Astronomy (Space)

Maybe it's just us, but we think there's a lot of interest in astronomy. It could just be that we have a nearly full bookcase of astronomy books, or that Apologia's Exploring Creation with Astronomy is one of our best-sellers. But whatever it is, the interest never seems to go away, and summer, with its many balmy nights of cloudless skies is a perfect time to explore the topic. 

Astronomy, a natural science, is the study of celestial objects (stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets and nebulae), processes (such as supernovae explosions, gamma ray bursts, and cosmic microwave background radiation), the physics, chemistry, and evolution of such objects and processes, and more generally all phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth. Studying the universe as a whole, technically called "physical cosmology" is a related but distinct subject.

Astronomy, which comes from the Greek astron (star) and nomia (law or culture), is certainly one of the earliest sciences. As early as Genesis 1:14, we are told the purpose for the Sun, Moon and stars is... for signs and seasons, and days and years. We know that many early civilizations in recorded history (Babylonians, Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese, Maya, and more) performed methodical observations of the night sky. In what might be termed "Classical Astronomy," the topic has historically included disciplines as diverse as astrometry, celestial navigation, observational astronomy and the making of calendars. We carry a course called Signs and Seasons, which helps bring out the practicality of astronomy.

Although astronomy should not be confused with astrology (the belief system which claims that human affairs are correlated with the positions of celestial objects) it does have a similar origin. One word mentioned only in Job 38—mazzaroth—has to do with constellations and the biblical story in the stars. It's a fascinating topic, and Lift Up Your Eyes on High, an astronomy course for high school or adult students, references this with more depth than we've seen elsewhere.

Now considered nearly synonymous with astrophysics, modern professional astronomy uses principles of physics and chemistry "to ascertain the nature of the heavenly bodies, rather than their positions or motions in space." During the 20th century, astronomy split into two branches. Observational astronomy focuses on observing astronomical objects and acquiring data, then analyzing that data using basic principles of physics. Theoretical astronomy is oriented toward the development of computer or analytical models to describe astronomical objects and phenomena. The two fields complement each other, with theoretical astronomy seeking to explain the observational results and observations being used to confirm theoretical results.

While none of these books will fully prepare students for a professional career in astronomy, most will spark their interest in our vast, strange, and fantastic universe.

