Best books to learn Astronomy, in order

Reading paths for astronomy

How to learn Astronomy

Beginner11books129 hrs4 stages

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Popular astronomy books

The Elegant UniverseBrian Greene · 1999

A Brief History of TimeStephen Hawking · 1988

Black holes and time warpsKip S. Thorne · 1994

The Whole ShebangTimothy Ferris · 1997

Nightwatch : a practical guide to viewing the universeTerence Dickinson · 2006

An introduction to modern astrophysicsBradley W. Carroll · 1995

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• Learn cosmology from books: how to read your way to the Big Bang
• Learn astronomy from books: from backyard stargazing to astrophysics

Frequently asked questions

How should I approach learning astronomy?

Begin with a guided tour of the sky and the scale of things, then the physics of stars and galaxies, then cosmology. Wonder first, then the real mechanics.

What's a good book to start astronomy with?

A strong starting point is The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene. The ordered reading paths above show exactly where it fits and what to read next.

What should I read after astronomy?

Once you have the fundamentals, explore closely related subjects like Physics, Cosmology.

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