3. “Catching Stardust” by Natalie Starkey
In her very first book, “Catching Stardust”, renowned space scientist Natalie Starkey shuns away various popular misconceptions surrounding asteroids and comets, along with explaining why it is so important for us on Earth to study and understand their existence.
She talks about various space missions, particularly the Rosetta and Stardust missions, to explain to the readers why and how cosmic entities are studied. She also breaks down the history of human research on the existence of asteroids and comets.
The book narrates the misconceptions adopted by the earliest civilizations to inhabit the planet, who often regarded comets to be deadly omens of fiery rage that took over the sky, up until present day scientific discovery. Starkey outlines the differences associated with asteroids and comets, and she opens up a constructive discourse on various controversial subjects.
For instance, there is a detailed discourse on asteroid collision and asteroid mining with factual data and a holistic opinion. The book deals with a lot of scientific terminologies and concepts, but the writer has done a remarkable job of simplifying some of the most complex cosmic phenomenon.
4. “See It with a Small Telescope” by Will Kalif
Will Kalif has produced an amazing read for all those space and astrology enthusiasts who have just invested in a telescope and seek to learn how to make the best out of it. This book is a great pick for anyone who seeks to identify planets, nebulas, moons, star clusters or the Milky Way, for it breaks down a great many techniques to spot a lot of exciting objects in the sky.
Kalif will walk you down the entire process of getting started with telescopic observations and hunting down celestial bodies in the big black sky. His book contains incredibly star charts to help you find what you’re looking for, along with an entire section on astrophotography and a lot more. It can be enjoyed by teenagers, children and adults.
5. “100 Things to See in the Night Sky” by Dean Regas
If you’re a besotted stargazer or a passionate astronomer, Regas’ “100 Things to See in the Night Sky” is a book that will provide an abundance of information on how you can spot some of the most stunning and easily identifiable objects in the sky. Dean Regas, an astronomer and educator, has narrated down all the information and mechanisms you need to understand in order to enjoy stargazing.
It offers a great introduction to beginners who have just started stargazing, along with providing various advanced techniques and references to locate and discover certain stars, satellites, eclipses, constellations and more. The best part is, every object explained in the book can be seen with a naked eye, so you don’t have to worry about investing in any kind of equipment.
