I'm an adult scientist (Biologist) with a pretty strong background in physics and math (MIT undergrad), and a life-long interest in Astronomy, although I last took a course 20+ years ago. My 10-year-old son has also been into astronomy for quite some time, and asks very advanced questions (thinks like - what would it look like if you were falling into a black hole? Why do different stars end their lives different ways?) He understands the whole electromagnetic spectrum, doppler shifts, things like that. We both listen to Astronomy Cast and although it gets a little above my head sometimes, it goes above his head only slightly before mine!

We're looking for a good "Astronomy 101" textbook to read together - something at the level of maybe an Advanced Placement high school book or simpler college book. Can anyone make a recommendation? How about "Cosmos: Astronomy in the New Millennium" by Pasachoff and Filippenko (he'd get a kick out of the fact that Filippenko is at Berekely where he wants to go to school - yes he's picked his undergrad school already!) Other thoughts?

Tom Bartman

Hi Tom and son! Welcome to BAUT.

That is a 5 star textbook, according to Amazon. It is available used, too.

I picked-up Jeff Hester's, et. al., 21st Century Astronomy textbook. It is very good, also.

I hope you both learn from interactions here in BAUT. As an amateur, I have learned most of what I know from the wonderfully knowledgeable here.

__________________
Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

I'm sure others will suggest good textbooks. I have little experience with texts, but a lot of experience with recently published books about astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology. There are many good ones, and they're all educational. For your particular circumstances, I suggest:

• The Runaway Universe, the Race to Find the Future of the Cosmos [2000] -- Donald Goldsmith
  
• The Universe at Midnight, Observations Illuminating the Cosmos [2001] -- Ken Croswell
  
• Black Holes and Time Warps, Einstein's Outrageous Legacy [1994] -- Kip Thorne (You'll love the intro science "fiction" tale that is technically accurate.)
  
• Chasing Hubble's Shadows, The Search for Galaxies at the Edge of Time [2006] -- Jeff Kanipe
  
• Cosmic Clouds: Birth, death, and recycling in the galaxy [1997] -- James Kaler

__________________
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.

Second Hester et. al.--that was the first general Astro book I read and learned quite a lot. It is written for the non-major taking Astro 101.

I'm currently reading the more advanced textbook: Introduction to Modern Astrophysics which has much more detail and intended for astro majors but is probably not quite at the 101 level.

__________________
-----
Todd (Bowie, MD, US, North America, Earth, Sol System, Vega region, Local Bubble, Orion arm, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Virgo A Cluster, Virgo supercluster, the universe in which spock is clean shaven)

Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.

personal page: http://blog.astrosketches.info

He meant: It is available used.

Thanks, I fixed it. I was rushed and even forgot the title.

I see it can be bought for as little $0.25 + $4 freight!! Hard to wrong at that price!

__________________
Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

I am not familiar with the introductory astronomy books, but anything from Filippenko can't be bad. I like James Kaler's books, at least the ones I have. Extreme Stars, The Hundred Greatest Stars, Stars, and Cosmic Clouds are all books I have and like. They are not broad general astronomy books, as you can guess from the titles. But they are accessible to general readers, I think, and I am a fan of stars, so his books are a natural for me.

But something else comes to mind. It's not what you asked, but I think you should consider that astronomy is not just something to read about, but something to do. If you are not already involved with some amateur astronomy club or group, wherever you are, you & your son should be. In the LAAS we have a 9 year old making his first telescope, and I know the Sidewalk Astronomers around here have had kids as young as 6 making telescopes. So astronomy can be just as "hands on" as it is "eyes on", and there is plenty of room for the young folks.

__________________
Don't try this at home - We're what you call "professionals" - MythBusters.

This is a good starter but a bit expensive:-
Universe by Roger Freedman , William J. Kaufmann

It covers a fairly large range of astronomical subjects at reasonable depth and is well written. Chapter list

I'm biased because I know Jim Kaler and have been his TA, but he is seriously one of the best public-outreach types for astronomy. His books would be very accessible, and he really knows what he's talking about. He did write a textbook (titled Astronomy!) years ago. It's out of print, but it would be right up the alley of what the OP is looking for.

This is a excellent book and was recommended reading for my University course, it is now in it's eighth edition and comes with "starry night enthusiast" software free.


David

__________________
But you're sure the astronauts are lying; you just don't seem to know what they're lying about. jayutah