<blockquote>
<p><em>High School Senior</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Your first mission is to concentrate on getting a good set of results from high school.  That really means <em>not</em> spending your time chasing astronomy and astrophysics yet.</p>
<p>Yes, this is what your parents and teachers would say, but you know, if you ever want to have the time, resources and maybe the chance to study and/or work in these fields you absolutely are going to need the very best high school results you can manage.  And even if you don't weant to study a B.Sc. or higher then you still need the <em>resources</em> and that means a decent job and career prospects.  Money is important, or as the saying goes &quot;No bucks, no Buck Rogers”.</p>
<p>So focus on that <em>first</em>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>a systematic order</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>For self study this is not needed.  I'd suggest <em>not</em> being systematic outside of a specific goal, like having to pass exams set by other people.</p>
<p>You need to differentiate between Astronomy and Astrophyics.</p>
<p>Astronomy is a kind of &quot;catch-all&quot; term for every possible thing you could study or observe about anything that goes on  outside of our atsmosphere and planet.  You can include geology, biology, chemistry, physics and just about anything else that can be termed a science, as well as engineering (you have to build stuff to do stuff - rocket science and telescopes of many types, etc.).  Astrophysics is then a subset of Astronomy focusing on the application of physics to astronomy.</p>
<p>Now you want graduate level or graduate level &quot;foundation&quot; as a target.  That means you want a B.Sc. level course.  As you want Astrophysics you basically need a B.Sc. level course in physics.  That's a lot of study.  You'll cover topics like:</p>
<ul>
<li>electromagnetism</li>
<li>basic quantum theory</li>
<li>basic special and general relativity</li>
<li>basic thermodynamics</li>
<li>mechanics</li>
<li>optics</li>
</ul>
<p>Keep in mind a systematic B.Sc. course on <em>basic</em> physics for astrophysics typically takes four full years.  You have to learn to <em>think</em> about physics problems and get a feel for how things are done.  That's arguably more important than the actual details of any particular theory.</p>
<p>Don't be distracted by glamor subjects like quantum theory and relativity.  Mechanics, Electromagnetism and Thermodynamics are very, very important.</p>
<p>So let's focus on astrophysics and understand that you have to start with physics and what resources will help.</p>
<p><strong>Libraries</strong></p>
<p>Great things, not loved or used enough.  One set I personally really useful was the Schaum Outline series as a launching point and if you can get anything from your library, borrow them.  You don't need to swallow books whole - read what you need and borrow again when you need more.  There are lots of books out there and for physics and we all have favorites (and ones we'd avoid ever reading again).  Boring old textbooks like e.g. Halliday and Resnick are as good a place to start as any.  My first exposure to quantum theory proper was by a book borrowed from my local library.</p>
<p><strong>Videos</strong></p>
<p>There are multiple courses on physics online.  A couple to consider :</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://oyc.yale.edu/physics" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Yale physics courses online</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyX8kQ-JzHI&amp;list=PLQrxduI9Pds1fm91Dmn8x1lo-O_kpZGk8" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Leonard Susskind physics lectures</a></li>
</ul>
<p>There's also excellent YouTube channels like :</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7_gcs09iThXybpVgjHZ_7g" rel="nofollow noreferrer">PBS Spacetime</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/fermilab" rel="nofollow noreferrer">FermiLab</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/peppermint78" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sabine Hossenfelder</a></li>
</ul>
<p>By no means the only ones.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-28T07:42:07.673Z
Thank you for your answer! I am actually following most of your advice already (like watching Prof. Susskind's Lects.) & I have a decent base in Mech, E/M, etc. but the main reason I wanted a systematic way was the fact that I don't have a proper foundation. Like the way I seek out knowledge in Astrophysics felt haphazard as I just studied topics that fascinated me like Black Holes, Stars and their Evolutions, etc. but not the topics like Spherical trigonometry and other relevant concepts which will actually prove helpful in my Undergraduate. What do you suggest I do for that?
WantARevolution
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-28T07:57:25.683Z
There's nothing wrong with learning topics *as you come across them*.  You do have to do this as an undergrad - there's no hand-holding in university.  I'd suggest grabbing a basic text on first year undergrad physics, like Haliday and Resnick and reading it *casually*. You will be very busy if you become an undergrad so I'd actually suggest relaxing while you can (after your high school exams are finished).  Enjoy that period - it won't ever come back again in your life !
StephenG - Help Ukraine
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-28T08:03:37.843Z
Sadly, the High School experience has been completely ruined due to the pandemic in India. Also, the way the curve seems to be still climbing doesn't seem like this is gonna end anytime soon. Junior year is already lost and the senior year seems to be on the way. Online classes are absolutely horrible in comparison to offline. Also, I finished reading Halliday and Resnick and didn't face much difficulty except a bit in Thermodynamics so should I maybe just try to improve upon my foundation in Mech, E/M and all?
WantARevolution
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-28T08:14:38.267Z
I had not realized you were in India - bad times.  If you digested H&R and really want something else in physics I'd suggest maybe the Feymann Lectures on Physics available [here](https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/).  They're recommended reading on most physics B.Sc. courses anyway.  If you're up for some relaxation try [Surely You're joking Mr. Feymann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surely_You%27re_Joking,_Mr._Feynman!).
StephenG - Help Ukraine
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-28T08:19:47.330Z
I am done with Feynman lectures too (mainly Volumes 1 and 2) at least those topics which don't require heavy math. So, should I just try to read books like Kleppner and Kolenkow for Mech and David Griffiths for E/M and some concurrent Calculus books by the side?
WantARevolution
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-28T09:12:13.807Z
I'm impressed - Feyman's lectures are an impressive achievement at your stage..  Honestly if you've got them as a basis you probably are as prepared as anyone who ever entered university.  Your own ideas sound fine to me.  As you found thermodynamics the most challenging maybe focus on that.  The tendency we all have is to avoid what is least attractive to us - for me it was EM (something about the way it was taught at the time, I think), but it made it harder to learn later.
StephenG - Help Ukraine
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-28T10:16:58.983Z
Let us [continue this discussion in chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/123537/discussion-between-aadhavan-and-stepheng).
WantARevolution
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-27T05:55:35.343Z
2021-04-27T05:55:35.343Z
StephenG - Help Ukraine
<p>I am a high school senior (Grade 12) with a passion for Astronomy/Astrophysics. I already searched quite a bit here on the other questions on resources, but I couldn't find any that shows a concise, systematic order that one can follow. (I might have also missed it if so I do apologize. If it helps I do have quite a decent handle on AP-level Calculus and decent physics background.</p>
<p>So, I would like a systematic order of books, videos, resources of any kind that I could peruse to achieve a significant foundation (and ambitiously say up to a Graduate level?) in Astronomy/Astrophysics.</p>
<p>Thank You!!!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-27T00:36:47.553Z
I just added another tag then realized that I don't know the [difference between the resource and reference-request tags](https://astronomy.meta.stackexchange.com/q/742/7982).
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-27T00:38:57.157Z
close voters, this question seems perfectly on-topic. Check out all the other very well received and answered questions [tagged resource](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/resource) before deciding to block answers to this one!
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-28T07:50:31.013Z
Wouldn't it be better to merge both the tags (The resource tag and reference-request tag)?
WantARevolution
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-28T08:07:33.437Z
I've created a question in meta for that discussion, please feel free to discuss there.
uhoh
<observational-astronomy><astrophysics><resource-request>
Resource Recommendations to systematically develop a foundation via Self study in Astrophysics/Astronomy?
WantARevolution
# Resource Recommendations to systematically develop a foundation via Self study in Astrophysics/Astronomy?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-04-26)