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128 Items found Print
Active Filters: 3rd grade (Ages 8-9)
1000 Facts About Space
by Dean Regas
from National Geographic
for 2nd-6th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$6.50 (1 in stock)
101 Super Simple Science Experiments
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
21 Super Simple Astronomy Experiments
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
All About Rockets and Jets
All About Books #13
by Fletcher Pratt
2nd edition from Random House
for 3rd-6th grade
in All About Books (Location: VIN-ALL)
All About Rockets and Space Flight
All About Books #50
by Harold Goodwin
from Random House
for 3rd-8th grade
in All About Books (Location: VIN-ALL)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
All About the Planet Earth
All About Books #46
by Patricia Lauber, illustrated by Lee Ames
from Random House
for 3rd-6th grade
in All About Books (Location: VIN-ALL)
All About the Planets
All About Books #33
by Patricia Lauber
from Random House
for 3rd-6th grade
in All About Books (Location: VIN-ALL)
All About the Stars
All About Books #7
by Anne Terry White
from Random House
for 3rd-6th grade
in All About Books (Location: VIN-ALL)
All About the Universe
All About Books #55
by David Dietz, illustrated by John Polgreen
from Random House
for 3rd-8th grade
in All About Books (Location: VIN-ALL)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Amazing Pop-Up Pull-Out Space Shuttle
by David Hawcock
from DK Publishing
for 1st-4th grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Answers Book for Kids Volume 5
by Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham
from Master Books
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Worldview & Apologetics for Kids (Location: BIBWV-APK)
$6.39
Armstrong
by Torben Kuhlmann, Translated by David Henry Wilson
from NorthSouth
for 2nd-6th grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$18.66
Astronauts Sticker Book
by Emi Ordas
from Usborne
for 1st-4th grade
Basher Science: Astronomy
from Kingfisher
for 2nd-7th grade
in Basher Science (Location: SCI-BASH)
$9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Black Hole Is NOT a Hole
by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano, illustrated by Michael Carroll
from Charlesbridge
for 3rd-6th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Book of Astronomy - Student Guide
by Shawn Wheatley, Paul O'Brien, Brenda Janke
1st edition from Memoria Press
for 3rd-5th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$17.30
Book of Astronomy - Teacher Guide
from Memoria Press
for 3rd-5th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$20.50
Boy Whose Head was Filled With Stars
by Isabelle Marinov; illustrated by Deborah Marcero
from Enchanted Lion Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$16.14
Bright Star
by Gary Crew
from Kane Miller
for 3rd-5th grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
Chasing Space for Young Readers
by Leland Melvin
from Amistad Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$9.99
Child's Introduction to the Night Sky
by Michael Driscoll, illustrated by Meredith Hamilton
Revised and Updated from Black Dog & Leventhal
for 1st-5th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$21.99
Christian Kids Explore Earth & Space
by Stephanie Redmond
2nd edition from Bright Ideas Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Christian Kids Explore (Location: SCICUR-CKE)
Classical Acts and Facts Science Cards: Ecology, Astronomy, and Physics
from Classical Conversations
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Classical Acts & Facts Cards (Location: HISCUR-CC)
$28.20 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Comets - Coloring Book
Educational Read & Color Books
by Peter & Linda Spizzirri
from Spizzirri Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Space Coloring Books (Location: COL-SPACE)
Constellations of the Night Sky - Coloring Book
from Dover Publications
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Space Coloring Books (Location: COL-SPACE)
$4.24
Creation Astronomy
by Felice Gerwitz & Jill Whitlock
from Media Angels Science
for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Stars & Constellations (Location: SCI-AST)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Destined for Space (Smithsonian)
by Don Nardo
from Capstone Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Discoverer: The Story of a Satellite
by Michael Chester and Saunders B. Kramer
from G.P. Putnam's Sons
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
$18.00 (1 in stock)
Discovering Mars
by Melvin Berger, revised and updated by Mary Kay Carson
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-5th grade
in Our Solar System (Location: SCI-AST)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
DK Eyewonder: Stars and Planets
DK Eyewonder
from DK Publishing
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$16.99
DK Findout! Solar System
by Sarah Cruddas
from DK Publishing
for 1st-4th grade
in Our Solar System (Location: SCI-AST)
DK First Space Encyclopedia
for 3rd-8th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
DK First Space Encyclopedia
from DK Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
DK Smithsonian Space!
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Oversized Science Books (Location: SCI-OVER)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Earth
by Steven L. Kipp
from Bridgestone Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Our Solar System (Location: SCI-AST)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Exploration of Space
