Sidebar: Resources from the Ground Up

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Star maps, such as this one of the Northern Hemisphere, will help you identify stars. iStockphoto.com/Jan Tyler

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To learn more about amateur astronomy, including clubs and up-to-date information on the night sky check out the following:

• The Amateur Astronomy page of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, http://Education.JPL.NASA.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html, 818-354-4321
• NASA Solar System Exploration, SolarSystem.NASA.gov/
• For a national network of astronomy clubs: Night Sky Network, NightSky.JPL.NASA.gov/index.cfm
• For Tours of the Night Sky tapes or CDs: www.CelestialProducts.com/Products/TNS.asp, 800-235-3783
• StarGarden Foundation, www.StarGardenFoundation.org/ 
• Okie-Tex Star Party, www.Okie-Tex.com, 405-691-2544
• NASA After-School Astronomy Club Network for schools, families and communities, www.AfterSchoolAstronomy.org/
• For observing clubs and more: The Astronomical League, www.AstroLeague.org /, 816-333-7759
• For Tours of the Night Sky and more: Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP), www.AstroSociety.org/, 415-337-1100
• Many resources, programs and Hubble images: HubbleSite.org/, 410-338-4444
• Free monthly sky map: www.SkyMaps.com/ 
• Satellite tracking: www.Heavens-Above.com 
• Astronomy magazine: www.Astronomy.com/, 800-533-6644
• Sky & Telescope magazine: www.SkyAndTelescope.com/, 800-253-0245
• For the Backyard Astronomy Guide by Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer: www.BackyardAstronomy.com/, published in 2002 by Firefly Books, Buffalo, New York, www.FireflyBooks.ca, 800-387-5085
• Make your own simple reflecting telescopes: www.SFSidewalkAstronomers.org
• Telescope reviews: CloudyNights.com/