The Night Sky 40°-50°
Not a book, but a rotating star finder or planisphere that allows the user to recognize the constellations for any night of the year. An important first step in learning the night sky! Select the 40-50 North version for use in MA/RI
Binocular Highlights
By Gary Seronik. Binoculars are great for new stargazers (use a tripod for stability or rest them on a stable surface). This book provides 99 objects to find, with magnified views
Turn Left at Orion: Hundreds of Night Sky Objects to See in a Home Telescope
With over 100,000 copies sold, this is one of the most popular astronomy books of all time. By Guy Consolmagno. Good for learning how to star hop!
See It With a Small Telescope: 101 Cosmic Wonders
Introduces objects for small telescope & bino users, with lots of star hopping detail. By local author Will Kalif
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, Jumbo Edition
By Roger Sinnott. Detailed atlas of the entire sky, the “Jumbo Pocket” edition is readable while still a good size to carry & spiral bound
The Deep Sky Observer’s Guide
By Richard Bartlett. For intermediate and advanced telescope users and large binocular users, over 1,300 deep sky objects
Deep-Sky Wonders
By Sue French. For intermediate and advanced telescope users and large binocular users; with full color illustrations of deep sky objects
Cosmic Challenge: The Ultimate Observing List for Amateurs
By Phil Harrington. Includes objects often overlooked in other guides. Lists more than 500 sky targets, both near and far, across 187 challenges, with detailed finder charts
A Child’s Introduction to the Night Sky (Grade level 3-7)
An information-packed introduction to astronomy and stargazing with a story-based format and plenty of pictures. By Michael Driscoll and Meredith Hamilton
50 Things to See With a Telescope – Kids Edition (Grade level 4-6)
By John A. Read. Designed to guide young readers to dozens of galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. Every page features a “telescope view,” showing exactly how objects appear through a small telescope or binoculars
Find the Constellations (Grade level 5-7)
Contains star charts, a guide to the constellations, and details about seasons and the movement of the objects we see in the sky. By H.A. Rey, the author of “Curious George”!
The Stars: A New Way to See Them (Grade level 7-9)
Great introduction to the stars. Clear, vivid text with charts and maps showing the positions of the constellations the year round. By H.A. Rey, the author of “Curious George”!
21st Century Atlas of the Moon
By Charles Wood. With over two hundred Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images, the highest quality images of the moon ever taken, this atlas illustrates the Moon in high resolution. Spiral bound for use at the telescope
50 Things to See on the Moon
By John Read. Fifty of the best things to see on the Moon, organized by the Moon’s phases. A good place to start with a new telescope or binos!
Deep-Sky Companions: The Messier Objects
By Stephen O’Meara. A guide to the brighter “faint fuzzies” catalogued in the late 1700’s by comet hunter Charles Messier, and now among the most widely observed objects in the sky. With photos and star charts
Guide to Night Photography
By Grant Collier. A primer for those looking to get started with DSLR night photography, focusing on techniques for capturing and processing photos of the Milky Way, northern lights, meteors, eclipses, lightning, and more