Great Explorers Series
by Felicity Trotman
from Barron's
for 3rd-6th grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Exploring Creation With Astronomy
Young Explorer Series
by Jeannie Fulbright
2nd ed. from Apologia Educational Ministries
for 3rd-6th grade
in Apologia Young Explorer (Location: SCICUR-AEM)
$41.60 $32.00 (6 in stock)
Exploring Creation with Astronomy - Printed Lapbook
by Cyndi Kinney
2nd edition from Knowledge Box Central
for 3rd-6th grade
in Apologia Exploring Creation (Location: SCICUR-AEM)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Exploring Mars
by Roy A. Gallant, illustrated by Lowell Hess
from Garden City Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Exploring the Solar System - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Bruce LaFontaine
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Space Coloring Books (Location: COL-SPACE)
$5.09
Extraordinary Life of Katherine Johnson
by Devika Jina, illustrated by Maggie Cole
from Kane Miller
for 2nd-5th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$2.80 (1 in stock)
Eyes on Adventure: Exploring Space
Eyes on Adventure
by Leigh Hope Wood
from KidsBooks, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Famous Women Aviators - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by LaFontaine, Bruce
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of the World Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISW)
$4.24
Focus On Elementary Astronomy - Laboratory Workbook
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
Focus On Elementary Astronomy - Package
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
Focus On Elementary Astronomy - Student Textbook (old)
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
Future in Space
Isaac Asimov's Library of the Universe
by Isaac Asimov
from Gareth Stevens Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Galaxies
by Seymour Simon
from Morrow Junior Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
Galileo
by Leonard Everett Fisher
from Macmillan
for 2nd-5th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Glow in the Dark Constellations
by C.E. Thompson
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 1st-4th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Golden Book of Space Exploration
by Dinah L. Moche
from Golden Books
for Preschool-3rd Grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Golden Guide: Skyguide
Golden Guides
by Mark Chartrand
from Golden Books
for 2nd-7th grade
in Field Guides: Weather & Astronomy (Location: NAT-FG10)
Great Minds of Science: Galileo
Great Minds of Science
by Paul Hightower
from Enslow
for 3rd-6th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
Halley's Comet
by Norman D. Anderson and Walter R. Brown
from Dodd, Mead & Co.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Hidden Figures: Young Reader's Edition
from Harper
for 3rd-6th grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$8.49
History of Space Exploration - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Bruce LaFontaine
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Space Coloring Books (Location: COL-SPACE)
$4.24
How and Why Wonder Book of Stars
by Norman Hoss, illustrated by James Ponter
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 3rd-6th grade
in How and Why Wonder Books (Location: VIN-H&W)
How and Why Wonder Book of Stars
by Norman Hoss, illustrated by James Ponter
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 3rd-6th grade
in How and Why Wonder Books (Location: VIN-H&W)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
How and Why Wonder Book of the Moon
by Felix Sutton, illustrated by Raul Mina Mora
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 3rd-6th grade
in How and Why Wonder Books (Location: VIN-H&W)
International Space Station - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Bruce LaFontaine
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Space Coloring Books (Location: COL-SPACE)
John Glenn: Young Astronaut
Childhood of Famous Americans
by Michael Burgan
from Aladdin Paperbacks
Biography for 3rd-6th grade
in Childhood of Famous Americans (Location: BIO-COFA)
Journey to the Stars
by Stuart Clark
from Barnes & Noble
for 3rd-6th grade
in Oversized Science Books (Location: SCI-OVER)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Kingfisher Young People's Book of Space
by Martin Redfern
from Kingfisher
for 3rd-8th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Look at the Stars
by Dr. H.C. King, illustrated by Jan Fairservis
from Coward McCann
for 2nd-5th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
$14.00 (2 in stock)
Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System
Magic School Bus
by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Magic School Bus (Location: SER-MSB)
$7.64 $3.60 (2 in stock)
Magic School Bus Presents Planet Earth
Magic School Bus Presents
by Tom Jackson, Illustrated by Carolyn Bracken
from Scholastic Inc.
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Magic School Bus (Location: SER-MSB)
Magic Tree House #08 - Research Guide
Magic Tree House Research Guides
by Will Osborne & Mary Pope Osborne
from Random House
for 2nd-5th grade
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Mars Exploration 1960-2016
by Megan Noel
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Me and My Place in Space
by Joan Sweeney, Illustrated by Annette Cable
from Dragonfly Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
