Summer stargazing: A practical guide for recreational astronomers

Continuing the high standards set by Nightwatch, this hands-on guide offers up the best viewing of the summer night skies. Highlights include a 7-section colour photo layout of the brightest regions of the sky with the most prominent constellations marked in a connect the dots fashion with labels, making this hardcover an essential resource for both new and seasoned stargazers.

The New Astronomer  

Filled with "how-to" start up information designed for the beginner, along with colorful daigrams and illustrations. Basic concepts are introduced like sky motion, reading star charts and tools and techniques to get started in understanding the night sky. This large format hardcover explores everything from Moon watching, planetary observations to constellations, star clusters and galaxies. A great practical introduction to the hobby of astronomy.

The great atlas of the stars  

This oversized, spiral bound guide offers up over 30 of the major constellations mostly visible form the northern hemisphere. Presented in beautiful full-page photographs, several of the illustrated constellations have clear plastic overlays, highlighting the main points of interest.

Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope

A great resource to allow the binocular and small telescope owner to begin star hopping between constellations to find elusive deep sky objects. This is THE book to help the novice find their way between the stars.

The Cambridge Star Atlas  

An atlas of the whole sky, arranged in 20 overlapping charts form the heart of this well laid out atlas. Each chart shows stars down just below naked eye level, together with about 900 deep sky objects, such as clusters and galaxies, that can be seen with binoculars or a small telescope. With additions of 12 all sky maps and a basic lunar map and guidelines for lunar observation, this makes it the perfect companion for any active or armchair astronomer.

Exploring the Night Sky with Binoculars

This handy reference guide is for stargazers who want to explore objects in more detail with binoculars. Filled with useful tips on choosing and using binoculars for exploring the Universe. Includes seasonal star maps, a guide to double and variable stars along with and an extensive chapter on the Moon.

Burnham's Celestial Handbook: An Observer's Guide to the Universe Beyond the Solar System  

Considered the bible by amateur astronomers worldwide this 3 volume set is encyclopedic in its coverage of the night sky. Each chapter begins with a table that gives a rundown of all objects of interest in that constellation followed by detailed descriptions of all notable objects in the constellation. The author also includes entertaining discussions on religion, archaeology, literature, and art related to each particular constellation. Even though some of the scientific data are outdated this work remains the foundation in the library of any serious amateur astronomer.

Cosmos

This all time classic by the late astronomer, Carl Sagan influenced an entire generation and introduced the wonders of the Universe to millions. Covering topics ranging from the origin of life to the evolution of stars, Cosmos celebrates the glory of science in eloquent and easy to understand language. Highly recommended as a general introduction to astronomy and the wonders of science in general.

Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space

A follow up to the bestseller, Cosmos, Sagan explores the future of humankind in space. Begining with a synopsis of past space missions with such as Voyager and Galileo exploring the outer solar system, a case is made for continued exploration by not only robotic probes but humans.

Seeing in the Dark: How Backyard Stargazers Are Probing Deep Space and Guarding Earth from Interplanetary Peril

Talented, prolific science writer, Timothy Ferris provides a glimpse into the world of discovery amongst the amateur astronomy community. Using modest equipment these amateur space sleuths are the authors true heros, monitoring Martian storms, tracking comets, discovering the occasional exploding stars, and much, much more...

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy  

Don't let the title fool you! This is a great introduction to the sometimes daunting world of astronomy. Written in layman language many theoretical and abstract concepts about the Universe including planetary motions, telescopes, stellar evolution and even cosmology are clearly explained. A comprehensive book for beginners. Everthing you ever wanted to know about astronomy but were afraid to ask!

Cosmos Box Set VHS or DVD  

Companion PBS TV series to the blockbuster book of the same name. Thirteen one hour episodes explore the world of science from historical figures from the astronomy world like Kepler and Copernicus to defining the entire history of the universe in a Cosmic Calendar. Exquisite artwork, a dynamic and engaging host, along with an out of this world soundtrack make this a standard by which all other science shows are measured.

Cosmic Voyage (IMAX) (1996) VHS or DVD 

Legendary IMAX filming guides you through the world of the macroscopic to the microscopic through the latest in computer animation. Your journey takes you from the edge of the known Universe filled with superclusters of galaxies, down to the sub- atomic levels. A film to engage the entire family and inspire children with science in all its glory!

Patrick Stewart: Narrates the Planets (DVD)  

Telling the story of the solar system, actor Patrick Stewart narrates a tour of all our planetary neighbours. Using original NASA computer animation and real snapshots taken by robotic probes, dozens of exotic worlds are revealed in full color. With a high tech, digital soundtrack the mysteries of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn highlight this film.