Best astronomy books 2024: modern hits and classic titles

These astronomy books will guide you across the sky, along with history and culture - Best Astronomy books
The Fermi Paradox asks: Where are the aliens? (Image credit: ARUTTHAPHON POOLSAWASD/Getty Images)

Find your way around the universe with the best astronomy books. Whether you prefer a tour of the night sky, or a deep dive into the history of different cultures gazing at constellations, stars, asterisms or other spots in the heavens, these astronomy books will bring you well into the cosmos.

How we experience the sky is unique to our experiences and to the circumstances in which we grew up. The "standardized" International Astronomical Union list is not reflective of all cultural names and histories. (The IAU does simplify wayfinding among different cultures, but we do need to be aware of how astronomy is made up of multiple histories.)

Astronomy studies also require us to learn more about how the solar system and the sun were formed, along with the planets and smaller objects such as dwarf planets, asteroids and comets. (Fans of Pluto's planethood would also tell you that how we classify objects we can see is not perfect.) 

After looking at our own neighborhood, we can then fly further into the universe to learn about objects such as nebulas or galaxies, along with exoplanets and interstellar objects. You can bring your kids along too: astronomy books for kids are also helpful to assist them with learning about science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) topics.

With time and reading, you'll learn about all kinds of interesting places to visit with your favorite binoculars or telescope: locations such as the star-forming Orion Nebula, or complex clusters like the Pleiades that form the basis of many cultural tales. Early thinkers of astronomy will also help you put your journey through space and time in context. 

We've rounded up classic titles and new titles among the best astronomy books to serve as a buying guide. The authors are experienced hands at teaching others what it means to be thinking about the universe, and our place within it.

Modern Astronomy Books

Creation Stories Landscapes and the Human Imagination by Anthony Aveni

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1. Creation Stories

Landscapes and the Human Imagination

Specifications

Price: $17.97
Author: Anthony Aveni
Publisher: Yale University Press
Release Date: April 20 2021

Reasons to buy

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Includes numerous worldwide cultures
+
Written by an astronomy/anthropology expert
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A spellbinding read
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Great for teaching students

Reasons to avoid

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Emphasis on culture over constellations
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Not all cultures are included
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Written from the viewpoint of a single author
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Some stories have multiple versions not in the book

Cultures around the world have told many stories about the night sky and how it came to be. This incredible book by Anthony Aveni pulls a selection of creation stories from around the world, and attempts to capture diverse peoples on all continents: from Babylonian to Polynesian, from Inuit to numerous African peoples, from Chinese to Hindu.

Aveni is an award-winning author who also teaches astronomy and anthropology, allowing students and interested readers alike to dive into how cultures seek out their origin stories through the night sky and their environment. While this should be treated as an introductory volume—not all cultures or story variations can possibly appear in a single book—this collection is a great start for learning more about different perspectives on astronomy.

The Disordered Cosmos

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2. The Disordered Cosmos

A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred

Specifications

Price: $18.15
Author: Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Publisher: Bold Type Books
Release Date: March 9, 2021

Reasons to buy

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Fantastic memoir of diversity in science
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Excellent calls of how science should change
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Valuable tips for "allies" to take action
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Shows science in the context of society

Reasons to avoid

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Very technical in places
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Portrays less science, more politics
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Relies on a single person's experience
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Has little allusion to latest physics

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein's memoir and discussion of physics takes on the science from a few different points of view. You will see talk about stars and other topics relevant to science here, but you'll also hear calls about how the community can do better in terms of its representation.

Prescod-Weinstein, who teaches astronomy at the University of New Hampshire, is one of fewer than 100 Black American women to earn a PhD from a department of physics. As such, she talks about ways in which she sees the community as needing to recover from a legacy of sexism, racism and other types of issues. Her goal is to help everyone better participate in the discovery of the universe, and to learn about its significance in our lives.


The Invisible Universe

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3. The Invisible Universe

Why There's More to Reality than Meets the Eye

Specifications

Price: $20.49
Author: Matthew Bothwell
Publisher: Oneworld Publications
Release Date: December 7, 2021

Reasons to buy

+
Shows how to examine the universe in other wavelengths of light
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Presents a mini-history of observing our universe
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Brims to the full with great facts
+
Delivers some of the latest findings

Reasons to avoid

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Pictures not always in alignment with text
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Not suitable for beginners
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Presents technical language at times
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Very long book

Matt Bothwell engages the reader with a discussion of the universe we cannot see; that is, the universe of information beyond visual wavelengths. He traces how telescopes and other types of observatories can gain information on black holes, supernovas and other cosmic phenomena by using wavelengths such as infrared, radio, X-rays and ultraviolet.

