August 21, 2017 solar eclipse montage, courtesy of Dean Salisbury.
Resources
Astronomy is a subject supported by a wealth of information. This page contains a select list of resources that ORAS members have found to be especially useful and informative for a general study of astronomy.
In addition to these general resources, we also offer additional pages with specialized resources:
Astro News provides resources for current events in astronomy.
Tools provides access to online tools helpful for observing.
Beginners provides guidance for starting out in astronomy.
Certificates provides some challenges -- and rewards -- for making observations.
In addition to these general resources, we also offer additional pages with specialized resources:
Astro News provides resources for current events in astronomy.
Tools provides access to online tools helpful for observing.
Beginners provides guidance for starting out in astronomy.
Certificates provides some challenges -- and rewards -- for making observations.
AstroPointers -- Astronomy Knowledge from ORAS
Need astronomy knowledge? We have it for you.
ORAS members produce a series of informative guides known as AstroPointers. These guides give you knowledge, tips, and valuable advice on a number of topics related to astronomy. Please download, use, and share them.
Buying a Telescope
Cleaning Optical Surfaces
ORAS members produce a series of informative guides known as AstroPointers. These guides give you knowledge, tips, and valuable advice on a number of topics related to astronomy. Please download, use, and share them.
Buying a Telescope
Cleaning Optical Surfaces
Resources in Print
The Miller Planisphere (also called a star finder)
A simple star chart that can be adjusted for the date and time of use. The major stars and constellations are depicted and will aid in identification of planets. This chart is one of the best maps for beginners for naked-eye observing.
Celestial Products, Inc.
9632 Skybluff Circle
Huntersville, NC 28078
www.mooncalendar.com
Scientifics Star and Planet Locator
This planisphere is less expensive than the Miller version, but is still quite useful. It is made of cardboard, while the Miller Planisphere is made of heavy plastic.
Scientifics Direct
800-818-4955
www.scientificsonline.com/shop/astronomy
Sky Atlas for Small Telescopes and Binoculars, by David S. Chandler and Billie E. Chandler
This very easy-to-use star atlas shows all naked-eye stars (stars of 6th magnitude and brighter) and the brighter deep sky objects (star clusters, nebulae and galaxies). Descriptions of showpiece objects are given by constellation.
David Chandler Company
P.O. Box 642
Eastlake, CO 80614
www.davidchandler.com/products/books-and-atlases/sky-atlas-for-small-telescopes-and-binoculars
Orion Beginning Stargazer’s Toolkit
The toolkit contains four products to help the budding astronomer find their way in the night sky, including: 1) Telescope Observer’s guidebook; 2) Moon Map; 3) Planisphere, and 4) a red LED flashlight (preserves nighttime dark adaption).
Orion Telescopes and Binoculars
800-447-1001
www.telescope.com
Touring the Universe through Binoculars, by Phillip S. Harrington
Phil Harrington’s book is an excellent guide for the novice user of binoculars or a small telescope. This book, accompanied by one of the star atlases and a planisphere, would build a perfect starter package.
www.philharrington.net/sw8.htm
Astronomy Magazine
A monthly astronomy magazine that is very readable and informative.
Astronomy
P.O. Box 1612
Waukesha, WI 53187-9950
www.astronomy.com
Sky & Telescope Magazine
A monthly astronomy magazine with particularly detailed technical articles.
AAS Sky Publishing
American Astronomical Society
1667 K Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20006
www.skyandtelescope.com
Sky & Telescope’s Pocket Sky Atlas
This sky atlas packs a lot of detail into a small-format book. Combined with a simple star chart from one of the magazines mentioned above, the Pocket Sky Atlas gives the “next level” of detail for making observations.
www.skyandtelescope.com
Observer’s Handbook
Published annually by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the Observer’s Handbook is filled with information for astronomical events such as sunrises, sunsets, lunar and planetary events, and eclipses. It also contains a very good selection of astronomical reference information.
