From a portable telescope and celestial charts to ballpoint pens designed for zero gravity, here are eight stellar gifts for space lovers and amateur astronomers.
Selecting the perfect gift for someone can be a challenging undertaking. In this curated gift guide, we’ve compiled a selection of ideas for space lovers. From top-notch telescopes to Martian themed LEGO kits, here are eight of our favorite gifts for space enthusiasts. Be sure to check out all of TechRepublic’s holiday gift guides.
Image: Celestron
The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ is a reflector telescope for the smartphone era. An adjustable mount along the side of the telescope allows individuals to leverage the power of the StarSense Explorer app. Once downloaded, the app helps stargazers locate objects visible overhead. Each night, the app provides a list of the top astronomical sights to behold ranging from nearby planets like Saturn and Jupiter to star clusters. Users can also take a less high-tech approach to skywatching via the included finderscope. The unit comes with an adjustable aluminum tripod to accommodate amateur astronomers of all ages.
Image: Amazon
This star chart helps space enthusiasts of all ages locate constellations and other celestial bodies. The chart also includes information about solar and lunar eclipses as well as the Earth’s revolution around the sun. Vintage styling adds a welcome aesthetic touch to the minimalist design and two wooden dowel rods frame the chart at the top and bottom.
Image: Amazon
Once paired with the AstroReality app, the moon globe offers a unique augmented reality (AR) experience. This allows users to scan the moon and peruse information and videos related to previous moon missions and lunar features.
Image: Amazon
The timeless LEGO set is a classic holiday gift idea for children and adults alike. This Mars themed exploration LEGO kit includes a pair of human explorers, a space shuttle vehicle, a rover, and more. The set includes 273 pieces in total and the manufacturer recommends the product for children 5 and older.
Image: Amazon
The Alpha Industries MA-1 flight jacket is a fashion-focused gift for space enthusiasts. The design features the classic NASA “meatball” logo, US flag, and a patch honoring the 100th Space Shuttle Mission. The jacket is also water repellant and reversible for added versatility and functionality throughout the year.
Image: Amazon
The Fisher Space pen is a great gift for space enthusiasts with a little NASA history to boot. Paul C. Fisher originally designed the ballpoint pen with a pressurized ink cartridge to function in zero gravity, and other extreme environments. After testing the pen, Apollo 7 astronauts were equipped with the Fisher Space Pen, and, in the ensuing years, NASA and the Soviet Union would both use the Fisher Space Pen on crewed missions, per NASA.
Image: Amazon
This calendar details the phases of the moon for each day of 2021 and the pages glow in the dark for added aesthetic appeal. The photo paired with each month illustrates stunning views of the moon with lunar facts detailed at the bottom of each calendar page.
Image: Amazon
Playing cards are a great item to pack on a day trip or casual weekend afternoon. These Mars-themed playing cards offer a cosmic twist on a standard 52-card deck. The cards feature NASA photography and include images of multiple Martian rovers and more. The deck comes in a tin case for convenient stowing between use.
Image: The Space Shop
Legitimate space food is a great way to give space enthusiasts a literal taste of the final frontier. Fortunately, the Kennedy Space Center offers a wide range of freeze-dried “space food” options including mint chocolate chip, Neapolitan, and vanilla ice cream sandwiches as well as strawberry and apple slices.