I am a high school senior (Grade 12) with a passion for Astronomy/Astrophysics. I already searched quite a bit here on the other questions on resources, but I couldn't find any that shows a concise, systematic order that one can follow. (I might have also missed it if so I do apologize. If it helps I do have quite a decent handle on AP-level Calculus and decent physics background.

So, I would like a systematic order of books, videos, resources of any kind that I could peruse to achieve a significant foundation (and ambitiously say up to a Graduate level?) in Astronomy/Astrophysics.

Thank You!!!

**Tags:** observational-astronomy, astrophysics, resource-request

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I just added another tag then realized that I don't know the [difference between the resource and reference-request tags](https://astronomy.meta.stackexchange.com/q/742/7982).  
> **username_1**: close voters, this question seems perfectly on-topic. Check out all the other very well received and answered questions [tagged resource](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/resource) before deciding to block answers to this one!  
> **username_0**: Wouldn't it be better to merge both the tags (The resource tag and reference-request tag)?  
> **username_1**: I've created a question in meta for that discussion, please feel free to discuss there.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-04-27. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

> *High School Senior*

Your first mission is to concentrate on getting a good set of results from high school. That really means *not* spending your time chasing astronomy and astrophysics yet.

Yes, this is what your parents and teachers would say, but you know, if you ever want to have the time, resources and maybe the chance to study and/or work in these fields you absolutely are going to need the very best high school results you can manage. And even if you don't weant to study a B.Sc. or higher then you still need the *resources* and that means a decent job and career prospects. Money is important, or as the saying goes "No bucks, no Buck Rogers”.

So focus on that *first*.

> *a systematic order*

For self study this is not needed. I'd suggest *not* being systematic outside of a specific goal, like having to pass exams set by other people.

