I've taken to getting a lot of astro books as downloads from Google Play. (I imagine other e-book services like the iTunes store would be similar.) They have a pretty good range, and you can download them straight away, rather than trying to hunt down or order-in a copy. They're usually cheaper than hard copy as well.
Google Play has a good range of astro books available for around $15 - $30, including the excellent "Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series": https://play.google.com/store/search...ronomy&c=books . These books can be quite hard to find in book stores, and are quite a bit more expensive when you can track one down.
On Google Play, you can download a free sample before committing to buy, to see if it is targeted at the right level for you, covers the subjects you're interested in, etc.
I still find a tree-book is easier to use than an e-book for reference use, or if it is full of detailed graphics etc, but the convenience of having your whole astro-library on your tablet wherever you are has to be considered as well. I buy more e-books than I used to buy tree-books (so even though they're cheaper, I'm probably spending around the same in an average year), but I'll still get an occasional hard-copy of a particularly good book (or if I see it in the bargain bins at my local book store).
My "Norton's Star Atlas" is a good example, where I have both formats - the general reference material is fine to browse as an e-book, but the star charts don't work well on a small screen, and need to be seen in full-size hard-copy to be appreciated properly.
By the same author, "The Southern Sky Guide" (Ellyard & Tirion, 3rd Edition 2008, Cambridge University Press), probably more suited to an adult reader than the Collins book, and just $18.14 as an e-book download:
I've got quite a few ebooks too, like "Turn Left at Orion" and a couple of moon atlases (I also have real moon atlases, but not the super expensive ones, which I only have in digital format), but I still prefer real books. I must write a list of the books I have one of these days. I wouldn't have bought so many real books of course if they hadn't been incredible bargains, as I said. I like to go to book sales (for example the one at the Sydney Uni in September), and they have incredible bargains. Wonderful astronomy books for less than $5 each, some looking really like new.
Anyway, Billi, if you have the chance to have a look at a second-hand bookshop or a book sale, give it a go.
By the way... I have noticed that almost ALL astronomy books I bought second-hand look like NEW. I guess we all know what that means... Many people give up too soon!
By the way... I have noticed that almost ALL astronomy books I bought second-hand look like NEW. I guess we all know what that means... Many people give up too soon!
I don't think people realise how much science is involved with astronomy. It seems silly now, but to start off with I didn't think about the science side of it at all. It could be to do with bad weather, maybe? There's so much available on the internet now, so perhaps books aren't as necessary as they used to be. It's all a bit overwhelming sometimes!
I don't think people realise how much science is involved with astronomy. It seems silly now, but to start off with I didn't think about the science side of it at all. It could be to do with bad weather, maybe? There's so much available on the internet now, so perhaps books aren't as necessary as they used to be. It's all a bit overwhelming sometimes!
I found the whole cosmology thing hurt my tiny brain, so I've just decided to call it stargazing, and literally think about the night sky like they used to a couple of hundred years ago. If I think about the night sky as a glass sphere that rotates around us, with lots of pretty sparkly things and faint fuzzies painted on it, I find it a lot more palatable.
I was interested in "how did we use telescopes to learn what we know", and I found an awesome book called Galactic Encounters, which is a history of modern astronomy.
I like magazine articles, because they give more complicated issues an explanation in bite sized chunks. I like kids books, because, well, they're written for kids
That said, I'm starting to become interested in star clusters and star colours, so I'm starting to expand my horizons.
I've decided to bump this up again so I can ask another question; what's a great book/website for learning about specific space objects? I would love to learn more about individual things, like how different nebulae form and different star types or what defines a "dwarf" planet etc, but the scientific terms hurt my brain. I'm not a big fan of watching tv series because my kids seem to think that Mummy's tv time is the best time to be REALLY loud.
So basically, I would like to know stuff about the things I'm looking at and then be able to share that information with others.
Last edited by BilliGoatsGruff; 13-08-2015 at 06:44 PM.
I've decided to bump this up again so I can ask another question; what's a great book/website for learning about specific space objects? I would love to learn more about individual things, like how different nebulae form and different star types or what defines a "dwarf" planet etc, but the scientific terms hurt my brain. I'm not a big fan of watching tv series because my kids seem to think that Mummy's tv time is the best time to be REALLY loud.
So basically, I would like to know stuff about the things I'm looking at and then be able to share that information with others.
Hi Billi,
firstly i think the Astronomy 2015 yearly books have a lot of information in them which are good.
I was actually doing some investigating yesterday and stumbled across http://www.amazon.com/Universe-Roger...words=Universe I haven't read it but plan to buy it and read it. it has great reviews and is the text book for the Swinburne astro courses, that may mean its a bit advanced i don't know.
This is the list of the books I have.
I found most of them at book sales for incredibly good prices in spite of mostly looking like new. They are not all very good, but I think that most of them are good enough for a beginner.
Anything else you would recommend? I am going to another book sale in a couple of days. Something for beginners or maybe intermediate students.
I also have several pdf files, but I still prefer real books!
