Revised: May 2012

Were it not for a handful of hobbyists, space flight would never have gotten off the ground. The nuclei of the teams that launched the first satellites, cosmonauts, and astronauts were science fiction fans who took their interests in astronomy and space flight so seriously that, in spite of the worldwide depression of the Thirties, they formed clubs in Germany, America, and the former Soviet Union to design and build rockets with their own resources. During the Space Race, the superpowers recognized that encouraging amateur astronomy and model rocketry would grow their technical workforces. Today, websites like the Zooniverse bring the challenge and pleasure of amateur astronomy to a linked-in nation. The NASA HQ library, as the only NASA library which the public can visit, offers this webpage as a list of resources that should be useful to anyone who would like to join the ranks of rocketeers and astronomers. You may also find useful resources in our webpages on Children's Space Resources and Science Fair Projects. Please exercise proper caution when embarking on a course of research, especially with one involving rockets or the Sun.

All items are available at the Headquarters Library, except as noted. NASA Headquarters employees and contractors: Call x0168 or email Library@hq.nasa.gov for information on borrowing or in-library use of any of these items. Members of the public: Contact your local library for the availability of these items. NASA Headquarters employees can request additional materials or research on this topic. The Library welcomes your comments or suggestions about this webpage.

Books

Bakich, Michael E. The Cambridge Guide to the Constellations. Cambridge, UK; New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1995. ISBN: 0521465206

QB802 .B35 1995 READY-REF

 

Clark, Roger N. Visual Astronomy of the Deep Sky. Cambridge, UK; New York, NY: Cambridge University Press & Sky Publishing Corporation, 1990. ISBN: 0521361559

QB64 .C58 1988 BOOKSTACKS

 

Discovery Channel. Night Sky: An Explore Your World Handbook. New York, NY: Discovery Books, 1999. ISBN: 1563318016

QB64 .N495 1999 BOOKSTACKS

 

Ferris, Timothy. Seeing in the Dark: How Backyard Stargazers are Probing Deep Space and Guarding Earth from Interplanetary Peril. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 2002. ISBN: 0684865793

QB43 .F47 2002 BOOKSTACKS

 

Heywood, John. Radio Astronomy and How to Build Your Own Telescope. New York, NY: Arc Books, 1964.

QB475 .H47 1963 BOOKSTACKS

 

Johnson, Gaylord and Irving Adler. Discover the Stars. New York, NY: Sentinel Books, 1957.

QB801.6 .J65 1957 BOOKSTACKS

 

Kaler, James B. The Ever-changing Sky: A Guide to the Celestial Sphere. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1996. ISBN: 0521380537

QB145 .K33 1996 BOOKSTACKS

 

King-Hele, Desmond. Observing Earth Satellites.New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1983. ISBN: 0442248776

TL796.8 .K47 BOOKSTACKS

 

Levy, David H. The Sky: A User's Guide. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1991. ISBN: 0521391121

QB63 .L42 1991 BOOKSTACKS

 

Muirden, James. Astronomy with Binoculars. Princeton, NJ: Van Nostrand, 1963.

QB44.M95 A8 1963 BOOKSTACKS

Binoculars are among the easiest tools for the newcomer to amateur astronomy.

 

Newton, Jack. The Cambridge Deep-sky Album. Cambridge, UK; New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1983. ISBN: 0521256682

QB63 .N478 BOOKSTACKS

 

Norton, Arthur Philip, and J. Gall Inglis. A Star Atlas and Reference Handbook (Epoch 1950) for Students and Amateurs. Edinburgh, UK: Gall and Inglis, 1959.

QB65 .N882 1959 READY-REF

 

Parkes, Mike. Starry Night Backyard. Toronto, Ont.: SPACE.com Canada, Inc., 2000.

QB63 .S83 2000B CDROM

 

Pasachoff, Jay M. Peterson First Guide to the Solar System. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1990. ISBN: 0395524512

QB46 .P277 1990 BOOKSTACKS

 

Sidgwick, J.B. Amateur Astronomer's Handbook. London, UK: Faber and Faber, 1955.

QB44 .S56 BOOKSTACKS

 

__________. Observational Astronomy for Amateurs. Hillside, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 1982. ISBN: 0894900676

QB64 .S56 1982 BOOKSTACKS

 

Stine, G. Harry. Handbook of Model Rocketry. New York, NY: Arco Pub., 1983. ISBN: 0668053585

TL844 .S75 1983 BOOKSTACKS

 

Taylor, Peter O. Observing the Sun. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1991. ISBN: 0521401100

QB521.4 .T39 1991 BOOKSTACKS

 

Texereau, Jean. How to Make a Telescope. Richmond, VA: Willmann-Bell, 1984. ISBN: 0943396042

QB88 .T413 1984 BOOKSTACKS

 

Vehrenberg, Hans. Atlas of Deep-sky Splendors. Cambridge, UK; New York, NY: Cambridge University Press; Cambridge, MA: Sky Pub. Corp., 1983. ISBN: 0521258340.

QB65 .V413 1983 BOOKSTACKS

 

Webb, Thomas William. Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes. New York, NY: Dover Publications, 1962.

QB64 .W36 BOOKSTACKS

Journals

Astronomy

 

Mercury

 

The Observer's Handbook

This is an annual.

 

Sky and Telescope

NASA HQ library doesn't have an active subscription.

 

Sport Rocketry

NASA HQ library doesn't have an active subscription.

Internet Resources