Astronomy books and guides

Okay, so you're taking up astronomy as a hobby. You love looking up at the night sky, and want to make it a regular thing. You've bought a pair of binoculars to help you view the heavens. Now what? Now you arm yourself with a little bit of information so you don't wind up feeling your way around in the dark (literally).

This isn't going to be a list of specific titles that I'd recommend. With all the different authors out there, choosing a book out of ten dozen on the same subject can be a pain, especially since certain styles of writing will be more easy to comprehend from person to person. Instead, I'm going to write about the KINDS of books you may want to pick up to help you get started on your hobby.

The first and most obvious kind of book to look for is one of those Astronomy for Beginners types. These tend to be simple to understand and not very complex at all. Their main drawback is a distinct lack of specific information you may want to know, simply because they're generally written in a simple, back to basics fashion. If you want to get into the hobby quick, this is the way to go.

Another type of book that's extremely useful are star chart type books and atlases of the night sky. These books will hold charts and maps that will give you detailed information on where you can find which stars, planets, etc.

Some of these books are dry and factual, while others give background information on each subject like the mythological beliefs behind a certain constellation. Pick one that appeals to you, and that you can easily understand.

A third type of astrology book that I would recommend is special interest books. While these will do absolutely nothing for helping you navigate the night sky (that's what the star chart's for!), these books are often written by other astrologers who take the time to pick one of their favorite celestial bodies and expound on them.

For example, there are very interesting books written about the planets within our solar system, expounding on each one, traditional myths attached to each, their relative orbits and positions, their dimensions and surrounding satellites, etc.

I'd recommend picking up at least the first two kinds of book to start your astrology hobby with. As for the third, it's a good idea to get a feel for the night sky first, settle on a celestial figure that appeals to your heart, and only then buying something that will expound on it to add to your appreciation.