Bothwell is an astronomer and science communicator based at the Institute of Astronomy and the Kavli Institute for Cosmology, Cambridge. The book is part history, in explaining how these different wavelengths are used. But it is also a call to realizing that the universe opens up to us as we engage different types of observations. You can also take the book as a bit of a celestial tour of interesting objects that pop up in the sky in front of our eyes, even if we can't see them without help.


How Space Works

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4. How Space Works

The Facts Visually Explained

Specifications

Price: $26.84
Author: DK
Publisher: DK
Release Date: March 4, 2021

Reasons to buy

+
Presents beautifully rendered pictures
+
Encourages STEAM in younger readers
+
Has a comprehensive list of topics
+
Is well-organized and written

Reasons to avoid

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More suited to beginners, not advanced folks
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Not very much text
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Less discussion of the newest findings
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Small factoids sometimes lack context

Children and beginners to astronomy will appreciate this fact-filled book about space. It shows readers the familiar worlds of the solar system and then brings you quickly belong to discover the outer reaches of our universe. From the Big Bang to the modern day, you'll get a quick tour of astrophysics history.

The book strives for accessibility and easy learning. As such, it's packed with infographics, images and facts that will be useful for beginning astronomers, or people looking for a quick refresher. When things get complex (as they are bound to do), the book focuses on clear explanations, along with resources to help you learn more as your experience grows.


The Backyard Astronomer's Guide

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5. The Backyard Astronomer's Guide, 4th Edition

Specifications

Price: $34.49
Author: Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer
Publisher: Firefly Books
Release Date: September 10, 2021

Reasons to buy

+
Updated to include modern astronomy equipment
+
Includes fresh charts and photos to show off our universe
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Highly in-depth, for experienced astronomers
+
Large range of astronomy kit for different price points

Reasons to avoid

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Not very helpful to beginners, beyond a little introductory material
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The equipment may get outdated over time
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Emphasis on binocular and telescope astronomy instead of naked eye
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Little information available about southern hemisphere targets

We're lucky enough to have a recent, fourth edition of this classic guide to astronomy. It's co-written by Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer, long-time contributors and writers to the astronomy community who know the ins and outs of what amateurs want, and what they need to know.

Dyer and Dickinson take pains to include the latest technology in telescopes, binoculars and imaging to help you get the most out of your observations. Rich illustrations show realistic reproductions of what sort of photography you could produce with amateur equipment. Even if you prefer naked eye astronomy, however, they have a guide to constellations and bright objects that will be helpful if you're lacking equipment or just beginning your star journey.


2023 Night Sky Almanac

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6. 2023 Night Sky Almanac

A Month-by-Month Guide to North America's Skies from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

Specifications

Price: $13.46
Author: Nicole Mortillaro
Publisher: Firefly Books
Release Date: September 15, 2022

Reasons to buy

+
Highly visual, with pictures and illustrations
+
Very reasonably priced
+
Provides monthly sky maps to find your way around the sky
+
Gives an introduction to advanced targets

Reasons to avoid

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Not suitable for advanced astronomers
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Some information will get outdated quickly
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Not very helpful for telescopic observers
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Less information available about targets like asteroids

This highly portable star guide was produced by science journalist Nicole Mortillaro, who is also a long-time member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. It's an in-depth guide meant to introduce beginners to the sky and the curious objects within it, such as comets, stars or globular clusters.

It's packed to the brim with moon phase charts, sky maps and other information to stay up to date for 2023 events. You'll also learn how to do measurements of the sky with your hands, the basics of binoculars and telescopes, and a few astronomy terms to help you learn more about the universe. All this information makes the book helpful for the beginning to intermediate astronomy audience.

Classic Astronomy Books

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

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1. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

Specifications

Price: $9.49
Author: Neil deGrasse Tyson
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Release Date: May 2, 2017

Reasons to buy

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Filled with examples to explain complicated things
+
Includes history and context along with the science
+
Written with engagement and wit in mind
+
Explains what we know and what we need to learn in astrophysics

Reasons to avoid

-
Too autobiographical at points
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Language is not suited for beginner astronomers
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Only covers select topics in astrophysics
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A little short, given the scope of the book

Targeted at an audience interested in astrophysics but with no formal knowledge, this book is from astrophysicist and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson. He is best known for hosting the new version of "Cosmos", along with his research at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

The book tackles big topics such as the nature of science and time, where humans fit in the universe, and items such as the black holes, quantum mechanics and the Big Bang. The aim is to give readers a brief introduction to the major issues of astrophysics so that they better understand what's in the news, and gain even more appreciation of the sky.


