You asked this question 20 years ago and one book that would certainly be mentioned is "Starlight Nights" by Leslie Peltier. It's a feel good tale of this comet-hunting amateur astronomer. I met him a couple times in Delphos, Ohio, near my hometown of Findlay. I was a teenager, and he was a crusty only man!

And nobody has mentioned Timothy Ferris' "Galaxy," that huge coffee table book almost made obsolete by Hubble's images. "Space Places" by Russmeyer is another good coffee table weight. Everyone know the cartoon Curious George. Well that monkeys artist is H.A. Rey, who's 1952 "The Stars" is another classic constellation learner.

And can you believe that nobody has mentioned Norton's Star Atlas? Anybody have a 1910 first edition? I'll give you $50 for it! I have a '59 edition, and first bought one in '66, but gave it away. It was The amateur astronomer's Bible for 6 decades, bar none. Now, I'll bet it's not well known to those joning the stargazing ranks in, say, the past 15 years.

Anyone else remember the starry nights with Norton's?