Aughton – The Story of Astronomy
Baumann, Hopkins, Nolletti, Soluri - Cosmos
Burnham, Dyer, Garfinkle, George, Kanipe, Levy – Advanced Skywatching
Collins, Wood – 21st Atlas of the Moon
Ellyard (Collins Eyewitness) – Astronomy of the Southern Sky
Folkes – Observing the Moon
Freeman & Co – The Solar System
Gribbin – Space
Henbest – The Mysterious Universe
Inglis, Norton – Norton Star Atlas
Kerrod – The Star Guide
Moore – The Atlas of the Universe
Nangle – Star of the Southern Heavens
Pittendreigh – Observing the Moon
Ridpath – Oxford Dictionary of Astronomy
Ronan – Amateur Astronomy
Ronan – The Practical Astronomer
Rükl – A guide to the Stars, Constellations and Planets
Rükl – Moon, Mars and Venus
Moore – Exploring the Earth and Moon
Sagan - Cosmos
Stroud – The Book of the Moon
Tirion – The Cambridge Star Atlas
Verdet (New Horizons) – The Sky (Order and Chaos)
Yenne – The Atlas of the Solar System
Zimmerman – The Chronological Encyclopedia of Discoveries in Space
Hi Billi, seems like you've already gotten your birthday present sorted out, but I'll add this in anyway for others who maybe interested. I've copied and pasted it below from a post that I did a few years ago on here. I love astro books!
Plus +1 for what John said on Collin's Stars & Planets.
I can't comment on The Backyard Observers Guide as I haven't read it.
The Night Sky Observers Guide...
The Night Sky Observers Guide series is a great book. It's quite intense and covers a ton of deep sky objects with finder charts for everything, sketches on lots of objects, and observation notes as to what can be see through different sized apertures.
At the beginning of each constellation it gives a large table listing of binocular objects and stars of interest. It's a hard cover book with a whopping 504 pages!
There are a lot of dso's in this book more specific to larger scopes, but there's still plenty of stuff in it for 8-10" scopes, not a lot for 4-6" scopes, and pretty much favors 12-14" and in particular 16" scopes.
I love this book and wouldn't be without it.. a book I will grow into as I get more experience.
Atlas of the Southern Night Sky...
Another thick and fantastic book. Beautiful colour photographs, descriptions of the objects, followed by a map on the facing page.
Paddy has done a review of this book also (good work Paddy!) http://www.iceinspace.com.au/bookreviews.html
The Southern Sky Guide (David Ellyard)...
I just could never get into this book.
For me, I find the maps difficult to read and having the constellations broken up makes it even harder. The descriptions on the facing page aren't well laid out either as the object descriptions are merged thru large paragraphs instead of being listed.
This is an observers companion book describing the objects beautifully. There are no maps however. Anyone that owns one of these books, displays it with pride of place on their bookshelf I'm sure (as I do).
The following two books aren't specific to the Southern Sky but does include the Southern Constellations. I have added them because I think they are great books.
Collins Stars & Planets (Ian Ridpath)...
This is my favourite book and my right hand at the scope. The objects, stars and astrophysics are listed beautifully, with the map of the entire constellation on the facing page. The map is very easy to read and the book is a nice handle-able size by the scope.
However, this book won't give you really deep dso's- that's where the Night Sky Observers Guide comes into its own. http://www.amazon.com/Collins-Stars-...2641053&sr=1-2
Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas...
Spiral bound and easy to handle, it's filled with a ton of goodies.
I've just gotten this book so I haven't had the opportunity to really to put it to use yet, but it looks easy to read and well laid out. Many of us here on the forum have got this book. And it's so cheap at $20 from the Book Depository in the UK (free shipping!) - great value!
In summary...
I doubt that you'll find one book that will do it all. Like me, you'll probably find that you'll wind up with several books and maps. Some books cater for the brighter objects and are quite easy to read and navigate thru, others are intense, some books cater more for "observing", i.e. more a teaching guide on techniques and what to look for in objects (such as Stephen O'Meara's Deep Sky Objects- Messier Objects- fantastic book, and Hartung's), some books list the astrophhysics and objects of interest better or clearer than others, etc. I have lots of books/maps- each used for different observations.
Stephen O'Meara's Deep Sky Objects- Messier Objects...
In the photo behind this book, you can see the spine of The Night Sky Observers Guide- it's a hefty book.
Hi Paul
Thank you. Yes, I absolutely love these books and I couldn't agree with you more- they are a necessary expense to this hobby that's for sure.
The next book on my list (a new one out) is called Atlas of Great Comets
It's supposed to be a super book! And comets are my weakness, even if they're not naked eye visible, I love to observe the distant comets in our solar system- I'm addicted. *choke* $75..... It may end up being a Christmas present....
Thanks for all the info Suzy haha I might have to see what I can get from the library, that way I can try before I buy
The first one on the list, The Night Sky Observer's Guide, sounds great. Judging by the amount of pages, I'm guessing it would burn a pretty big hole in my pocket
I'm excited to learn more about what I'm looking at, as it really does make things more interesting
Without going into brazen self - promotion, my new book, "Night Shift. Essays On Amateur Astronomy" is a good read for those wanting to know about the hobby and also get some facts and figures about astronomy at an entry level.
Look over to the right of this screen and you'll see an advert for the book.
An older but inspiring book I have read and re-read is "Seeing In The Dark" by Timothy Ferris - about amateurs and their love of astronomy.
*choke* $75..... It may end up being a Christmas present....
haha I might have to see what I can get from the library, that way I can try before I buy 