Cosmos

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2. Cosmos

Specifications

Price: $11.50
Author: Carl Sagan
Publisher: Random House
Release Date: December 10, 2013

Reasons to buy

+
Beautiful images of objects in the universe
+
Vivid prose about astronomy and its significance
+
Complements both "Cosmos" TV shows, older and newer
+
Provides inspiration for younger audiences to pursue STEAM careers

Reasons to avoid

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Some discoveries are dated given the author has been deceased for a generation
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Some points of view presented may not be fully inclusive of diversity
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Science and language is more targeted for a beginner audience
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Overly self-referential at times

This is the book that generated not one, but two television series entitled "Cosmos." Written by planetary scientist and astronomer Carl Sagan, the book styles itself as a tour through nearly 14 billion years of cosmic evolution. In fact, the book attempts to look beyond space to aspects such as the human brain and Egyptian hieroglypics.

Sagan died in 1996, but the book has lived on through numerous editions. This one tackles topics ranging from spacecraft missions to how galaxies evolve to how our sun may die. It also examines influential individuals in modern science. Some of the material may be dated, but the prose remains an elegant example of Sagan's science communication.


The Science of Interstellar

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3. The Science of Interstellar

Specifications

Price: $18.39
Author: Kip Thorne
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Release Date: November 7, 2014

Reasons to buy

+
A great complement to the popular movie
+
Vivid language brings astrophysics to life
+
Provides a behind-the-scenes look at the development of "Interstellar"
+
Clearly explains what is speculation and what is established in astrophysics

Reasons to avoid

-
Physics discussions are likely too advanced for novice readers
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Focuses more on the science of the movie and less on general astrophysics
-
Has few math equations or discussions, given the advanced topic
-
Requires more discussion on time travel paradoxes

Fans of science fiction, Christopher Nolan films and especially the movie "Interstellar" will enjoy this volume by Kip Thorne. Thorne earned the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017, shortly after this book was published, for his lifetime contributions in gravitational physics and astrophysics.

Thorne gives a behind-the-scenes look as to how the movie developed, including his role as science advisor. Next, he discusses many objects familiar with watchers of the movie: interstellar travel, black holes, wormholes and the like. What's neat about the book is seeing how some of Thorne's realizations about physics came from working on this film, showing how valuable the arts are in science.


Shoot the Moon

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4. Shoot the Moon

A Complete Guide to Lunar Imaging

Specifications

Price: $16.76
Author: Nicolas Dupont-Bloch
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Release Date: January 24, 2018

Reasons to buy

+
Provides tips for a variety of astronomy cameras and equipment
+
Has extensive discussion of imaging techniques, such as stacking
+
Includes characteristics of the moon, so that you know what you're imaging
+
Presents options to make imaging easier or more comprehensive, as you wish

Reasons to avoid

-
Parts of the book will get outdated quickly
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Some recommended equipment might not be available
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May be difficult for beginners to understand
-
Few cultural discussions about the moon's history or importance worldwide

French amateur astronomer Nicolas Dupont-Bloch brings us through a stunning tour of the moon in this book, all through the eyepiece of amateur telescopes or the viewpoint of binoculars. The goal of the book is to show how to image the moon and how to pick the best equipment to see its landscapes, including valleys, craters and mountains.

The equipment sections include lengthy discussions on smartphones, DSLR cameras and specialty gear that amateur astronomers may want as they get more advanced. The book self-styles itself as the first modern book in lunar imaging, allowing people who enjoy playing with astronomy gear the chance to try out their stuff on an easy and bright target.


The Sun

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5. The Sun

A Very Short Introduction

Specifications

Price: $11.95
Author: Philip Judge
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Release Date: July 1, 2020

Reasons to buy

+
Provides a good "first look" at solar science
+
Includes engaging history tales along with the science
+
Puts the sun in context with other stars, as well as the solar system
+
Makes a complex topic accessible to interested readers

Reasons to avoid

-
Requires the reader to understand basic physics
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Some basic questions might be left unanswered
-
Short and not fully up-to-date
-
Does not cover all heliophysics topics

If you want a short and accessible guide to the sun, luckily this book is penned by Philip Judge, a staff member at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the National Solar Observatory. Judge discusses the role of the sun as a star that supplies life-giving energy to Earth, but how the sun is also a threat at times through its solar storms or other events that can threaten infrastructure.

The book is a swift tour through the sun's physics, structure, origins and evolution and a pointer to some of the questions we have about the sun. Written shortly before a NASA mission (Parker Solar Probe) and a European Space Agency mission (Solar Orbiter) launched for unprecedented high-detail looks at the sun, this will provide a basic understanding for those wanting to follow those missions.


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Elizabeth Howell
Live Science Contributor
Elizabeth Howell is a regular contributor to Live Science and Space.com, along with several other science publications. She is one of a handful of Canadian reporters who specializes in space reporting. Elizabeth has a Bachelor of Journalism, Science Concentration at Carleton University (Canada) and an M.Sc. Space Studies (distance) at the University of North Dakota. Elizabeth became a full-time freelancer after earning her M.Sc. in 2012. She reported on three space shuttle launches in person and once spent two weeks in an isolated Utah facility pretending to be a Martian.
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