Fortunately, there are some fantastic books about astronomy and space available that are designed to teach adults everything they want to know, for every level, too. So, whether you’re a huge space and astronomy enthusiast and feel there’s no more you could possible know, or a novice who is looking for an introduction, there’s a book out there that’s got you covered.
Space is a fascinating topic and there is so much to learn, whether you’re interested in the stars, planets, black holes, asteroids, moons and the orbits. Fortunately for you, we have complied a list of our favorite space and astronomy books for adults so you can explore your interest in the solar system and beyond. Keep reading below to find out more.
Why Should I Buy Space Or Astronomy Books For Adults?
Buying a space or astronomy book is a great way to learn about things that exist far beyond our reach. Unless you’re an astronaut, it’s impossible for you to get to space and experience the vastness of it first hand, and so books can be important in giving us the information we want.
Space and astronomy is a fascinating topic to many because it is something we don’t experience every day, and we don’t really know the extent of what is out there. A book about the subject can take us away from our harsh day-to-day life, as we begin to think about things that exist in our universe beyond Earth.
Our brains are very clever and actually never stop learning. If you want to learn about space and astronomy but think you’re too old or don’t have the brain power for it, you’re wrong! You’re never too old or stupid to learn about a new topic or become further educated on something that interests you, and a science book can be a great place to start.
Factors To Consider When Buying A Space And Astronomy Book
With so many books and resources out there, there are a few factors to consider when buying a book about space or astronomy. Take a look below:
Content
Content is arguably the most important thing to look for when buying a book. If you’re a space and astronomy enthusiast, you’ll probably already know a lot about the subject. Therefore, you’ll want a book that goes into more detail about certain aspects of astronomy or is more specialized and advanced. On the other hand, if you’re new to space and astronomy, you’ll want a book that gives a more generalized overview of the topic or a basic introduction. You may also end up buying more than one book so that you can learn about different topics within the subject of space in further detail.
While space and astronomy books for kids offer a gentle introduction to the edges of these sciences, the more mature books can get quite heavy into the subject matter.
Quality
The quality of the book does not just come down to the content inside of it, but rather the physical quality of the book — the pages and the cover. If you’re spending a lot of money on a book, you want the pages to be thick and durable, particularly if you plan and re-reading the book or skimming through to certain topics and then going back over other chapters at other times. You also do not want the cover to bend or tear easily, so it can stay looking nice on your bookshelf!
Pictures
Pictures and images are a fantastic visual aid to help both adults and children learn. If you buy a book with large blocks of text and no pictures, are you going to find it easier to take in the information than if the same information were laid out in diagrams and images? Maybe you find reading text easier, but for many people pictures and images are vital to learning and retaining facts.
Cost
Books can be expensive and, while it’s okay to indulge every now and again, if you’re buying books often then it can easily add up! Books on space and astronomy can be expensive, and will become more expensive the more detailed and specialized they are. This is something to keep in mind when buying.
If you’re looking for the perfect book about space and astronomy, look no further! Below are 20 of the best space books and best astronomy books, all available to you on Amazon.
The Best Space And Astronomy Books For Adults — Reviewed
1) The Mysteries of the Universe: Discover the best-kept secrets of space
Go on a literary and artistic journey through space with your child. This bedtime book is beautifully crafted from cover to cover. The most defining feature is the artwork! It’s whimsical yet true-to-life and analytical. Your child will love flipping through the pages to discover 100 different celestial objects in our universe.
Of course, it’s not all pretty pictures. Each page contains scientific information. It’s a fantastic educational tool that just to happens to capture attention through eye-catching art.
Key Features:
- Available in digital and paperback formats
- 224 pages
- For ages seven to nine
- Beautifully illustrated
- Explores 100 objects in the universe
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
2) Our Solar System: An Exploration of Planets, Moons, Asteroids, and Other Mysteries of Space
Here’s another child-friendly book about space. This title is filled to the brim with facts. Learn about astronomical bodies floating in space. The book even covers lesser-known objects, ensuring that your child has a well-rounded education about the cosmos.
The pages are packed with stunning photos. It contains both artful depictions and true-to-life photographs captured by telescopes! There’s a lot to discover in this book. With 182 pages of fact, your young one will have no problem scratching their astronomical itch.
