount (it was actually a good scope). It cost 35 aussie pounds and took me a few years to pay it back to my parents. Cheers, John W.

[samgibbs]

My first book was the Ladybird book of the Night Sky......it totally captivated me at the tender age of 7.

[JA]

^^^SPAM Reported

[Wavytone]

Mine was the 1962 edition of the LIFE "The Universe", big hardback with the Andromeda Galaxy on the cover. At the age of 5. It was my "treasured book" and kept it for a very long time.

[The Mekon]

Same as the OP - the little handbook "an easy guide to the southern stars" 2/6d I think in 1965. Followed closely by the more informative book "Astronomy made simple" in 1966. As can be seen, I still have them!