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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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)
365 Starry Nights
by Chet Raymo
from Fireside Books
for 6th-Adult
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
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 Satellites and Space Ships
All About Books #28
by David Dietz
Revised edition from Random House
for 4th-6th grade
in All About Books (Location: VIN-ALL)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Apollo on the Moon
by Henry S. F. Cooper, Jr.
from Dial Press
for 6th-Adult
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Astronauts on the Moon - Hallmark Pop-Up Book
by Al Muenchen and Stanley Hendricks
from Hallmark Publications
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$12.80 (1 in stock)
Backyard Astronomer's Guide
by Terence Dickinson & Alan Dyer
Revised from Firefly Books
for 9th-Adult
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Basher Science: Astronomy
from Kingfisher
for 2nd-7th grade
in Basher Science (Location: SCI-BASH)
$9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Big Dipper
Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science Stage 1
by Franklyn Mansfield Branley, illustrated by Molly Coxe
from HarperCollins
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Stars & Constellations (Location: SCI-AST)
$3.00 (2 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)
Children's Night Sky Atlas
by Robin Scagell
from DK Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
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)
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 First Space Encyclopedia
for 3rd-8th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
DK Smithsonian Space!
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Oversized Science Books (Location: SCI-OVER)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
DK Smithsonian Universe
by Martin Rees, general editor
from DK Publishing
for 8th-Adult
in Oversized Science Books (Location: SCI-OVER)
$25.00 (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)
Earth Science - Student Textbook
5th edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 8th grade
in BJU Science (Location: SCICUR-BJU)
$88.61 $46.00 (2 in stock)
Earth, The
Exploring Our Universe
by Franklyn M. Branley, illustrated by Helmut K. Wimmer
from Thomas Y. Crowell & Co.
for 7th-10th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
$9.00 (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 Creation with High School Astronomy
by Damian Ludwiczak
from Apologia Educational Ministries
for 9th-12th grade
in Apologia Exploring Creation (Location: SCICUR-AEM)
$52.00 $42.00 (2 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 Night Sky
by Terence Dickinson
from Firefly Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Stars & Constellations (Location: SCI-AST)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Exploring the World of Astronomy
by John Hudson Tiner
from Master Books
for 5th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$15.19 $10.00 (2 in stock)
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)
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)
Galileo
by Leonard Everett Fisher
from Macmillan
for 2nd-5th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
General Science 1 - Teacher Guide
from Master Books
for 7th-12th grade
in Master Books Science (Location: SCICUR-MB)
$21.59 $17.50 (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)
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)
Halley: Comet 1986
by Franklyn M. Branley
from Lodestar Books
for 8th-10th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
History of US Book 10
History of US Book 10
by Joy Hakim
3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$11.00 (1 in stock)
History of US Book 10
History of US Book 10
by Joy Hakim
4th edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$19.98 $11.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Janice VanCleave's Astronomy for Every Kid
Janice VanCleave's Science for Every Kid Series
by Janice VanCleave
from John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
for 4th-8th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$20.00 $12.00 (2 in stock)
Journey Into a Black Hole
by Franklyn M. Branley, illustrated by Marc Simont
from HarperTrophy
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Journeys to the Edge of Creation DVD
by Moody Video
from Moody Press
for 4th-8th grade
in Moody Science DVDs (Location: SCI-MOODY)
$9.00 (2 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)
Learn About Astronomy
from Lorenz Books
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Lift Up Your Eyes On High
by James Nickel
from Christian Liberty Press
for 9th-12th grade
in CLP Science (Location: SCICUR-CLP)
$21.85 $11.00 (1 in stock)
Living in Space
by Katie Daynes, illustrated by Zoe Wray
from Usborne
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$3.00 (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 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)
Make Your Own Space Station
by Claire Edwards
from Paragon Publishers
for 4th-8th grade
in Paper Cut-Out Models (Location: ELEART-ORI)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon
by Bea Uusma Schyffert
from Chronicle Books
for 4th-8th grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$6.00 (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)
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)
Moon, The
Exploring Our Universe
by Franklyn M. Branley, illustrated by Helmut K. Wimmer
from Thomas Y. Crowell & Co.
