What is the Best Book for Learning About Astronomy?

[phyzzy_physh]

Hi,

I've been looking for a good laymans book on Astronomy for ages now, but haven't been able to find one that isn't seriously heavy going on the physics front. I have plenty of astrophysics books, but not one dedicated to simple observational astronomy. Can anyone recommend a good, easy to read book, preferably with lots of pictures for a simpleton like me to be able to follow? I want to understand all the constellations and the stories behind them before I go spending money I don't have on a telescope .

Thanks in advance

Phyzzy Physh

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi phyzzy_physh!

If you google "observational astronomy", and then click "Books" in the drop-down menu from "More", you'll get at least two books with extensive free downloadable previews.

(btw, you probably need to know about cameras/CCDs rather than about the constellations and the stories behind them )

 

[phyzzy_physh]

I had no idea Google did that! Thanks TT!

 

[Integral8850]

I really like Burnham's Celestial Handbooks(3 books) They are really interesting giving some history and info about each constellation. Constellation>History>Main Stars>Deep sky objects. The info. is slightly outdated but will give you a good survey of all things relating to visual astronomy. I would recommend a 6"-8" dobsonian telescope w/out software to track down the messier and brighter NGC objects before buying a computerized go-to scope. You will learn much more this way.

 

[Phyisab****]

There really isn't much to know about the constellations. They are just patterns in the sky people gave names to. At some point every point in the sky was defined to be part of a constellation, that's why there are a bunch of silly, dim constellations. As far as observational astronomy books, I really like https://www.amazon.com/dp/1554073448/?tag=pfamazon01-20 . Although I have an earlier edition, that book taught me everything I needed to know about recreational astronomy. And its definitely accessible, I think I read it cover to cover when I was only about 8-10 years old.

Note that this is a book about recreational astronomy. If you really mean it when you say you just want to know the stories behind the constellations, integral8850 is right on. Burnham's Celestial Handbooks are awesome, especially for that. But, I can't see myself ever reading them cover to cover.

 

[Codester09]

This is a book I've had for a long time. It really is almost purely astronomy, doesn't go heavy into physics.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/155209300X/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Great book if you're just starting out. Good luck!

 

[mylko]

"The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy" by James Evans is one of the best beginner astronomy books in existence.

preview here:

http://books.google.com/books?id=LV...&resnum=1&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[RobinSky]

Wikipedia has lots of stories to the constellations and such - free, even.

Here is a list of the constellations if you didn't know of them all.

The first 3 letters is the variable star sign. Like R And, R Aql. You should focus on the middle name.

And - Andromeda - Andromedae
Ant - Antlia - Antliae
Aps - Apus - Apodis
Aql - Aquila - Aquilae
Aqr - Aquarius - Aquarii
Ara - Ara - Arae
Ari - Aries - Arietis
Aur - Auriga - Aurigae
Boo - Boötes - Boötis
Cae - Caelum - Caeli
Cam - Camelopardalis - Camelopardalis
Cap - Capricornus - Capricorni
Car - Carina - Carinae
Cas - Cassiopeia - Cassiopeiae
Cen - Centaurus - Centauri
Cep - Cepheus - Cephei
Cet - Cetus - Ceti
Cha - Chamaeleon - Chamaeleontis
Cir - Circinus - Circini
CMa - Canis Major - Canis Majoris
CMi - Canis Minor - Canis Minoris
Cnc - Cancer - Cancri
Col - Columba - Columbae
Com - Coma Berenices - Comae Berenices
CrA - Corona Australis - Coronae Australis
CrB - Corona Borealis - Coronae Borealis
Crt - Crater - Crateris
Cru - Crux - Crucis
Crv - Corvus - Corvi
CVn - Canes Venatici - Canum Venaticorum
Cyg - Cygnus - Cygni
Del - Delphinus - Delphini
Dor - Dorado - Doradus
Dra - Draco - Draconis
Equ - Equuleus - Equulei
Eri - Eridanus - Eridani
For - Fornax - Fornacis
Gem - Gemini - Geminorum
Gru - Grus - Gruis
Her - Hercules - Herculis
Hor - Horologium - Horologii
Hya - Hydra - Hydrae
Hyi - Hydrus - Hydri
Ind - Indus - Indi
Lac - Lacerta - Lacertae
Leo - Leo - Leonis
Lep - Lepus - Leporis
Lib - Libra - Librae
LMi - Leo Minor - Leonis Minoris
Lup - Lupus - Lupi
Lyn - Lynx - Lyncis
Lyr - Lyra - Lyrae
Men - Mensa - Mensae
Mic - Microscopium - Microscopii
Mon - Monoceros - Monocerotis
Mus - Musca - Muscae
Nor - Norma - Normae
Oct - Octans - Octantis
Oph - Ophiuchus - Ophiuchi
Ori - Orion - Orionis
Pav - Pavo - Pavonis
Peg - Pegasus - Pegasi
Per - Perseus - Persei
Phe - Phoenix - Phoenicis
Pic - Pictor - Pictoris
PsA - Piscis Austrinus - Piscis Austrini
Psc - Pisces - Piscium
Pup - Puppis - Puppis
Pyx - Pyxis - Pyxidis
Ret - Reticulum - Reticuli
Scl - Sculptor - Sculptoris
Sco - Scorpius - Scorpii
Sct - Scutum - Scuti
Ser - Serpens - Serpentis
Sex - Sextans - Sextantis
Sge - Sagitta - Sagittae
Sgr - Sagittarius - Sagittarii
Tau - Taurus - Tauri
Tel - Telescopium - Telescopii
TrA - Triangulum Australe - Trianguli Australis
Tri - Triangulum - Trianguli
Tuc - Tucana - Tucanae
UMa - Ursa Major - Ursae Majoris
UMi - Ursa Minor - Ursae Minoris
Vel - Vela - Velorum
Vir - Virgo - Virginis
Vol - Volans - Volantis
Vul - Vulpecula - Vulpeculae

Regards, Robin Andersson.