The Hubble Space Telescope

Imax: Hubble

Amazon Price: $10.13 (as of 05/31/2012)

In May 2009, the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis launched a mission to make vital repairs and upgrades to the Hubble Space Telescope, the world's first space-based optical telescope. An IMAX camera captured stunning footage of the five intricate spacewalks required, as well as close-up images of the effort to grasp the orbiting telescope with the shuttle's mechanical arm at 17,000 MPH - and an unexpected problem that could sabotage the entire mission. Hubble combines this breathtaking material with images taken during the 20 years it has been our window into space. Through advanced computer visualization, Hubble's detailed data becomes a series of scientifically realistic flights that unfold on screen like a guided tour of the universe, through time and space.

Hubble: A Journey Through Space and Time

by: Edward Weiler

Amazon Price: $18.69 (as of 05/31/2012)

NASA's first book on the Hubble Space Telescope marks the 20th anniversary of one of history's most important scientific tools. Here is Hubble's great visual legacy to humanity in stunning images that are benchmarks of astronomy and photography. Of the more than 100 classic Hubble images that were selected by NASA's experts, the 20 most significant are accompanied by commentaries by notable scientists. Veteran astronauts from NASA's five remarkable manned missions to maintain the telescope also contribute to this volume, making it an authoritative account of a magnificent scientific achievement.

Release Date: 12/31/1969

ETX-80AT Astro Telescope w/ Tripod & Autostar Controller

Amazon Price: (as of 05/31/2012)

Explore the Galaxies far away with this fantastically priced, all-inclusive telescope.

Now even the most novice of amateur astronomers can locate and explore the planets, asteroids, and comets, as well as nebulae, star clusters, galaxies, and hundreds of other deep-space objects, all at the push of a button with the included Autostar Hand Controller. The Meade ETX-80AT Astro Telescope brings the full range of celestial images to your eye with an astonishing level of clarity and resolution. And, carrying on Meade's incredible ETX tradition of optical and mechanical excellence, the 70mm ETX includes many of the same features as their larger ETX telescopes, and is 36 percent brighter than the ETX-60AT.

For the introductory student of astronomy, or for the casual observer, the Meade ETX-80AT opens up the skies at modest cost to an amazing breadth of celestial detail utterly invisible without the telescope.

NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe

by: Terence Dickinson

Amazon Price: $22.54 (as of 05/31/2012)

[...] Nightwatch continues its tradition of being the best handbook for the beginning astronomer. Terence Dickinson covers all the problems beginners face, starting with the fact that the night sky does not look the way a modern city-dweller expects. He discusses light pollution, how to choose binoculars and telescopes, how to pronounce the names of stars and constellations, telescope mounts, averted vision, and why the harvest moon looks especially bright. Most of the lovely photographs in the book were taken by amateurs, which gives the section on astrophotography a particularly inspirational gleam.

Dickinson's star charts are very handy, each covering a reasonable field of view and mapping the most interesting amateur objects. He gives good advice for planet watching, which he notes "is one of the few astronomical activities that can be conducted almost as well from the city as from dark rural locations."

Servicing the Hubble Space Telescope: Shuttle Atlantis - 2009

by: Dennis R. Jenkins, Jorge R. Frank

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 05/31/2012)

As with every other Specialty Press title I've read, this book is a treasure trove of information. If you have any interest at all in the subject matter it is well worth picking up. Highly recommended.
Starship Modeler, reviewed by John Lester, October 2009

It is a great reference source for not only the final servicing mission, but for the whole Hubble program up to this point and I can highly recommend this book to anyone interested in space subjects.
IPMS, reviewed by Ben Guenther, December 2009

Specialty Press is known for high quality books and this one certainly follows in that mold. The attention to detail and quality research along with the typical superlative images makes for a book that I can quite easily recommend to you. Highly recommended.
Modeling Madness, reviewed by Scott Van Aken, October 2009