for 7th-10th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
$10.00 (2 in stock)
Moons & Planets
by William K. Hartmann
4th edition from Wadsworth Publishing Company
for 9th-12th grade
in Our Solar System (Location: SCI-AST)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
More Perfect Heaven
by Dava Sobel
from Walker and Company
for 10th-Adult
in History for Adults (Location: ADU-HIS)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
Mousetronaut Goes to Mars
by Mark Kelly, illustrated by C. F. Payne
from Simon and Schuster
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
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)
Night Sky
National Geographic Kids Level 2
by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
from National Geographic
for 1st-2nd grade
in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
On the Moon
Usborne First Reading Level 1
by Anna Milbourne, illustrated by Benji Davies
from Usborne
for Preschool-1st grade
in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Our Created Moon
by Don DeYoung & John Whitcomb
Upd Rev from New Leaf Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Our Solar System (Location: SCI-AST)
$17.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Our Universe
God's Design for Heaven and Earth
by Debbie and Richard Lawrence
4th edition from Answers in Genesis
for 4th-8th grade
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Our Universe (old)
God's Design for Heaven and Earth
by Debbie and Richard Lawrence
3rd edition from Answers in Genesis
for 4th-8th grade
$7.50 (3 in stock)
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)
Pioneer Astronomers
by Navin Sullivan
from Scholastic Inc.
for 4th-8th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Pioneering the Space Frontier
from Bantam Books
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Planets
National Geographic Kids Level 2
by Elizabeth Carney
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-2nd grade
in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Planets, Stars and Galaxies
by A. E. Fanning, revised by Donald H. Menzel
1966 Dover edition from Dover Publications
for 9th-Adult
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Planets, The
by Dava Sobel
from Viking Press
for 10th-Adult
in History for Adults (Location: ADU-HIS)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Practical Astronomer
by Colin A. Ronan
from Crescent Books
for 7th-12th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$10.00 (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 Space Travel
by Samuel Epstein
from Garden City Books
for 5th-8th grade
in Real Books series (Location: VIN-RBA)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Rockets, Probes, & Satellites
by Isaac Asimov
from Gareth Stevens Publishing
for 7th-12th grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$2.00 (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)
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)
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)
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 Exploration
Time for Kids
by Christine Dugan
from Teacher Created Materials, Inc.
for 2nd-4th grade
in Our Solar System (Location: SCI-AST)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Space Flight and How it Works
by William P. Gottlieb, drawings by Ed Dahlin, Robert Jenney and James Cantwell
1st edition from Doubleday & Company
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Space Garbage
by Isaac Asimov
from Gareth Stevens Publishing
for 7th-12th grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Space Science Grade 3-8 Unit Study - Course Book
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 3rd-8th grade
in GATB Science & Health (Location: CUR-GABSc)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
Space: Planets, Moons, Stars, and More!
Step 3: Reading On Your Own
by Joe Rhatigan, illustrated by Thomas Girard
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Spacecraft at Work
by Mary Elting, illustrated by Ursula Koering
from Harvey House, Inc., Publishers
for 4th-8th grade
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Spaceships and Rockets
DK Readers Level 2
by Deborah Lock
from DK Publishing
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in DK Readers (Location: EAR-DK)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Stargazing with a Telescope
by Robin Scagell
Revised from Firefly Books
for 6th-Adult
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Stars
by H. A. Rey
from Houghton Mifflin
Non-fiction for 8th-12th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Stars & Planets
Time for Learning
from Publications International
for 3rd-6th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Stars and the Universe
Random House Science Library
by David Dietz
from Random House
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage Science & Math (Location: VIN-SCI)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Story of Apollo 11
by R. Conrad Stein
from Children's Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Cornerstones of Freedom (Location: VIN-CORN)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Story of Mae Jemison
by Amy Drorbaugh, illustrated by Marta Koshulinska
from The Good and the Beautiful
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
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