Do you know a special someone that loves to look up at the stars? Star Gazing has been a popular pastime for many years and has seen a rise in interest since the pandemic.
Here is a list of astronomy gift ideas that are out of this world. Give an astronomy gift to someone that is already into the hobby or introduce someone to it as a new hobby! Astronomy is a fantastic hobby for all ages.
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Astronomy Gifts: £100 or more
Here are some gifts for star gazers that cost over £100. scroll lower for cheaper gift ideas.
Orion SkyQuest XT8 PLUS Dobsonian Reflector Telescope
This reflector telescope is a fantastic scope for multiple uses and is especially good for visual astronomy. Dobsonian telescopes are a fairly low-cost way into the hobby giving fantastic value. A great gift for all skill levels.
Skywatcher Star Adventurer Pro Mini Wi-Fi Astro Imaging Mount
If you know someone that wants to expand their stargazing into astrophotography this Skywatcher Star Adventurer Pro Mini astro imaging mount would be an amazing gift. This mount is attached to a tripod (ideally a sturdy one) and then a camera can be mounted onto it.
the mount moves in the opposite direction to the rotation of the earth, which means that starts appear to stay in the same place. this means that a user can take much longer exposures of the night sky with their camera without star trails. This allows the photographer to capture details not seen by the naked eye, including galaxies, nebula and other deep space objects.
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Reflector Telescope
While not quite as powerful as the Orion SkyQuest XT8 above, this Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ is a great starter telescope for visual astronomy. This scope comes complete with a tripod and manual German Equatorial. An equatorial mount makes it much easier to make fine adjustments to the position of the scope while tracking the curve of the earth. A great gift for all ages.
Celestron SkyMaster 25 x 100 Binoculars
Did you know that you are able to see lots of objects in the sky with a pair of binoculars? For more casual visual star gazing a pair of binoculars can be a brilliant present that is also a great introduction to the hobby.
Celestron NexImage 10MP Solar System Colour Imager
Do you know someone that wants to take photographs of the solar system? This Celestron NexImage 10MP colour camera is a great gift for someone to begin capturing images of the planets and moon.
Astronomy Refractor Telescope with Tripod, Phone Adapter, Backpack
This entry level refractor telescope kit is a great gift idea for star gazers of all ages, but especially younger ones. The kit includes a tripod, backpack and mobile phone adaptor. Introduce someone to astronomy, so that they can learn about the universe and share images with their friends.
Svbony SV305pro Astronomy Camera
Slightly less expensive when compared to the Celestron NexImage, this SvBony is another astronomy camera that can be great for imaging planets and the moon. This can also be used as an autoguiding scope when attached to a smaller guide scope.
Astronomy Gifts Under £100
Celestron SkyMaster 25 x 70 Binoculars
These Celestron SkyMaster binoculars have 25x magnification. These perform great in low light and are suitable for looking at the night sky, especially the moon.
These are not as light sensitive as the Celestron SkyMaster 25 x 100 Binoculars above, but they are much lighter and cheaper.
Sky-Watcher Infinity-76P Telescope
A perfect entry level telescope, this Sky-Watcher Infinity-76P Telescope is a fantastic gift for children. Introduce a child to science and the thrill of the night sky with this fun scope that has 30x magnification.
Astronomy Gifts Under £50
Star Name Registry Essential Gift Set
This star name registry gift set is a very cool, inexpensive gift. Register a star with a name of your choice as a gift. The recipient gets a lovely certificate to show off with to their friends.
Binoculars with Anti Glare
These entry level binoculars are a great option for a lower budget gift for people that like to look up at the night sky.
Astronomy Gifts Under £25
Stargazing for Beginners
Stargazing for Beginners is a beautiful hard book that explains and demystifies the night sky. Discover the wonders of the universe with this guide to observing and understanding the night sky.
Universal Cell Phone Adapter Mount
This universal mobile phone adapter mount is a great accessory for people to capture and share images on their mobile phone of what can be seen through their binoculars or telescope.
Turn Left at Orion: Hundreds of Night Sky Objects to See in a Home Telescope
Turn Left at Orion is a great guidebook for star gazers. This book shows you how to observe a wealth of celestial wonders and more importantly, how to find them in the night sky.
Red Light LED Torch
Local light is one of the biggest enemies to astronomers and star gazers. Every time you look at a strong light source it takes a while for your eyes to accustom to the night sky. A red light such as this torch can be great for seeing when out looking at the stars without affecting your adapted vision.
The Planets book
The planets book is a companion book to the BBC series by Professor Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen. This is a great gift for star gazers or space fans in general.
2021 Guide to the Night Sky
2021 Guide to the Night Sky is a great lowcost gift that reveals what readers can see in the night sky above the UK and Ireland during each month of the year.
Earth and Space: 100 Postcards Featuring Photographs from the Archives of NASA
This collection of stunning photographs of space captured by NASA makes a wonderful gift for space fans. Each card has an informative caption about the featured interstellar splendour.
Ultimate Explorer Field Guides Night Sky (National Geographic Kids)
This fun, photo-filled National Geographic Kids sky guide will encourage kids to look at the night sky to spot stars and planets right from their own gardens.
Astronomy For Dummies
The “for dummies” book series is a great no fuss resource for everyone. Astronomy for Dummies provides an easy-to-follow introduction to exploring the night sky.
Magic Solar System Heat Sensitive Coffee Cup
This heat sensitive coffee mug is a great small gift for any occasion.
Solar System 3D Night Light
This solar system 3D night light is a great gift for younger children that love space.
Hand Warmers
One thing that almost any astronomer will tell you is just how cold their hands get! Clear skies often mean lower temperatures. Combine this with working with cold metal tripods and telescopes, cold hands are almost guaranteed.
While gloves are ideal most of the time, sometimes the fine motor controls needed mean that gloves are not always practical. These hand warmers are an amazing alternative. They can be swapped between hands or put in a pocket quickly without interrupting star gazing. One of the cheapest, but most useful gifts are hand warmers.