Astronomy is a technical field with admirers from a range of disciplines. Many instructors teaching introductory level courses in astronomy find themselves in classes that are light on computation and full of students with a lifetime interest in the universe. All of the following astronomy textbooks used at top universities are great for introductory and applied courses .

Best Astronomy Textbooks Involving Astronomical Objects and Space Travel

Instructors at RPI, Rice University, Brandeis, NYU, USC, Stanford, and Washington University use Across the Airless Wilds: The Lunar Rover and the Triumph of the Final Moon Landings by Earl Swift which details the history of space exploration and the moon. Cosmos: Possible Worlds by Ann Druyan is used to discuss the possibilities of astronomical objects beyond current understanding. The Sirens Of Mars: Searching For Life On Another World by Sarah Stewart Johnson, is used at NYU and Stanford as a text to discuss the history of exploration of Mars and what it means for those on Earth. Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Avis Lang engages with public policy while explaining the history of space travel and exploration. Cosmos by Carl Sagan is the first popular astronomy textbook written for laypeople that details planets, stars, and more.

Best Astronomy Textbooks for Explaining the Universe

To explain the formation and eventual end of the universe, instructors at NYU, USC, Stanford, and Washington University use Until the End of Time: Mind, Matter, and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe by Brian Greene. For the popular and evolving subject of black holes, instructors may use Light in the Darkness: Black Holes, the Universe, and Us by Heino Falcke and Black Hole Survival Guide by Janna Levin, which both use humor and optimism to tackle a destructive topic. The End of Everything: (Astrophysically Speaking) by Katie Mack, uses theoretical astrophysics to consider the eventual end of the universe. The Future of Humanity: Our Destiny in the Universe Michio Kaku merges discussions of the universe in astronomy with technology. Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe by Lisa Randall uses a subject matter that even kids enjoy (dinosaurs) to dissect issues surrounding matter and the universe.

Best Full Course Introductory Astronomy Textbooks

Cosmic Perspective by Jeffrey Bennett, Megan Donahue, Nicholas, Schneider, and Mark Voit is a standard text at Rice University and Harvard to teach introductory courses to astronomy majors by providing a survey of the major concepts in the field. Similarly, The Cosmos: Astronomy in the New Millennium by Jay Pasachoff and Alex Filippenko focuses on major concepts in astronomy with a discussion on the future of astronomy and the evolution of technical and scientific equipment to aid in exploration.

Best Astronomy Textbooks to Use as Supplemental Primers

Where Is Our Solar System? by Stephanie Sabol (NYU and Stanford) is an interactive short guide to the basics of the solar system that has activities for students to complete.

Introductory astronomy textbooks often seek to balance important astronomical concepts with the keen interest humans have in space exploration. With the numerous inspiring stories and popular texts on the subject of astronomy and astrophysics, there are a lot of options to find textbooks that work for introductory courses. These are some of the best at top-ranking universities.