Me and My Place in Space
by Joan Sweeney, Illustrated by Annette Cable
from Dragonfly Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
Meteors
National Geographic Kids Level 3
by Melissa Stewart
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Mission to Mars
Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science Stage 2
by Franklyn M. Branley, Illustrated by True Kelley, Foreword by Neil Armstrong
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Moon Exploration - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Bruce LaFontaine
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Space Coloring Books (Location: COL-SPACE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Moonshot
by Brian Floca
1st edition from Atheneum
for 1st-3rd grade
2010 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER)
Moonshot
by Brian Floca
Expanded Edition from Atheneum
for 1st-5th grade
2010 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER)
$16.99
Moonwalk: The First Trip to the Moon
A Step into Reading Level 5 Book
by Judy Donnelly
from Random House
for 2nd-5th grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$5.09
Neil Armstrong: Young Flyer
Childhood of Famous Americans
by Montrew Dunham
from Aladdin Paperbacks
Biography for 3rd-6th grade
in Childhood of Famous Americans (Location: BIO-COFA)
Night Sky
Usborne Spotter's Guides
from Usborne
for 3rd-12th grade
in Field Guides: Weather & Astronomy (Location: NAT-FG10)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
On the Shuttle: Eight Days in Space
by Barbara Bondar & Dr. Roberta Bondar
for 3rd-6th grade
in Clearance: Science & Health (Location: ZCLE-SCI)
One Giant Leap
by Don Brown
from Houghton Mifflin
Biography for 1st-3rd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$5.91
One Small Square: The Night Sky
One Small Square
by Donald Silver, Patricia Wynne
1st edition from McGraw-Hill
for 1st-3rd grade
in One Small Square (Location: SCI-1SS)
$15.00
Our Sun and the Worlds Around It
Question and Answer Adventures
by Jene Lyon, illustrated by George Solonewitsch
from Golden Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Out of This World Devotions
by Nancy I. Sanders
from New Leaf Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Devotions for Kids (Location: BIBR-DEV)
$17.99
Past and Present Space Junk
Isaac Asimov's 21st Century Library of the Universe
by Isaac Asimov, revised and updated by Richard Hantula
from Gareth Stevens Publishing
for 2nd-4th grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Peterson First Guide to Astronomy
Peterson First Guide
by Jay M. Pasachoff
2nd edition from Houghton Mifflin
for 1st-4th grade
in Field Guides: Weather & Astronomy (Location: NAT-FG10)
$10.99
Planets - Coloring Book
Educational Read & Color Books
by Peter & Linda Spizzirri
from Spizzirri Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Space Coloring Books (Location: COL-SPACE)
Planets in Our Solar System
Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science Stage 2
by Franklyn M. Branley
from HarperTrophy
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Our Solar System (Location: SCI-AST)
Planets, Moons and Stars
Take-Along Guide
by Laura Evert, Illustrated by Linda Garrow
from Northword Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Field Guides: Weather & Astronomy (Location: NAT-FG10)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Questions and Answers about Space
Usborne Lift-the-Flap
by Katie Daynes, illustrated by Peter Donnelly
from Usborne
for 1st-3rd grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Real Book About Stars
by Hal Goodwin, illustrated by Paul Wenck
from Garden City Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Real Books series (Location: VIN-RBA)
Rockets - Coloring Book
Educational Read & Color Books
by Peter & Linda Spizzirri
from Spizzirri Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Space Coloring Books (Location: COL-SPACE)
$3.36
Rockets to the Moon
by Erik Bergaust
from G.P. Putnam's Sons
for 2nd-5th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
$25.00 (1 in stock)
Satellites - Coloring Book
Educational Read & Color Books
by Peter & Linda Spizzirri
from Spizzirri Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Space Coloring Books (Location: COL-SPACE)
$3.36 $1.60 (1 in stock)
Search for Planet X
by Tony Simon
from Scholastic Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
See Inside Space Stations and other Spacecraft
by Rosie Dickins, illustrated by Kellan Stover
from Usborne
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Seeing Earth from Space
by Patricia Lauber
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-4th grade
1991 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book
in Our Solar System (Location: SCI-AST)
Shine-A-Light: On the Space Station
Shine-A-Light
by Carron Brown and Illustrated by Bee Johnson
from Kane Miller
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Shuttle Craft - Coloring Book
Educational Read & Color Books
by Peter & Linda Spizzirri
from Spizzirri Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Space Coloring Books (Location: COL-SPACE)
$3.36
Sky Above Us
by Bertha Morris Parker
from Row, Peterson and Company
for 2nd-4th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Space Craft - Coloring Book
Educational Read & Color Books
by Peter & Linda Spizzirri
from Spizzirri Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Space Coloring Books (Location: COL-SPACE)
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