The Library of Things is a collection of non-traditional materials including musical instruments, fishing equipment, games, kits, puzzles and more - all available to check out for free with a library card. Have a one-time project we can help with or want to try before you buy? Explore the collection and discover your next new "thing" to borrow!
Check out binoculars for use in backyards, at the zoo, concerts or sporting events. The program is a partnership with the St. Louis Astronomical Society.
Telescopes come with instructions and hints on where to look for various constellations. Any adult cardholder can check-out telescopes. The Borrow a Telescope program is made possible by donations from the Astronomical Society and the St. Louis County Library Foundation.
Learn more about dark skies with the Dark Skies LibGuide from the St. Louis County Library! This guide highlights resources that aid and enhance stargazers' and amateur astronomers' experiences and enjoyment of the night sky.
Beyond Infinity by
See farther into the universe than ever before and discover how NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is unlocking the mysteries of space! Have you ever wondered what the universe looked like billions of years ago, or asked yourself what might happen if galaxies collided? The James Webb Space Telescope gives us never-before-seen glimpses of the answers to these questions, showing us the birth and death of stars and galaxies, helping scientists find Earthlike planets, and even revealing asteroids closer to home. This book explains the amazing science of the James Webb Space Telescope in a fun and accessible way, helping kids understand the big questions the telescope will help us answer. In this book, you'll find tons of beautiful photographs taken by the telescope, all with kid-friendly captions. You'll learn how the telescope works and how it was built, hear stories about the team behind it and the science that made it possible, discover fun facts about the telescope, and meet real NASA scientists. Above all, you'll delve into the mysteries of the universe and find out just how much more there is to discover. Perfect for budding astronomers, this book is an ideal introduction to the out-of-this-world discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope, full of the mind-blowing images that have captured the imagination of millions!
Galileo and the Telescope by
Known as the father of modern science, Galileo Galilei made major contributions both to our scientific knowledge and to the modern concept of science. Among his greatest achievements was the building of one of the first truly useful telescopes. He used this telescope to observe phenomena, such as the moons orbiting Jupiter and the phases of Venus, which helped prove that Earth is not the center of the universe. This book shares biographical and historical information of the man and his inventions, with fun fact sheets and a helpful timeline as well.
The Night Sky by
This field guide highlights 100 objects that can be seen in the night sky. Readers will gain a greater understanding about how to spot these things, including constellations and objects in our solar system. Features include a helpful introduction to the topic, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Abdo Reference is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
Galileo's Telescope by
Between 1608 and 1610 the canopy of the night sky changed forever, ripped open by an object created almost by accident: a cylinder with lenses at both ends. Galileo's Telescope tells the story of how an ingenious optical device evolved from a toy-like curiosity into a precision scientific instrument, all in a few years. In transcending the limits of human vision, the telescope transformed humanity's view of itself and knowledge of the cosmos. Galileo plays a leading--but by no means solo--part in this riveting tale. He shares the stage with mathematicians, astronomers, and theologians from Paolo Sarpi to Johannes Kepler and Cardinal Bellarmine, sovereigns such as Rudolph II and James I, as well as craftsmen, courtiers, poets, and painters. Starting in the Netherlands, where a spectacle-maker created a spyglass with the modest magnifying power of three, the telescope spread like technological wildfire to Venice, Rome, Prague, Paris, London, and ultimately India and China. Galileo's celestial discoveries--hundreds of stars previously invisible to the naked eye, lunar mountains, and moons orbiting Jupiter--were announced to the world in his revolutionary treatise Sidereus Nuncius. Combining science, politics, religion, and the arts, Galileo's Telescope rewrites the early history of a world-shattering innovation whose visual power ultimately came to embody meanings far beyond the science of the stars.
Hubble Space Telescope by
Simple text and "out-of-this-world" photography introduce readers to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, and its mission to photograph the wonders of the universe, far above the atmosphere of Earth. Important details covered include the space observatory's planning and engineering, its launch, its scientific discoveries, and how its images have changed our perception of the cosmos. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. A&D Xtreme is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
The Talking Telescope by 
How Do Telescopes Work? by
Since the early 1600s, telescopes have helped us examine the stars. Early telescopes used two glass lenses to focus light. Today, we use mirrors in the same way as glass, but mirrors are lighter and easier to make than lenses. To see dim objects that are far away, these mirrors must be very large. They're much larger than the average hobbyist telescope. With this volume, readers will learn about the components of a telescope and the role each component plays. They will read about different types of telescopes and the objects that each can help them see in great detail.
Telescopes by
In this eye-grabbing book, readers learn all about telescopes. Short paragraphs of easy-to-read text are paired with plenty of colorful photos to make reading engaging and accessible. The book also includes a table of contents, fun facts, sidebars, comprehension questions, a glossary, an index, and a list of resources for further reading. Apex books have low reading levels (grades 2-3) but are designed for older students, with interest levels of grades 3-7.
Telescopes for Kids by
Explore the mysteries of the night sky with the Junior Scientists series for kids ages 6 to 9 Scan the skies for 40 incredible sights with a book that shows budding scientists how to use a telescope for kids. You'll learn how to choose a telescope, set it up, and seek out the wonders of the Northern Hemisphere, from the Big Dipper to the Whirlpool Galaxy. Detailed visual guides--Illustrations of each star, planet, and more make them easier to spot-- and once you can identify the major ones, you can use them to find others with any telescope for kids. Outer space school--Discover what time of year it's easiest to see different objects in the sky, the life cycle of a star, how galaxies are cataloged, and more! Fun facts--Find out where the constellations get their names and why looking at the stars means you're actually looking back in time! See what's happening out in the cosmos with this guide to making the most of a telescope for kids.
Black Hole Chasers by
In Black Hole Chasers, award-winning investigative journalist Anna Crowley Redding presents the riveting true story of one of the most inspiring scientific breakthroughs of our lifetime--the Event Horizon Telescope team's reveal of the first image of a super massive black hole. In April 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope Team unveiled the first ever image of a super massive black hole. This inspiring scientific breakthrough took years of hard work, innovative thinking, and a level of global cooperation never seen before. The challenge was immense. The goal was impossible. They would need a telescope as big as the earth itself. The technology simply didn't exist. And yet, a multi-national team of scientists was able to show the world an image of something previously unseeable. Based off extensive research and hours of interviews with many of the team's ground-breaking scientists, physicists, and mathematicians, Black Hole Chasers is a story of unique technological innovation and scientific breakthroughs, but more importantly, it's a story of human curiosity and triumph.