One Universe:  at Home in the Cosmos.  Tyson-Degrasse

...a nice overview of all the topics we cover in class--well illustrated and concepts nicely explained.

Introducing the Universe.  Piram & Roche

...a comic-book approach to the subject but still covering all the important ideas.

Powers of Ten.  Morrison & Morrison

...a wonderful, visual presentation of how the universe looks from the smallest sizes to the most astronomical sizes.

Stephen Hawkings Universe.  Filkin

...an easy-reading yet informative exposition on the subject.  Includes concise and interesting historical aspects, as well.

Hubble Vision.  Peterson & Brandt

...lots of wonderful imges from the Hubble Space Telescope.  An overview of the satellite and its operation are included.

Nightwatch.  Dickenson & Terance

...a practical guide to stargazing at your liesure

The First Three Minutes.  Weinberg

...a modern physics account of the origin of our universe.  Covers up through the first three minutes when nucleosynthesis is completed.

The Sky:  Mystery, Magic, and Myth.  Verdet

...a nice, easy read about astonomical (and astrological) lore.