For beginner-friendly core learning → Astronomy Fundamentals

For communities and clubs → Astro Community

Astronomy Books for Kids

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space – A colorful introductory space book for young children (approximately ages 4–8). It invites kids to blast off on an outer-space adventure with beautiful illustrations and simple text. This beginner’s book covers the solar system and beyond, making it easy for early readers (or read-aloud time) to learn fun facts about planets, stars, and astronauts.

The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System – A classic picture book from the beloved Magic School Bus series. In this story, Ms. Frizzle’s class turns their school bus into a spaceship and takes a wild field trip through the solar system, stopping at the Moon, the Sun, and all the planets. Packed with up-to-date facts and humor, this book (also an animated TV episode) makes learning about space fun and is perfect for early elementary readers excited about astronomy.

Astronomy Games for Kids

Space-Themed Games (WordFinderX) – Curated list of free online games that teach astronomy concepts. A great collection of games for kids with an Astronomy Focus. Suggested by Katie Hylton (Thanks, Katie!).

Space & Solar-System Games (Word.Tips) – Educational puzzles and activities focused on planets, stars, and exploration. A nice collection of Astronomy and space learning activities for kids. Suggested by Zane Robertson (Thanks, Zane!).

Astronomy in Media

Astronomy in Film & TV (Octane Seating Blog) – Illustrated guide to notable space science moments on screen. A very interesting and entertaining “educational guide centered around astronomy & science and its relationship with film & television throughout history.” Take a look - I think you will enjoy this one! (Thank you, Devin Boudreaux!).

Astronomy Resources For Kids (Both young and old!)

General

Astronomy Resources for Kids (AAA State of Play) – Large collection of beginner-friendly articles, videos, and activities. A wonderful collection of astronomy-related resources for kids! Suggested by Abigail Lynwood and Eliza from the Lyndhurst STEM Club for Girls in the Lyndhurst School District of New Jersey.  (Thanks, Abigail and Eliza - this is a great addition!).

Sleeping Under the Stars & Planets (NapLab) – Kid-oriented guide to constellations, planets, and outdoor skywatching.   a nice collection of links about exploring the planets and the solar system, an introduction to the constellations, and general info on astronomy. (Thanks to Michelle and Payton who brought this link to my attention!).

Five STEM Space Activities (UCF Online) – Hands-on projects that spark interest in astronomy and space science.  An interesting collection of activities that can be done to foster interests in STEM, Space science, and Astronomy! - (Thanks, Danielle, for suggesting this!).

Navigating the Stars: A Young Learner’s Guide – Introductory article with additional beginner resources.  A Young Learner’s Guide to Astronomy - with additional resources and links. (Thanks to Ada for suggesting this link!).

ESA Kids – Space for Kids – The European Space Agency’s kids’ portal featuring space news, fun facts, cartoons, and downloadable activities for children aged 6–12 years old. It’s an educational site where kids can explore European space missions and learn about the cosmos in multiple languages through games and articles.

Canadian Space Agency – Kids and Teens – The CSA’s youth site with bilingual resources, including digital space games, hands-on experiments, quizzes, and even e-books about Canadian astronauts. It’s a great way for kids to discover space science through interactive play and creative activities with a Canadian perspective.

AMNH OLogy – Astronomy – An astronomy section on the American Museum of Natural History’s science website for kids. OLogy features interactive games, videos, articles, and crafts about space, letting children explore planets, stars, and the universe in a fun, museum-curated way. It’s designed for elementary-age curiosity and even has an app for offline learning.

National Geographic Kids – Passport to Space – Nat Geo Kids offers a special “Passport to Space” hub. Get ready for liftoff – kids can journey beyond Earth with out-of-this-world facts, stellar photos, space-themed games, and book recommendations about all things space. It’s educational and entertaining, perfect for inspiring young space explorers with the trusted Nat Geo Kids style.

Ready Jet Go! – A PBS KIDS animated series (for roughly ages 3–8) that makes astronomy and Earth science fun. Ready Jet Go! follows neighborhood kids on adventures with an alien friend, taking viewers on journeys into outer space and feeding their natural curiosity about planets and science. The PBS KIDS site offers free video clips and simple space-themed games that blend learning with the show’s storylines.

Story Time From Space – An award-winning program where astronauts on the International Space Station read children’s books aloud on video and even perform science demos in orbit. It’s a delightful mix of science and literacy: kids and families can watch these free, family-friendly storytime videos and read along as real astronauts bring space stories to life. (For example, an astronaut might float while reading a book about planets, making STEM learning truly out-of-this-world!).

NASA: Daily Inspiration + Kid Learning

NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) – NASA’s daily featured space image with a short, plain-language explanation, making it an easy and inspiring resource for outreach and learning.

NASA Image and Video Library – A searchable, kid-safe library of NASA photos, videos, and audio—perfect for finding high-quality space visuals for education, presentations, or general inspiration.

NASA Kids’ Club – NASA’s official kids’ site with space-themed games and activities for children in pre-K through 4th grade. It provides a safe, fun place to play while learning about rockets, planets, and NASA missions.

NASA StarChild – A NASA learning center for young astronomers (ages 5–13) with simple, engaging explanations of the solar system, galaxy, and universe. StarChild offers two reading levels, making complex space topics accessible and exciting for elementary students.

Astronomy Publications - Magazines and Periodicals

Sky & Telescope – Flagship U.S. monthly packed with observing guides, gear tests, and peer-reviewed news from professional astronomy. 

Astronomy Magazine – Popular-science glossy that mixes breaking research, night-sky charts, and equipment columns for hobbyists of every level. 

BBC Sky at Night Magazine – UK companion to the world’s longest-running TV show, featuring how-to imaging projects, gear reviews, and interviews. 

Astronomy Now – Britain’s oldest monthly astronomy title (since 1987), noted for in-depth instrument reviews and practical observing articles. 

StarDate Magazine – Bi-monthly sky-watching guide from McDonald Observatory, famed for concise almanacs and accessible astronomy features. 

Amateur Astronomy Magazine – Quarterly, reader-written journal showcasing projects, star parties, and wide-field imaging from the global amateur community. 

The Planetary Report – The Planetary Society’s colorful quarterly spotlighting planetary science, mission updates, and citizen-science advocacy. 

Mercury Magazine – Astronomical Society of the Pacific’s digital quarterly blending astronomy research, education, and outreach stories (free PDFs for members; select articles open). 

Astronomy Technology Today – Free online magazine focused on hardware: detailed telescope, mount, and accessory reviews plus DIY upgrades. 

Journal of the AAVSO (JAAVSO) – Peer-reviewed quarterly publishing original variable-star research by amateurs and professionals (all issues free online). 

Astrobites – Daily “research digest” blog summarizing new papers on astro-ph; written by grad students for undergrads and advanced amateurs. 

Constellations

StarChild – List of 88 Constellations – Simple table of Latin and English constellation names.

Constellation (COSMOS – Swinburne University) – Overview of constellations, including what they are, how they’re defined today, and historical/cultural context for where many constellation names and stories originated.

Constellation-Guide – Hemisphere Star Maps – Simple north and south-sky charts showing every constellation outline.

Constellations & Mythology – Overview – Accessible primer on the stories behind the constellations. A nice summary of constellation methodology and information for those interested in learning more. Bought to my attention by a reader - thanks, Stacy!