Astronomy & Astrophotography Resource Library

Curated by Patrick Cosgrove

Cosgrove’s Cosmos Resource Library

Astronomy &
Astrophotography
Resources

A curated hub for learning the sky, planning observing sessions, researching targets, and building reliable astrophotography workflows.

Curated since July 2021 Major revision May 2025 Updated January 2026

Best first step

Beginner Guides

New to astronomy or astrophotography? Start here. These guides turn the larger library into practical first paths instead of asking beginners to sort through every resource category.

Start Here

Beginner Astronomy

A practical path for brand-new skywatchers: what to do tonight, how to plan, what to look for, and how to understand what you are seeing.

Draws from: Astronomy Fundamentals Observing & Sky Events Kids & Media
Open beginner astronomy guide →
Start Here

Beginner Astrophotography

A practical quickstart to your first real image: simple gear paths, capture fundamentals, stacking starters, and beginner-safe targets.

Draws from: Gear & Imaging Software & Processing Targets & Catalogs
Open beginner astrophotography guide →

Quick paths

I want to...

Already know what you are trying to do? These shortcuts take you directly to the most relevant library category.

01

Plan tonight

Sky conditions, visibility, ephemerides, and practical observing-session tools.

Observing & Sky Events → 02

Research a target

Catalogs, atlases, databases, survey data, and annotation resources.

Targets, Catalogs & Databases → 03

Improve an imaging setup

Gear, capture workflow, power, cabling, observatory, and remote-imaging infrastructure.

Gear & Imaging → 04

Work through software or processing

Capture software, guiding, plate solving, stacking, processing, and tutorials.

Software & Processing → 05

Find people, clubs, or communities

Organizations and communities for learning, troubleshooting, sharing work, and connecting.

Astro Community →

Core library

Resource Library

Browse the underlying categories directly. The beginner guides above are curated paths; this is the full working index.

Learning & Outreach

☼ Astronomy Fundamentals Concepts, history, and context for what you observe or image. → ▣ Kids & Media Approachable astronomy learning, outreach, and family resources. → ☷ Astro Community Forums, organizations, clubs, and places to connect. →

Planning & Research

◉ Observing & Sky Events Visibility, sky conditions, ephemerides, and planning tools. → ◎ Targets, Catalogs & Databases Catalogs, atlases, survey resources, and target research tools. →

Imaging Workflow

◇ Astrophotography Gear & Imaging Hardware, capture workflow, power, cabling, and observatory infrastructure. → ⌘ Astrophotography Software & Processing Capture, guiding, plate solving, stacking, processing, and workflow tutorials. →

Help improve the library

Dead link or strong suggestion?

This library is curated, not exhaustive. Links change and better resources appear over time. Use the form below this section, or email Contact@CosgrovesCosmos.com with the URL, a short description, and the best category.

Report a Dead Link or Suggest a New Resource

Please Report Dead Links, Sugguest Corrections, or Suggest New Resources using the form below or via email to Contact@CosgrovesCosmos.com