Key Features:
- Available in digital and paperback formats
- 182 pages
- For ages eight to 12
- Vibrant photos
- Explore lesser-known objects
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
3) Space Atlas, Second Edition: Mapping the Universe and Beyond
Space Atlas by James Trefil is a great book for those wanting an overview of everything there is to know about space and our universe. With maps, photographs and illustrations that chart the solar system and the universe, this book provides excellent information on each planet, the most important moons, significant asteroids and other objects. There are images from recent space missions as well as accurate and authoritative scientific information. Even better, with this second edition, astronaut and American hero Buzz Aldrin offers a new special section on Earth’s moon and its essential role in space exploration past and future.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
4) Earth and Space: Photographs from the Archives of NASA
Nirmala Nataraj takes us on a tour of the universe with Earth and Space, with a collection of photographs from the archives of NASA. These photographs include images of Earth from above, our solar system and the celestial bodies of deep space, making this book perfect not just for space lovers but for those interested in photography, too. Each photo is paired with explanatory text so it is contextualized for the reader. The preface is written by Bill Nye, a scientist and engineer.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
5) Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery
Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery is written by Scott Kelly, who is a veteran of four spaceflights and the American record holder for consecutive days spent in space. Throughout this book he describes to the reader the challenges of a long-term spaceflight, including the physical, mental and emotional toll is takes on a human. Kelly shows humanity, compassion, humor and determination as he explains how he came to his career, making this a great book for those who want to know more about life as an astronaut, rather than about the history of the universe.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
6) Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
We’re busy people, and don’t always have time to snuggle down to read a complicated book on a vast topic like space and astrology. Luckily, Neil deGrasse Tyson breaks down the universe into clear and succinct text in Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, perfect for those who don’t have time to sit and really think about what goes on in our universe! Simple and easy-to-read, you can dip in and out of this book at your own pace, while still learning all about the Big Bang, space, the universe and even quantum mechanics!
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
7) Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space
Carl Sagan was an esteemed planetary scientist and astronomer. He was the unofficial face of the burgeoning space exploration scene in the late 20th century. His works helped to shed light on the possibilities of tomorrow while highlighting the scientific advances of today. He authored 20 books. This book is one of the most popular!
It dives into the history of space exploration and how scientists forged the path to where we are today. Then, it assesses the future and goes over the potential plight of humankind as we race towards the stars. Thought-provoking and masterfully written, it’s a must-have for any space enthusiast.
Key Features:
- Available in digital, paperback, and audiobook formats
- 384 pages
- Assesses the past and future
- Written by famed astronomer
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
8) The Illustrated Brief History of Time, Updated and Expanded Edition
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, first published in 1988, has become one of the most important books of scientific writing. It explores how our universe began and questions such as “Does time always flow forward?” and “Is the universe unending—or are there boundaries?”.
In this new edition, The Illustrated Brief History of Time, Hawking brings findings from his recent research and has prepared a new introduction to the book, written an entirely new chapter on the fascinating subject of wormholes and time travel, and updated the original chapters. Even better, this book contains more than 240 full-color illustrations, including satellite images and photographs, making it an all-round great book for those interested in our world and how it began.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
9) The Future of Humanity: Terraforming Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality, and Our Destiny Beyond Earth
Humankind is on the brink of truly amazing discoveries. We’re entering a new age of space exploration. It’s one that promises to change the way we live. All of this change, and the enthusiasm surrounding it, is a byproduct of some cutting-edge technology.
In this book, you get to dive head-first into the possibilities of the future. The author, a famed professor of physics and the co-founder of the string theory, covers how we got here and what tomorrow might hold. He talks about how continuing developments in nanotechnology, robotics, and biotechnology might someday help us achieve mortality, terraform planets, and colonize space.
Key Features:
- Available in digital, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook formats
- 592 pages
- Non-fiction
- Large print format
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
10) The Hubble Cosmos: 25 Years of New Vistas in Space
The Hubble Cosmos: 25 Years of New Vistas in Space by David H. Devorkin and Robert W. Smith celebrate 25 years of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. This book is filled with images and text that allow the reader a new understanding of the universe, as well as looking back over the Hubble story and what could be to come. There are 150 images in this book to educate on what is out there, while also showing how this telescope changed the way we view space.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
11) Turn Left At Orion: Hundreds of Night Sky Objects to See in a Home Telescope – and How to Find Them
Great for those interested in astronomy and learning about stars, Turn Left At Orion by Guy Consolmagno and Dan M. Davis is a guidebook to the night sky and shows you how to observe the stars. It shows you how deep-sky objects and planets actually look through a small telescope so you can have a go at home, and the large size of the book paired with the large print means it can easily be taken outside and read at night. This book includes accurate star names and astronomical information, as well as up-to-date tables and images — perfect for telescope enthusiasts!
