* Catching Light * For Stargazers *

City Lights Bookstore is located in downtown Sylva, North Carolina (Population: 3K, Bortle: 5). We encourage folks to go outside on clear nights and catch some starlight. Set up a reclining lawn chair away from sources of stray light. Maybe prop your elbows on the chair arms to steady a binocular or let your unaided eyes take in the skyscape. If the moon's not flooding the sky with reflected sunlight, how many meteors do you count in an hour? Can you spot any planets or perhaps some faint fuzzy objects? How about patches of blackness set against the blue/gray background sky? Have you ever split a double or appreciated the different colors of light that reach us from neighboring stars? 10-inch Dobsonian TelescopeIf you're curious about what's up there, visit us to look at our selection of new and used optics. In addition to a modest selection of tools and accessories, we stock a fine range of books, magazines, and charts to inform and delight the amateur astronomer. Scroll down to see some highlights, and please inquire about the availability of used copies.

Is your astro appetite whetted? If you live in western North Carolina, consider joining the Asheville Astronomy Club and check out the opportunities at Western Carolina University and Southwestern Community College. Worthy organizations spanning larger swaths of North America include The Astronomical League, The Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO), The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, and Sociedad Astronomica de Mexico. There are a couple of good podcasts geared toward amateur observers: The Actual Astronomy Podcast  and ALPO's Observer's Notebook.

Click the following links to browse additional book lists focused on young stargazers, cultural astronomyplanetary sciencespaceflight, and astrophysics.

 

Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe By Terence Dickinson, Ken Hewitt-White, Richard Tresch Fienberg (Foreword by) Cover Image
$39.95
ISBN: 9780228104391
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Firefly Books - September 7th, 2023

The Backyard Astronomer's Guide By Terence Dickinson, Alan Dyer, Sara Seager (Foreword by) Cover Image
$49.95
ISBN: 9780228103271
Availability: No new copies on our shelves but maybe in used, now or arriving soon. Ask us.
Published: Firefly Books - September 10th, 2021

Turn Left at Orion By Guy Consolmagno, Dan M. Davis Cover Image
$36.99
ISBN: 9781108457569
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Cambridge University Press - January 24th, 2019

2024 Night Sky Almanac: A Month-By-Month Guide to North America's Skies from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada By Nicole Mortillaro Cover Image
$14.95
ISBN: 9780228104322
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Firefly Books - August 15th, 2023

The Stars: A New Way to See Them By H. A. Rey Cover Image
$14.99
ISBN: 9780544763449
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Clarion Books - December 6th, 2016

The Cambridge Star Atlas By Wil Tirion Cover Image
$39.99
ISBN: 9780521173636
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Cambridge University Press - March 7th, 2011

The Cambridge Double Star Atlas By Bruce Macevoy, Wil Tirion (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Bruce Macevoy, Wil Tirion (Illustrator)
$49.99
ISBN: 9781107534209
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Cambridge University Press - December 10th, 2015

Exploring the Night Sky with Binoculars By Patrick Moore Cover Image
$71.54
ISBN: 9780521793902
Availability: No new copies on our shelves but maybe in used, now or arriving soon. Ask us.
Published: Cambridge University Press - October 16th, 2000

Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas By Ronald Stoyan, Stephan Schurig Cover Image
$225.00
ISBN: 9781107503397
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Cambridge University Press - December 18th, 2014

21st Century Atlas of the Moon By Charles A. Wood, Maurice J. S. Collins Cover Image
$33.99
ISBN: 9781938228803
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: West Virginia University Press - December 1st, 2012

Deep-Sky Companions: The Messier Objects By Stephen James O'Meara Cover Image
$49.99
ISBN: 9781107018372
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Cambridge University Press - April 7th, 2014

Astronomical Sketching: A Step-By-Step Introduction (Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy) By Richard Handy, David B. Moody, Jeremy Perez Cover Image
$44.99
ISBN: 9780387262406
Availability: No new copies on our shelves but maybe in used, now or arriving soon. Ask us.
Published: Springer - June 12th, 2007

The Beginner's Guide to Astrophotography: How to Capture the Cosmos with Any Camera By Mike Shaw Cover Image
$35.00
ISBN: 9781681989693
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Rocky Nook - July 11th, 2023

$29.99
SKU: 9780692503348

18-inch Planisphere contains all 110 Messier Objects plus dozens of additional deep sky treasures. Perfect for budding astronomers who want to learn the night sky, as well as for seasoned observers who are working on the Astronomical League's Messier program, or those participating in a Messier Marathon! All astronomers will love the easy to use format, the quick reference on the back, and the locator charts for difficult objects. The large star chart is easy to see, even with dark adapted vision. Colors are optimized for viewing under red light. Made by Celestial Teapot.


Firefly Planisphere: Latitude 42 Degrees North By Wil Tirion (Illustrator), Robin Scagell Cover Image
By Wil Tirion (Illustrator), Robin Scagell
$19.95
ISBN: 9780228101277
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Firefly Books - November 30th, 2018

The Night Sky: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Moon, Stars, Planets and Celestial Events By James Kavanagh, Leung Raymond (Illustrator), Waterford Press (Created by) Cover Image
By James Kavanagh, Leung Raymond (Illustrator), Waterford Press (Created by)
$7.95
ISBN: 9781620052808
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Waterford Press - August 15th, 2017

Night Sky Guide By Rick Fienberg (Text by (Art/Photo Books)) Cover Image
By Rick Fienberg (Text by (Art/Photo Books))
$9.95
ISBN: 9781935380184
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Earth Sky + Water - May 31st, 2007

Burnham's Celestial Handbook, Volume Three: An Observer's Guide to the Universe Beyond the Solar Systemvolume 3 (Dover Books on Astronomy #3) By Robert Burnham Cover Image
$32.95
ISBN: 9780486236735
Availability: Backordered at our warehouse
Published: Dover Publications - January 1st, 1979

National Geographic Solar System Wall Map (24.25 X 18.25 In) (National Geographic Reference Map) By National Geographic Maps Cover Image
$16.95
ISBN: 9780792280972
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: National Geographic Maps - January 1st, 2012

National Geographic Milky Way Wall Map (31.25 X 20.25 In) (National Geographic Reference Map) By National Geographic Maps Cover Image
$24.95
ISBN: 9780792280958
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: National Geographic Maps - November 30th, 2017

National Geographic Pocket Guide to the Night Sky of North America By Catherine H. Howell Cover Image
$12.99
Email or call for price.
ISBN: 9781426217852
Published: National Geographic - March 7th, 2017

Road Atlas for the Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 - Color Edition By Fred Espenak Cover Image
$22.99
ISBN: 9781941983157
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Astropixels Publishing - June 19th, 2017

$8.99
SKU: 071486022077

Current issue. Price subject to change. Some back issues may be available.


$9.50
SKU: 075353035061

Protect your dark adaptation.


$70.00
SKU: 0943396964-01
for used books, we're talking about printings - "1st" means first print run
Condition of dust jacket, if present

Download Audiobooks

Libro.fmWe've partnered with Libro.fm to bring you a top-notch option for digital audiobooks. Take a look at our large catalog of recorded books at https://libro.fm/citylightsnc 

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