CFAS Beginner's Class
Book and Charts recommendations
Last updated 01-06-2014
Beginning Books
Astronomy: a self-teaching guideDinah L. Moche$13 - $15
A high-school level introduction to the science of astronomy. Contains chapters on stellar measurement and spectral classifications, stellar evolution, galaxies, cosmology, the solar system, planets, the moon, and comets, meteors, and meteorites. Paperback/Kindle.
NightwatchTerence Dickinson$26~
A beginner's guide to amateur astronomy. If you buy only one book, get this one, or get this one first. Contains information on the structure and scale of the universe, constellations and sky motions, all-sky maps for the seasons, stargazing equipment, types of astronomical objects to look at, a good set of beginner sky charts and how to use them, the planets, moon and sun, comets, meteors, aurora, photographing the night sky, and good section on resources (magazines, books, guides, software, equipment, clubs, conventions, planetariums, and observatories). Spiralbound.
The Backyard Astronomers' GuideTerence Dickinson and Alan Dyer$35~
A bit more advanced and larger in scope than Nightwatch, this book is good if you have some experience with amateur astronomy. If you are an absolute beginner, get Nightwatch instead (but you might want this book later). Make sure to get the revised edition published in October 2002, as it has the latest information. This revision also has 3 nice color images taken by a CFAS club member, Alan Chen. Hardcover.
Star Ware (third edition)Philip S. Harrington$13 - $18~
THE book on amateur astronomy equipment. If you are thinking of buying any type of astronomy equipment (telescope, binoculars, eyepieces, etc.) buy this book. Contains no science and very little about observing. This is focused on the equipment. Contains general information about telescopes (f-ratios, a bit of optical theory), telescope history and types, then a big section reviewing specific manufacturers and equipment: binoculars, refractors, reflectors, catadioptrics, and eyepieces. After that is a section on accessories: finderscopes, filters, collimation tools, binoviewers, charts, digital setting circles, motorized focusers, cameras (film and CCD), red flashlights, dew zappers, observing chairs, mounts, and vibration dampers. The next chapter is on making equipment and after that is a section on maintaining a telescope: cleaning mirrors and lenses, collimating, and testing the optics. After that is a couple of chapters on observing and even chapter on astrophotography. Make sure to get the third edition that was published in May 2002 so that the equipment information will be up to date. Paperback/Kindle
More Advanced Books
The Dobsonian TelescopeDavid Kriege and Richard Berry$30~
This book has become the bible on the Dobsonian telescope. With this book in hand, you can build your own large, truss-tube dob. Very detailed, contains explicit instructions and a wealth of information about this particular type of telescope. David Kriege is the owner of Obsession telescopes, a manufacturer of large, premium Dobsonian telescopes, so the information in this book was obtained through hard-fought, practical experience. If you are considering the purchase of a large Dobsonian, then buy and read this book cover to cover. You will learn so much about how this type of telescope works, it will enable you to understand and use your telescope better. Hardcover.
Star Testing Astronomical TelescopesHarold Richard Suiter$35~
A book about how to test the optics in a telescope without using fancy test equipment. The scope of this book sounds a bit narrow at first, but it contains a lot of information about how telescopes work (and don't work) that is of benefit to the amateur astronomer. This book is more for the "equipment junkies". Hardcover.
Telescope OpticsHarrieRutten and Martin van Venrooij$30
This is the book you want if you're an equipment junkie and you REALLY want to know how telescopes work. Warning: contains optical theory and equations. It also contains a lot of nice diagrams and tables. The book discusses the various optical aberrations, exactly what causes them and what deleterious effects they have. Also has information on a myriad of telescope designs, how they work, and what aberrations they are susceptible to and how. Later chapters cover optical design, which gives you an appreciation of the compromises that manufacturers face when deciding how to build a telescope. Although this is an intimidating book for "amateur" astronomy, it has just enough optical theory in it to cover the topic of telescopes, and is not nearly as difficult as a general college optical theory textbook. If you get into this kind of thing, you can spend a lot of time with this book. Hardcover.
Magazines
Sky and Telescope
The premier astronomy magazine. If you only get one get this one.
Amateur Astronomy
Published quarterly, this black and white, no-nonsense magazine is about real amateur astronomy. Does NOT contain the latest pretty color pictures from Hubble. This is written by amateurs for amateurs.
Astronomy
This is a monthly magazine that is more geared towards a beginner amateur astronomer and is a bit lighter with its scientific content. Equipment reviews are very basic, often to the point of not being useful.
Charts & Guidebooks
The Night Sky Planisphere (Plastic)$10
Shows you what's up and what's not for any given time of year and day. Plastic is good to ward off the dew. Orlando is at 28.5 degrees, so get the one for 20-30 degrees latitude.
Sky and Telescope's Messier Card$7
Plots all 109 Messier objects on a laminated 8.5x11 inch card.
Orion Deep Map 600$15
Plastic "map" printed with a large, detailed whole sky map with 600 deep sky objects plotted. Folds up like a map. The plastic keeps it from falling apart when it gets wet with dew.
Edmund Scientific Mag 6 Star Atlas$25
This is a good star chart to begin with. Magnitude refers to the brightness of the star: the higher the number, the DIMMER the star. Mag 0 is the brightest star in the sky. Mag 6 matches what you can see with just your eye from a very dark site on a good night. A typical amateur telescope can get down to mag 12 or so. This atlas plots all stars down to magnitude 6.2. It has 12 charts covering the whole sky with facing pages having listings and short descriptions of on more than 1,000 celestial objects including multiple stars, variable stars, nebulas and galaxies. Also has an observing guide. Paperback.
Sky Atlas 2000$40-$120
This is a magnitude 8 star chart. As such, it plots many more stars and deep sky objects than a Mag 6 atlas. It's also a bit harder to use for a beginner, so if you're just starting out, you may want to stick with an easier atlas at first. 26 charts, 81,312 stars, 2,700 deep-sky objects. Comes in laminated and unlaminated versions. Get a laminated one. Also comes in desk, field, or deluxe versions - for use out under the stars, get a field or deluxe.
Sky Atlas 2000 Companion$30
Alphabetical listing of all deep-sky objects plotted on the Sky Atlas 2000 along with useful data on each object. Paperback
*Burnham’sCelestial Handbook$12+$12+$12
This three volume set is an older guide to the night sky. The material is timeless, but some of our methods of observing and our taste in objects have changed since this was published. Much of this is due to the increasing affordability of large optics since this guide was published. Paperback/Hardbound.
The Night Sky Observer's Guide (two volumes)$35 + $35
This two volume set is a recently published, comprehensive guide to deep-sky objects. Volume 1 covers Autumn & Winter, Volume 2 covers Spring & Summer. Both volumes cover 5,541 objects in detail with descriptions, photographs, and drawings. This one is better for owners of larger telescopes than Burnhams. Hardcover.
*May be available in the CFAS Frank Gutowski Memorial Library