Books for Beginning Astronomers

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• Peterson's Field Guide - Stars and Planets - Donald H. Menzel/Jay M. Pasachoff Houghton Mifflin Co.- This is a good book for a beginner to keep handy. I take it with me whenever I go to a star party. It has star charts for every season and an Atlas that breaks out smaller segments of sky. Very informative.
• The Guide to Amateur Astronomy - Jack Newton & Philip Teece - Cambridge University Press - This book covers all aspects of astronomy, Binoculars, Telescopes, etc. A chapter on building your own telescope, and a chapter on astrophotography for the beginner. Good manual.
• Every amateur needs to have a copy of Burnham's Celestial Handbook. It is in three volumes, and covers all constellations in detail.Written by Robert Burnham Jr. and published by Dover Publications. My advice is to get all three volumes. I sat down and read each one from cover to cover. My paperback edition is pretty ratty now, I use it all the time. It is a good read, and it will help you plan an observing session.
• The Sky: A User's Guide - David Levy - Cambridge University Press. This book gives you specific techniques to look at Solar System objects, and deep sky objects. It has some finder charts for variable stars, and an explanation of most of the objects in the sky. Excellent reading.
• Beginner's Guide to Amateur Astronomy - David Eicher - Kalmbach Publishing This is a great general astronomy guide in an instructional format.
• Your Guide to the Sky - Rick Shaffer - RGA Publishing - Terrific beginner's instructional book.

Astronomical Journals

• Astronomy Magazine - Kalmbach Publishing Co. - Phone - (800) 533-6644 -Good coverage of all areas of astronomy. - Website at http://www.kalmbach.com/astro/astronomy.html
• Sky and Telescope - Sky Publishing Corp. - Phone - (800) 253-0245 - The oldest magazine for general astronomy. - Website at http://www.skypub.com
• The Starry Messenger - TSM Commercial advertising - Phone (201) 992-6865 - Monthly magazine containing hundreds of classified ads for astronomical items.

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