Books & recommendations

Watching the sky

• BinocularsCelestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars

  Large, bright binoculars for lunar craters, Jupiter's moons and star clusters; best used on a tripod.

• PlanisphereThe Night Sky 40–50 Star Finder (David Chandler)

  Durable planisphere for Europe, Canada and the northern US: set the date and time to see tonight's sky.

• BookNightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe (Terence Dickinson)

  Well-regarded beginner's handbook on the sky, equipment and observing basics, with star charts.

Constellations

• PlanisphereThe Night Sky 40–50 Star Finder (David Chandler)

  Durable planisphere for Europe, Canada and the northern US: set the date and time to see tonight's sky.

• BookThe Stars: A New Way to See Them (H. A. Rey)

  A classic that draws the constellations as recognisable figures, so they are easy to learn at any age.

• Star atlasSky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas

  Compact, clearly drawn star atlas for finding constellations and objects at the eyepiece.

Basics and glossary

• BookNightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe (Terence Dickinson)

  Well-regarded beginner's handbook on the sky, equipment and observing basics, with star charts.

• BookTurn Left at Orion

  Step-by-step guide to hundreds of objects for a small telescope, showing what they look like in the eyepiece.

The Solar System for children and families

• BookDK Knowledge Encyclopedia: Space!

  Richly illustrated family encyclopedia about the planets, the Sun, the stars and space exploration.