You need to differentiate between Astronomy and Astrophyics.

Astronomy is a kind of "catch-all" term for every possible thing you could study or observe about anything that goes on outside of our atsmosphere and planet. You can include geology, biology, chemistry, physics and just about anything else that can be termed a science, as well as engineering (you have to build stuff to do stuff - rocket science and telescopes of many types, etc.). Astrophysics is then a subset of Astronomy focusing on the application of physics to astronomy.

Now you want graduate level or graduate level "foundation" as a target. That means you want a B.Sc. level course. As you want Astrophysics you basically need a B.Sc. level course in physics. That's a lot of study. You'll cover topics like:

* electromagnetism
* basic quantum theory
* basic special and general relativity
* basic thermodynamics
* mechanics
* optics

Keep in mind a systematic B.Sc. course on *basic* physics for astrophysics typically takes four full years. You have to learn to *think* about physics problems and get a feel for how things are done. That's arguably more important than the actual details of any particular theory.

Don't be distracted by glamor subjects like quantum theory and relativity. Mechanics, Electromagnetism and Thermodynamics are very, very important.

So let's focus on astrophysics and understand that you have to start with physics and what resources will help.

**Libraries**

Great things, not loved or used enough. One set I personally really useful was the Schaum Outline series as a launching point and if you can get anything from your library, borrow them. You don't need to swallow books whole - read what you need and borrow again when you need more. There are lots of books out there and for physics and we all have favorites (and ones we'd avoid ever reading again). Boring old textbooks like e.g. Halliday and Resnick are as good a place to start as any. My first exposure to quantum theory proper was by a book borrowed from my local library.

**Videos**

There are multiple courses on physics online. A couple to consider :

* [Yale physics courses online](https://oyc.yale.edu/physics)
* [Leonard Susskind physics lectures](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyX8kQ-JzHI&list=PLQrxduI9Pds1fm91Dmn8x1lo-O_kpZGk8)

There's also excellent YouTube channels like :

* [PBS Spacetime](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7_gcs09iThXybpVgjHZ_7g)
* [FermiLab](https://www.youtube.com/user/fermilab)
* [Sabine Hossenfelder](https://www.youtube.com/user/peppermint78)

By no means the only ones.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you for your answer! I am actually following most of your advice already (like watching Prof. Susskind's Lects.) & I have a decent base in Mech, E/M, etc. but the main reason I wanted a systematic way was the fact that I don't have a proper foundation. Like the way I seek out knowledge in Astrophysics felt haphazard as I just studied topics that fascinated me like Black Holes, Stars and their Evolutions, etc. but not the topics like Spherical trigonometry and other relevant concepts which will actually prove helpful in my Undergraduate. What do you suggest I do for that?  
> **username_2**: There's nothing wrong with learning topics *as you come across them*.  You do have to do this as an undergrad - there's no hand-holding in university.  I'd suggest grabbing a basic text on first year undergrad physics, like Haliday and Resnick and reading it *casually*. You will be very busy if you become an undergrad so I'd actually suggest relaxing while you can (after your high school exams are finished).  Enjoy that period - it won't ever come back again in your life !  
> **username_0**: Sadly, the High School experience has been completely ruined due to the pandemic in India. Also, the way the curve seems to be still climbing doesn't seem like this is gonna end anytime soon. Junior year is already lost and the senior year seems to be on the way. Online classes are absolutely horrible in comparison to offline. Also, I finished reading Halliday and Resnick and didn't face much difficulty except a bit in Thermodynamics so should I maybe just try to improve upon my foundation in Mech, E/M and all?  
> **username_2**: I had not realized you were in India - bad times.  If you digested H&R and really want something else in physics I'd suggest maybe the Feymann Lectures on Physics available [here](https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/).  They're recommended reading on most physics B.Sc. courses anyway.  If you're up for some relaxation try [Surely You're joking Mr. Feymann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surely_You%27re_Joking,_Mr._Feynman!).  
> **username_0**: I am done with Feynman lectures too (mainly Volumes 1 and 2) at least those topics which don't require heavy math. So, should I just try to read books like Kleppner and Kolenkow for Mech and David Griffiths for E/M and some concurrent Calculus books by the side?  
> **username_2**: I'm impressed - Feyman's lectures are an impressive achievement at your stage..  Honestly if you've got them as a basis you probably are as prepared as anyone who ever entered university.  Your own ideas sound fine to me.  As you found thermodynamics the most challenging maybe focus on that.  The tendency we all have is to avoid what is least attractive to us - for me it was EM (something about the way it was taught at the time, I think), but it made it harder to learn later.  
> **username_0**: Let us [continue this discussion in chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/123537/discussion-between-aadhavan-and-stepheng).  

---

