I have a few basic reference books, but the majority of the answers are based on my past experience as a professional astronomer. You should not be amazed that an active professional astronomer can answer these questions, anymore that you should be amazed that a good lawyer knows LOTS of law, and a surgeon can as easily remove a splinter from your finger as perform heart surgery. This is why we spend YEARS in school, and MORE YEARS doing research. Ultimately, you are the beneficiaries of this experience.