Astronomy & Astrophotography Resource Library

Curated by Patrick Cosgrove

Cosgrove’s Cosmos Resource Library

Astronomy &
Astrophotography
Resources

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

Curated since July 2021 Major revision May 2025 Updated January 2026
Start with a Guide Choose a Path Browse the Library

Best first step

Beginner Guides

These are curated starting paths. They pull from the broader library below, but are kept separate so new visitors do not have to sort through the full resource index first.

Start Here

Beginner Astronomy

A fast path for brand-new skywatchers: what to do tonight, how to plan, what to look for, and how to understand what you’re 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 →

Task-based navigation

Choose Your Path

Already know what you are trying to do? Use these paths to jump directly into the working library.

01

I’m planning tonight

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

Observing & Sky Events → 02

I’m researching a target

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

Targets, Catalogs & Databases → 03

I’m refining an imaging setup

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

Gear & Imaging → 04

I’m working through software or processing

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

Software & Processing → 05

I’m looking for people or organizations

Communities for learning, troubleshooting, sharing work, and connecting.

Astro Community →

Core library

Resource Library

These are the underlying resource categories. The beginner guides above draw from these areas, but the index itself stays focused on the core library.

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, communities, 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. →

Editorial notes

How this hub is maintained

Curated, not exhaustive. Inclusion is based on practical usefulness and overall quality.
Links change over time. Broken links and better replacements are worth reporting.
Beginner guides are special cases. They are curated pathways that pull from the broader resource library, not ordinary categories in the index.

Report / Suggest

Dead link or strong suggestion?

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