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
12) The Total Skywatcher’s Manual: 275+ Skills and Tricks for Exploring Stars, Planets, and Beyond
Another book excellent for those who enjoy looking at the stars through their telescope, The Total Skywatcher’s Manual by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific will help you choose the best telescope, identify constellations and objects in the night sky, search for extraterrestrial phenomena and take beautiful photos of space. This manual is easy-to-use while also being very informative, and even includes star charts, astrophotography and step-by-step project instruction. This can make a perfect gift for those just starting out stargazing, or those who have been doing it for years.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
13) Until the End of Time: Mind, Matter, and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe
Until the End of Time by Brian Greene takes you on a journey exploring the cosmos and human’s quest to find meaning within it. He explains the history of our universe, right from the Big Bang, but also explores the end of time and how we exist in relation to myth, religion, creative expression and science. While this book does give accurate and precise information about our solar system and what is out there, it is more a read for those who have questions about how we relate to it all and what it’s meaning really is.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
14) NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
NightWatch by Terence Dickinson is one of the most popular stargazing books to date and is perfect for those who love backyard stargazing. With informative star charts, this bestseller can be used by those with small telescopes and binoculars, so you don’t need to have all the expensive kit to enjoy searching for the stars. There are also sections on equipment, photography and tables of future solar and lunar eclipses, planetary conjunctions and planet locations, right up until 2025. Even better, there are photographs throughout the book that show the latest discoveries made by current space observatories and probes.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
15) Astronomy: A Self-Teaching Guide, Eighth Edition
Perfect for beginners who want to know more about astronomy, Astronomy: A Self-Teaching Guide by Dinah L. Mochè is one of the most comprehensive and successful beginner’s astronomy books in the market. This book goes into detail about all there is to know about our solar system, as well as featuring images and explaining technical ideas that have been made simple without the math! One of the best features of this beginner’s guide is the interactive format with learning goals, reviews, self-tests and answers for fast learning, and there are also website addresses included so you can look at the best color images and astronomy resources online.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
16) Astronomy with a Home Telescope: The Top 50 Celestial Bodies to Discover in the Night Sky
This book by Seth Penricke is a must-have for at-home astronomers. While there are tons of telescopes and optical devices at your disposal, having the means to view celestial bodies is only half the battle. You also need to know how to find them! This book shows you how to do just that.
It provides instructions on how to target 50 celestial bodies you can view from your backyard. But that’s not all. The book also acts as a compendium of information. Learn about the scientific history of each target and see how its shaped culture as we know it!
Key Features:
- Available in digital and paperback formats
- 176 pages
- Solar and lunar eclipse schedule
- It includes directions to target 50 celestial bodies
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
17) Astronomy For Dummies
The “For Dummies” series is a surprisingly easy way to learn about complex topics. This title is no different! It’s a fact-filled book that’s all about space. Hundreds of pages of information and vibrant photos will turn you into a walking space trivia machine in no time!
Best of all, this book features tons of real-world information. You’re getting an updated eclipse schedule. Use it to plan for the next cosmic event! You can even learn about telescopes, popular viewing sites, and more.
Key Features:
- Available in digital and paperback formats
- 384 pages
- Full-color photos
- Updated eclipse schedule
- Real-world stargazing information
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
18) Apollo Expeditions to the Moon: The NASA History 50th Anniversary Edition
This official NASA publication, Apollo Expeditions to the Moon by Edgar M. Cortright commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the July 20, 1969 Moon landing. It includes essays by participants such as engineers, astronauts and administrators so you can learn all about challenges they had to face when making this a reality and the effect it had on American history and culture. There are 160 color photographs as well as many black and white illustrations to show the events in greater details, too. This is the perfect book for anyone who is interested in space missions and what they are really like.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
19) Hubble’s Universe: Greatest Discoveries and Latest Images
Kids and space fans of all ages will get a kick out of this book that tells them everything they need to know about the universe. The Hubble Telescope launched in 1990 and took thousands of photos that it sent back to Earth. Many of the top photos appear on the pages of this book along with new photos captured up through the beginning of 2017. It even includes a large panorama that folds out and gives you an even better image of the universe. You may want to display that image on your walls.
As a hardback book, this one is easy to carry with you. You don’t need to worry about wrinkling the pages or damaging the spine. It has a dust jacket that protects the pages and also catches any spills before liquids reach the paper inside. With more than 300 pages, this is a book that you can read at your leisure. You might sit down and go through it one night or spend a few minutes every day looking at it with your kids.
Key Features:
- Features photos captured by the Hubble Telescope from 1990 through 2017
- Includes a protective dust jacket
- Hardback edition
- Suitable for readers of all ages
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
20) The Planets
Another book by Brian Cox, this time writing with Andrew Cohen, The Planets is an exploration of our solar system as it has never been seen before. The reader is taken through each planet and given their history and interesting facts, and recent NASA images help you to understand them in greater detail. The latest discoveries about our planets are also covered, so you get great insight into how space exploration has advanced in recent years.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Summary
Space and astronomy are topics that have captivated people for years. Without ever being able to experience their vastness, it can be difficult for us to understand what goes on out there and how astronomy and planets work. However, with a book on the topic, we can become a little more educated about the unknown and try to understand ourselves on what really is beyond Earth. Whether you’re a veteran space enthusiast or just fancy learning a little more about a certain aspect, there’s a book out there for you.