Astronomy Resources
CATEGORIES:
ORGANIZATIONS:
- Southern Maryland Astronomical Society (SMAS): http://smas.us/
- Astronomical League: http://www.astroleague.org/
- Astronomical Society of the Pacific: http://www.astrosociety.org/ — An International Organization of Astronomers and Educators
- Delmarva Stargazers: http://www.delmarvastargazers.org/
- Greenbelt Astronomy Club: http://www.greenbeltastro.org/
- Harford County Astronomical Society: http://www.harfordastro.org/
- International Dark Sky Association, Inc.: http://www.darksky.org/
- Madison Astronomical Society: http://www.madisonastro.org/
- Northern Virginia Astronomy Club: http://www.novac.com/
- Rappahannock Astronomy Club: http://www.raclub.org/
- Westminster Astronomical Society: http://www.westminsterastro.org/
EDUCATIONAL:
- 4 Teachers : http://www.4teachers.org/
- Astronomy: https://www.thoughtco.com/astronomy-4133558//
- The Astronomy Cafe: http://www.astronomycafe.net/
- Astronomy Top 100: http://www.astronomytop100.com/
- Astronomy Village - Investigating the Universe: http://www.cotf.edu/av1/main.html
- Aviation Resource Library: http://www.e-aircraftsupply.com/articles/default.aspx - Aerospace Links for Children and Adults, from a Recommendation by Ms. Ashford's Astronomy Club
- EarthSky: http://www.earthsky.org/category/space
- The Exploratorium Museum: http://www.exploratorium.edu/ — Search: Astronomy
- Exploring Planets in the Classroom: http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/index.html
- Form Swift : http://formswift.com/common-core-lesson-plans - Free Templates for Science Lesson Plans
- Goddard Space Flight Center: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/home/index.html
- Goddard Space Flight Center - Education Programs: http://education.gsfc.nasa.gov/
- Goddard Space Flight Center - Educator Resource Centers: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/visitor/home/erc.html
- Hubble Space Telescope: http://hubblesite.org/
- Joan Galat, author of the Dot To Dot In The Sky books: http://www.joangalat.com/
- Kids' Astronomy: http://www.kidsastronomy.com/index.htm
- Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Education Center: http://www2.ccboe.com/nanjemoycreek/
- NASA: http://www.nasa.gov
- NASA Earth Observatory - Global Maps: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/GlobalMaps/
- NASA Night Sky Network: https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/
- NASA STEM Engagement: https://www.nasa.gov/stem/about.html
- NASA Weather Satellite Images: https://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/
- National Air and Space Museum: http://www.nasm.si.edu
- The Nine [8!] Planets: http://www.nineplanets.org/
- Planetary Imaging: http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov/
- Resource Guide: Telescopes on a Budget : http://bebusinessed.com/telescopes/ — Article, Plus Additional Links, as Recommended by a Home School Instructor
- SciJinks: https://scijinks.gov/
- Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/
- Spaceflight America: http://www.spaceflightamerica.org/
- Space Place at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/
- Space Science and Engineering Center - Weather Imagery: http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/data/
- Space Weather: http://www.spaceweather.com/
- Space Telescope Science Institute Homepage: http://www.stsci.edu/resources/
- Students for the Exploration and Development of Space: http://seds.org
- Weather Satellites: http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/satellite/
- Welcome to the Planets: http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome.htm
- Windows to the Universe: https://www.windows2universe.org/
OBSERVATORIES AND PLANETARIUMS:
- Einstein Planetarium: http://www.airandspace.si.edu/visit/mall/things-to-do/planetarium.cfm
- Planetarium at James E. Richmond Science Center: http://www.ccboe.com/sciencecenter/
- Mount Wilson Observatory: http://www.mtwilson.edu/
- Nanjemoy Creek Observatory (NCO): https://www.smas.us/html/observatory.html
- National Optical Astronomy Observatories: http://www.noao.edu/
- National Solar Observatory: http://www.nso.edu/
- Peter F. Hurst Planetarium: http://hurstplanetarium.org/
