Digital library
Textbooks, references and open learning resources.
External
Celestial Mechanics
Jeremy Tatum · University of Victoria
This book presents a treatment of celestial mechanics, integrating numerical methods, geometry, and Newtonian gravitation to model and predict celestial motion. It progresses from mathematical foundations to orbital theory, ephemeris computation, perturbations, and the analysis of planetary systems and binary stars, tightly linking theory with observational astronomy.
External
Astronomy for Educators
Daniel E. Barth · University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Astronomy for Educators provides new and accomplished K-12 instructors with concepts and projects for low-cost, high-impact STEM classroom instruction that is built around the National Academies National Research Council's K-12 Framework for Science Education.
External
Astrobiology
Debra Fischer, Allyson Sheffield, Joshua Tan, and Lily Ling Zhao · LibreTexts
Interested in what scientists have been doing to investigate the existence of life in the Universe? This text will explore the different avenues that can be taken in trying to answer the question, "Is there life beyond the Earth?"
External
Stellar Atmospheres
Jeremy Tatum · University of Victoria
This textbook presents a physics-based introduction to stellar atmospheres, covering radiation theory, blackbody radiation, and radiative transfer. It explains how absorption, scattering, and atomic processes shape stellar spectra, linking quantum mechanics and statistical physics to line formation, broadening, and limb darkening, and concludes with tools like the curve of growth for interpreting observations.
External
The Fundamentals of Stellar Astrophysics
George W. Collins II · Ohio State University
This book offers a rigorous, theory-driven overview of stellar astrophysics, from the physics of matter, energy generation, and transport to full models of stellar structure and evolution. It covers main-sequence and post–main-sequence stars, relativistic and rotating stars, pulsations, and stellar atmospheres, linking fundamental physics to observable stellar properties and spectra.
External
Astronomy 10: The Solar System (Workbook)
Andrew Totah-McCarty · Chabot College
This is a student-led astronomy workbook that is designed for an introductory, college-level astronomy class that focuses on the solar system and planetary science. Celestial observation concepts are included but stars, galaxies, and cosmology are not. The activities are designed to be completed in groups prior to any formal lecture or introduction of material. Lecture summaries (not included) can review, synthesize, and expand on these ideas.
External
Planetary Photometry
Planetary Photometry · University of Victoria
Planetary Photometry is a field of study focused on the measurement and analysis of light reflected by planets and moons in our solar system and beyond. The book on this topic would typically cover the methods and techniques used in planetary photometry, its applications, and its importance in planetary science.
External
Introduction to Astronomy
Lumen Learning · LibreTexts
In the contents: 01: Introduction to Astronomy · 02: Historical Astronomy · 2.07: Astronomy and Astrology
External
Big Ideas in Cosmology
Kim Coble, Kevin McLin, and Lynn Cominsky · San Francisco State University, Chico State University, and Sonoma State University
In the contents: 17.05: Summary - You Will Reflect on What You Have Learned About Cosmology
External
Astronomy
OpenStax · LibreTexts
In the contents: 1.02: The Nature of Astronomy · 1.05: Numbers in Astronomy · 02: Observing the Sky - The Birth of Astronomy
External
Astronomy Lab
Lumen · LibreTexts
In the contents: 13: Planetarium Astronomy Club · 13.1.03: Observatories and Early Astronomy Clubs · 13.1.05: Current Astronomy Clubs
External
Relativity Lite - A Pictorial Translation of Einstein’s Theories of Motion and Gravity
Jack C. Straton · Portland State University
In the contents: 1.05: Cosmology
External
The Astronomer's Guide to the Universe
Alessandro Baldi · Butte College
In the contents: 1.04: Numbers in Astronomy · 03: The Science of Astronomy · 3.01: Ancient Astronomy