Keeping a record concentrates the mind — even if it's just a jotting like "November 7th — out with the 10x50 binocs — clear windy night — NGC 457 in Cassiopeia a faint glow next to two brighter stars. Greene uses various aspects of the mission to explore wider issues in our lives, such as the role food plays, the problems of boredom and communication, the part of the human guinea pig and the effects of isolation.

Stories in the Starsis both an imaginative and in-depth collection of human's encounters with the night sky. I like how it starts by using the brightest and most easily identified constellations—Ursa Major and Orion—and other targets you can observe with the naked eye or basic binoculars.For each individual target, the book explains clearly: (1) where to look, (2) what it looks like in the finderscope, (3) what it looks like in a small telescope, and (4) what it looks like in a dobsonian telescope. Spread out your charts and guides on a big table, find things that ought to be in range of your equipment, and figure out how you'll get there. I suggest taking this book with you out in the field, and then tackling each page like a stargazing challenge—ticking off which stars and nebulae you’ve been able to identify, and then writing down your own observations in the book’s “personal notes” section.

That all changed when Vera Rubin’s work on galaxies showed dark matter was needed to explain what she was observing. The simple approach is perfect for kids ages 5 to 12 who are curious about astronomy and stargazing, but aren’t ready yet for a telescope or binoculars. Packing in the entirety of the Solar System, its planets, objects, exploratory missions and history in 120 pages aimed at children is no easy task.While Turn Left on Orion is like a star map that explains positions and how to find them, Nightwatch is like a general introduction to astronomy. Visually stunning, with a fabulous selection of space photos, artworks and illustrations, it is also all-encompassing in its astronomy. I can’t remember coming across another book that solely focuses on the eventual destruction of all of reality. Naturally you'll also want large aperture (size), but don't lose sight of portability and convenience.