- The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO): http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/
- U.S. Naval Observatory: https://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO
OBSERVING UPDATES:
- Astronomy: http://www.astronomy.com/ — Click on Observing at the Top of the Home Page
- EarthSky: http://www.earthsky.org/tonight/
- Heavens-Above: http://www.heavens-above.com/
- In The Sky: https://in-the-sky.org/newscal.php — An Interactive Calendar of Astronomical Events
- Jack Stargazer: http://www.jackstargazer.com/
- Night Sky Info: http://www.nightskyinfo.com/
- Skyhound: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html
- Sky & Telescope: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/ - Click on Observing at the Top of the Home Page
- U.S. Naval Observatory: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/tours-events/sky-this-week
FREE SKY CHARTS, MAPS AND LOGS:
- Cartes du Ciel Sky Charts: http://www.stargazing.net/astropc/index.html
- Free Mag 7 Star Charts: https://www.cloudynights.com/articles/cat/articles/observing-skills/free-mag-7-star-charts-r1021#:~:text=Black%20and%20White%20field%20version%3A%20%20%20Chart-1.pdf,-20%20to%20-65%20%205%20more%20rows%20
- In The Sky: https://in-the-sky.org/charts.php/
- Sky Maps: http://www.skymaps.com/
- Space Place at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/starfinder/en/
- Stellarium: http://www.stellarium.org/
- The Old Farmer's Almanac: https://www.almanac.com/astronomy/
- The Ultimate Messier Object Log - PDF Format: http://www.physics.hmc.edu/faculty/esin/a101/messier
- Virtual Moon Atlas: http://www.astrosurf.com/avl/UK_index.html
MAGAZINES:
- "Astronomy": http://www.astronomy.com/
- "Free Astronomy Magazine": https://www.astropublishing.com/ - An Online Publication, Available in Five Languages
- "Sky and Telescope": http://www.skyandtelescope.com/
BOOKS:
- Astronomy - Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge Series - 1990
Publisher: Boy Scouts of America, Irving, TX
- Astronomy and Planetology - Projects for Young Scientists - Necia H. Apfel - 1983
Library Reference #: J522A
- Astronomy for Every Kid - Janice Van Cleave
- Atlas of the Skies - 2003
Publisher: TAJ Books, Surrey, U.K.
- Atlas of Space Exploration - Tim Furniss - 1999
Library Reference #: J520FUR
- Be Your Own Astronomy Expert - Guillaume Cannat - 1996
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
Library Reference #: J520CAN
- The Big Dipper and You - E.C. Krupp – 1989
Publisher: Morrow Junior Books
Library Reference #: J523.8K
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy - Pree and Axelrod - 1999
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Macmillan Company
- Dot To Dot In The Sky - Stories In The Stars - Joan Galat (formerly published as Joan Hinz) - 2001
Publisher: Whitecap Books, Canada
- Dot To Dot In The Sky - Stories of Planets - Joan Galat (formerly published as Joan Hinz) - 2003
Publisher: Whitecap Books, Canada
- Dot to Dot in the Sky - Stories of the Moon - Joan Galat - 2004
Publisher: Whitecap Books, Canada
- Dot to Dot in the Sky - Stories of the Zodiac - Joan Galat - 2007
Publisher: Whitecap Books, Canada
- Find the Constellations - H.A. Rey - 1982
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
- The Friendly Guide to the Universe - Nancy Hathaway
- A Guide to Advanced Skywatching - Burnham, Dyer, Garfinkle, George,Kanipe, and Levy - 2002
Publisher: Fog City Press
- A Guide to Backyard Astronomy - Burnham, Dyer, Garfinkle, George,Kanipe, and Levy - 2002
Publisher: Fog City Press
- A Guide to Skywatching - David H. Levy - 2002
Publisher: Fog City Press
- The Handy Space Answer Book - Phillis Engelbert and Diane L. Dupois - 2003
Publisher: Visible Ink Press
- (I Didn't Know That) The Sun Is A Star - Kate Petty - 1997
- How the Universe Works - Couper and Henbest
- The Kingfisher Facts and Record Book of Space - Clive Gifford - 2001
Library Reference #: J520GIF
- Learn About Astronomy - Robin Kerrod - 1996
Library Reference #: J520KER
- Making and Enjoying Telescopes - 6 Complete Projects and Stargazer's Guide - Miller and Wilson
Library Reference #: J522.2MIL
- The Man Who Made Time Travel – Kathryn Lasky – 2003
Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre Ltd.
