Books with title The Sky Observer's Guide -- A Handbook for Amateur Astronomers

This book covers the basics of optics, teaching you how to calculate magnification with your objective's focal length, and the eyepiece focal length; it covers the basics of planetary, and interstellar objects; it covers safe, solar observation techniques; it gives a basic overview of astro photography (film based, but film offers advantages over CCD's -- many techniques apply to both approaches anyway); it even includes some star charts to get the amateur started.

A handbook for amateur astronomers. Becoming a Sky Observer, The Observer's Equipment, Understanding the Sky, First Steps in Observing, Using a Telescope, Star Charts and Setting Circles, The Moon, The Sun, Sky Colors, The Planets and Asteroids, Comets, Meteors, Stars, Nebulas, Drawing Sky Objects, The Sky Observer's Camera, Tracking Satellites, Using Astronomical Time, Accessories and Maintenance, Incidental Information, and Maps of the heavens.