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
203-4920 Dundas Street West
Toronto ON M9A 1B7
rasc.ca/handbook (Also available from a number of online retailers)
Resources for Educators
www.astrosociety.org
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific promotes public science interest, engagement, and literacy through its materials, resources, and programs.
handsonuniverse.org
Hands-On Universe provides training for astronomy educators and seeks to involve students in international scientific projects.
www.nasa.gov/stem
NASA offers a wide variety of programs and materials for STEM education.
public.nrao.edu/outreach
The NRAO provides radio astronomy programs and products for the general public, K-12 students, and formal and informal educators.
Affiliated Organizations
www.astroleague.org
The Astronomical League is an organization of over 240 amateur astronomy societies, including ORAS.
www.3ap.org
The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The AAAP operates the Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory and the Mingo Creek Park Observatory.
www.greenbankobservatory.org
Green Bank Observatory conducts observations of the sky using its large radio telescopes. Located in Green Bank, West Virginia, it features the Green Bank Science Center, which contains many exhibits explaining the science of radio astronomy.
www.carnegiesciencecenter.org
Carnegie Science Center is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is the home of the Buhl Planetarium.
The Astronomical League is an organization of over 240 amateur astronomy societies, including ORAS.
www.3ap.org
The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The AAAP operates the Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory and the Mingo Creek Park Observatory.
www.greenbankobservatory.org
Green Bank Observatory conducts observations of the sky using its large radio telescopes. Located in Green Bank, West Virginia, it features the Green Bank Science Center, which contains many exhibits explaining the science of radio astronomy.
www.carnegiesciencecenter.org
Carnegie Science Center is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is the home of the Buhl Planetarium.
General Astronomy Resources
astrobackyard.com/astronomy-apps-for-stargazing/
This site provides their list of 19 recommended astronomy apps.
https://astroambassadors.com/
Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program - Opportunity for amateur astronomers and other astronomy education and outreach professionals to visit the major U.S. observatories in Chile, and improve their science communication skills.
apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepixFull.html
NASA hosts the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD), and this website is the archive of these spectacular images dating from 1995 to the present.
www.bbastrodesigns.com/NewtDesigner.html#collimation
Help with Newtonian telescope collimation (alignment of the components in the optical system).
www.celestron.com
Celestron manufactures a wide variety of telescopes and binoculars.
www.cpoclub.org
The Central Pennsylvania Observers are based in State College, Pennsylvania. CPO is the host organization for the excellent Black Forest Star Party held under the dark skies of Pennsylvania’s Cherry Springs State Park.
www.darksky.org
Home page of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), the leading organization fighting for more efficient and less polluting outdoor lighting.
eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SKYCAL/SKYCAL.html
The NASA Sky Events Calendar – SKYCAL – displays astronomical events and times for your location.
www.heavens-above.com
Heavens Above provides data for tracking artificial satellites. It’s an excellent resource for predicting passes of the International Space Station.
www.highpointscientific.com
High Point Scientific is a first-class astronomy equipment business favored by several ORAS members.
hla.stsci.edu
The Hubble Legacy Archive contains a vast amount of information obtained from the Hubble Space Telescope.
www.homeadvisor.com/r/?p=25176&preview=true
This page has some excellent information on space and astronomy for beginners. It was recommended by one of our readers!
www.jpl.nasa.gov
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages interplanetary science missions, including the missions to Mars.
www.martzobservatory.org
The home page of the Marshal Martz Memorial Astronomical Society, based in Jamestown, New York.
www.midnightkite.com
MidnightKite lists astronomy software available for a number of operating systems.
www.optcorp.com
OPT is an experienced retailer of telescopes and astronomy-related equipment.
www.polcouncil.org
The Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council, a state-based organization, shares goals similar to the IDA.
www.scopereviews.com
Website host Ed Ting performs hands-on reviews of many different telescopes. It’s a recommended stop if you are shopping for a telescope.
skyandtelescope.org/online-resources/
Sky & Telescope magazine maintains a list of online astronomy resources.
socastrosci.org
The Society for Astronomical Sciences promotes small telescope science through amateur and pro-am astronomy research projects. They hold an annual Symposium where researchers present their work. See their Publications page for Symposium proceedings.
telescopeguide.org
Advice and guidance on how to get started in amateur astronomy.
www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/astronomical-information-center
The Astronomical Information Center of the US Naval Observatory is an excellent source of astronomical data, such as the rising and setting times of celestial objects.