Library Reference #: J526.6209LAS
- The Messier Album – John H. Mallas and Evered Kreimer – 1978
Publisher: Sky Publishing Corporation
- The Moon Book - Moon Legends and Milestones, More Facts - Gail Gibbons
Library Reference #: J523.3GIB
- Ranger Rick's Nature Scope: Astronomy Adventures - 1997
Publisher: National Wildlife Federation
- The Really Big Universe – 1998
Publisher: FUNFAX
- The Science Explorer Out and About
Library Reference #: J507.8
- Science For Kids - 39 Easy Astronomy Experiments - Robert W. Wood - 1991
Library Reference #: J522.078
- The Science Library - Vol. V - The Moon, Planets and Interplanetary Travel, Stars - Felix Sutton - 1983
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
- Science Project Ideas about the Sun - Robert Gardner
Library Reference #: J523.7078
- Solar System - Spectacular Science Projects (Mind-Boggling Experiments You Can Turn Into Science Fair Projects) - Janice VanCleave - 2000
Library Reference #: J523.2078
- Space and Astronomy - 49 Science Fair Projects - Robert Bonnet
Library Reference #: J520.78
- Space and Planets - 1992
Library Reference #: J520SPA
- Star Factories - The Birth of Stars and Planets - Ray Jayawardhana - 2001
Library Reference #: J523.88JAY
- The Starlore Handbook - Geoffrey Cornelius - 1997
Publisher: Chronicle Books
- Star Names - Their Lore and Meaning - Richard Hinckley Allen - 1963
Publisher: Dover Publishing, Inc.
- Stars and Atoms - From the Big Bang to the Solar System - Stuart Clark - 1995
Library Reference #: J520CLA
- The Stars: A New Way To See Them - H.A. Rey - 1980
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
- Tales of the Shimmering Sky - Susan Milord
Publisher: Williamson Publishing Company
- There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars - Bob Crelin - 2006
Publisher: Sky Publishing Corporation
- 365 Starry Nights - Chet Raymo - 1982
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
- The Universe (Time Life Student Library) - 1998 Library Reference #: J520UNI
- The Universe at Your Fingertips and More Universe at Your Fingertips - Ed. by Andrew Fraknoi - 1995 (loose-leaf format)
Publisher: Project ASTRO at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
- The Usborne Complete Book of Astronomy and Space - Miles & Smith
- A Walk Through the Heavens - Heifetz and Tirion - 1996
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
- The Wrongway Comet and Other Mysteries of Our Solar System - Essays by Barry Evans
Library Reference #: J523.2
- The Young Astronomer - Harry Ford - 1998
Publisher: DK Publishing Inc.
MARKET PLACES:
- Astromart, the Global Astronomy Marketplace: http://www.astromart.com
- Binoculars.com: http://www.binoculars.com — Features Various Brands
- Celestron Telescopes and Binoculars: http://www.celestron.com/c3/home.php
- Cloudy Nights: http://www.cloudynights.com/
- Meade Telescopes and Binoculars: http://www.meade.com/
- Optics Planet: http://www.opticsplanet.com/telescopes.html
- Orion Telescopes and Binoculars: http://www.telescope.com
- Skies Unlimited: http://www.skiesunlimited.net/ — Equipment and Reviews
- Skyhound: http://www.skyhound.com/
- Sky Publishing: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/
- Software Bisque: http://www.bisque.com
LIST COMPILED BY:
- Pamela Humbert
SMAS Program Coordinator
E-mail address: programcoordinator@smas.us
- Please remember that this is only a small fraction of the resources available today! Research your school library, public library, planetarium, observatory, museum, bookstore, science store, and the Internet for much more information.
- Resources listed are not appropriate for all age levels at all times. Some are aimed toward younger children, while others are for older children and adults. Please be sure to research the items carefully before making any purchase.
- This list is intended to provide information only. It is not an endorsement of, nor advertisement for, any resources listed.
Last Updated: 11/9/22