Hello -

I wonder if any of the project scientists or other professional astronomers might be able to recommend an introductory textbook in astronomy? I am looking for whatever a freshman or sophomore student would start with if they were intent upon a career in astronomy - in other words, the "Astronomy 101" textbook - not dumbed down for non-science students but what the serious student of astronomy would start with as their first course. Amazon didn't seem to have any good choices. Any suggestions?

-- John Babrick

go to Berkley's website and watch Filipenko's astronomy lectures. They are quite good.

My undergrad text book was fantastic, I still refer to it now and I'm doing my PhD. It's easy to read but with enough detail to be useful.
Here's the reference:

Freedman, R., Geller, R., & Kaufmann, W. J. (2010). Universe: The solar system. Macmillan.