Livebrary Guides: Astronomy: Home

Great Websites

Daily Astronomy News
The latest news about what's going on "up there".
NASA TV
Streaming video of several NASA TV programs.
Online Planisphere
On this Planisphere viewer, the Earth's east and west coordinates appear to be reversed since the sky is over our heads.
Solar System Exploration
From NASA...so you know its good !
Planets, Missions, Technology, Multimedia, People, History, and more !
Mars Rovers
Missions, photos, and more.
Planet Quest : Searching for Exoplanets
Over the next 15 years, NASA is embarking on a bold series of missions to find and characterize new worlds. These will be the most sensitive instruments ever built, capable of reaching beyond the bounds of our own solar system.
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Simple site with daily "pin up photos" for astronomers - with picture bios & links for further research. Archives of specific subjects such as black holes & spiral galaxies.
Solar System Live
View the universe from any time point or position with this interactive tool - also an earth & moon viewer.
Messier Catalog
A complete guide to the 110 deep sky objects recognized as the standard Messier catalog. All easily found with binoculars and small telescopes.
The Hubble Site
At the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), we're working hard to study and explain the once-unimaginable celestial phenomena now made visible using Hubble's cutting-edge technology.
Tonight's Sky: Video Sky Tour
Grab a telescope, binoculars or just a lawn
chair and head out to the backyard for a night
of cosmic sightseeing.

You'll need Flash Player 7 (or better)
to watch the movie.

Star Charts & Software

Sky Maps: Print your own!
FREE Sky Maps Each Month
For you to explore, learn and enjoy the night sky
Telrad Charts
The Telrad is perhaps the single most useful tool to the amateur astronomer. It is a simple 1 X finder scope that mounts to almost any telescope. It allows you to aim the telescope with both eyes open.
Printable Planisphere
A planisphere is a star chart in the form of two adjustable disks that rotate on a common pivot. It can be adjusted to display the visible stars for any time and date. It is an instrument to assist in learning how to recognize stars and constellations.
Stellarium
Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.
It is being used in planetarium projectors. Just set your coordinates and go.
SkyChart (Cartes du Ciel)
The purpose of this program is to prepare sky maps. This program enables you to draw sky charts. Stars, nebulae, galaxies, planets, asteroids and comets are shown. It's many features make this celestial atlas more complete than a conventional planetarium

Suffolk County Library Resources

Search Suffolk Libraries for Astronomy Books

Search ebooks on Astronomy

Search magazines for Astronomy

Search for Astronomy DVDs

Out of This World Places to Visit

Custer Observatory
Rose Center for Earth and Space
The Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, NY.
The Montauk Observatory
Vanderbilt Planetarium
Public Astronomy Lectures at Stony Brook: FREE
During the academic year the Astronomy Program offers a series of lectures by research faculty on various aspects of Astronomy the first Friday of every month at 7:30 pm.

Astronomy Podcasts

Astronomy Cast
Welcome to Astronomy Cast, the most popular astronomy-related podcast.
Slacker Astronomy
"Because if you aren't going to care about something, you may as well not care about astronomy."
Astronomy a Go Go!
In the car, at work or under the night time sky astronomy goes where you go! A monthly guide to the night sky. Excellent.
SkyWatch Podcast
Join our SkyWatch hosts for a weekly conversation that highlights news from the world of astronomy. Listen in via your computer or MP3 player as they bring the latest discoveries down to Earth. SkyWatch also includes HubbleWatch.

Astronomy Books

Turn left at Orion
A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope and How to Find Them. One of the best books on finding things in the night sky.
Backyard Astronomer's Guide
An essential reference tool for both beginning and veteran sky observers. Drawing on decades of stargazing experience, the authors suggest what equipment to buy and what to avoid, describe observing techniques, and explain how to hunt down the most interesting celestial objects. Each chapter is illustrated with the latest, breathtaking astrophotography.
Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
The top-selling stargazing guide in the world for the last 20 years. The key feature of this classic title is the section of star charts that are cherished by backyard astronomers everywhere.
Star ware
The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying and Using Telescopes and Accessories.
Stars and planets
The most complete guide to the stars, planets, galaxies, and the solar system