Whether you are looking for astronomy Christmas gifts, or gifts for astronomy lovers for another reason, you want a gift that will be both educational and fun. For children, you also want a gift that is durable and easy for small fingers to use. The best astronomy gift will even combine astronomy with another interest. The gifts listed below are some of the best astronomy gifts for kids and adults. These astronomy gifts are beautiful (like the brass telescope), fun (like the puzzle), high-quality, and fun to use. Some of them teach about the planets, while others teach about the constellations. Whichever gift you choose, you are sure to find that these astronomy gifts for adults and kids fascinate and educate people who want to know more about the solar system and the nighttime sky. In addition, they all come with solid reviews that back up their claims to usefulness and quality.
6″ Handheld Brass Telescope with Wooden Box
This 6-inch hand held brass telescope is a tiny yet adorable astronomy gift that both kids and adults will enjoy. The telescope is 6 inches when fully extended, but folds up into an even smaller size. When folded up, it fits snugly into a tiny, yet ornate wooden box that adds a touch of elegance to the product. While this telescope is not meant for distance astronomy viewing, it has a magnification of 3x, enough to give children an exciting glimpse into how telescopes work. Reviewers praise it for its beauty, kid appeal, and decorative qualities. As a result, it is a smart purchase for the child in your life or for your desk or office.
NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe, has been an astronomy staple for more than 20 years. This book has undergone 4 revisions, each of which has improved on the overall quality of the book and continued to earn it tens of thousands of sales a year. This book provides an excellent introduction to astronomy for beginners. It provides information on buying and setting up telescopes, describes the nighttime sky, provides both northern and southern star charts, and provides tables and data to help anyone get a deeper knowledge of the sky. Reviewers praise this book for its thorough content, approachable writing, and ability to open up the world of astronomy to almost anyone who is interested.
Shock Proof 8×21 Kids Binoculars Set
When it comes to astronomy gifts for kids, it is hard to go wrong with the shock proof 8×21 kids’ binoculars set. This product has several features that make it kid-friendly. These include the ability to fold up to match the distance between the child’s eyes. These kid-friendly features also include rubber material that allows the binoculars to withstand the drops and rough usage that kids often dole out to their toys, and rubber around the eye pieces to help protect children’s eyes. It comes with accessories such as a neck strap and carrying case, and more. Reviewers praise these binoculars for their 8x magnification, durability, and ease of focus.
50 Things To See With A Small Telescope
50 Things to See With a Small Telescope is one of the best gifts for astronomy lovers because of its practical, accessible, and down to earth introduction to objects that anyone can see with an entry-level telescope. Kids and adults alike can enjoy this book because of its simple writing and many facts. For people who want to know how to enjoy the nighttime sky without spending a lot of money on a top notch telescope, this book is the ideal gift. Reviewers enjoy this book because of its approachable nature and because of the amount of knowledge it can communicate in a short amount of time.
The Constellation Mug
The Constellation Mug is a fun astronomy gift for any lover of the nighttime sky. The mug responds to heat by displaying 11 constellations. These include Perseus, Sagittarius, Andromeda, Taurus, Orion, Castor, and Pollux. The ceramic mug holds up to 10 ounces of liquid and, though not dishwasher safe, is microwave safe. Reviewers find that this mug is a popular gift for loved ones who are interested in astronomy. They also report that the mug works well and that the constellations stay visible for a long time. The result is a smart and appealing astronomy gift for kids and adults alike.
The Nine Planets Bracelet
This Nine Planets Bracelet is a beautiful and fascinating piece of jewelry for any child or adult who loves astronomy. The bracelet is made of beautiful stones to represent each of the nine planets. For instance, Earth is an ocean jasper that has been dyed blue. The planets are interspersed with small black beads and silver beads to represent the stars in the galaxy. Among astronomy gifts for kids and adults, this one stands out. Reviewers find that this gift is beautiful, high quality, and very well received. Many of them report wearing the bracelet every day because of its beauty and appeal.
Night Sky Playing Cards
If you want to help your astronomy-loving child learn what the constellations look like, you may want to purchase the Night Sky playing cards. This standard deck of 52 cards comes with one constellation on each card. Plus, you get to see what time of year the constellation appears as shown on the card. Each suit in the deck represents a particular season. By playing regularly with the cards, you can also gain some knowledge of the nighttime sky. Reviewers praise this product for its quality, usefulness, and beauty, making it a great astronomy gift for anyone who also loves cards.
Illuminated Globe-Earth and Star Constellations
The Illuminated Globe-Earth and Star Constellations is a small globe of the earth that also includes the constellations. When it lights up, you can see the nighttime sky with the constellations across it. The globe measures about 9in. X 14in. X 10in. As such, it is small enough for children to enjoy but sophisticated enough for adults to enjoy. It is a great astronomy gift because it teaches the owner about the constellations, can serve as a nightlight, and is versatile enough to take batteries or an AC adaptor. Reviewers love this globe for its detail and for its beauty.
Stellarscope Handheld Star Finder
The Stellarscope handheld star finder is a smart gift choice for people who want to easily find common objects in the nighttime sky. While reviewers find that this astronomy gift for adults is a bit too advanced for kids, it is made of plastic that is designed to resist breakage when dropped (i.e. by small hands). The star finder works by simply choosing the latitude, day, and time. It will then lay out the sky on a map so you can see which celestial objects are available to you. Reviewers find that this little tool makes it easier to understand the nighttime sky and is generally a cool astronomy gift idea.
The Solar System 100 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
The 100-piece jigsaw puzzle of the solar system is a great astronomy gift for kids. This puzzle provides a fun way to learn the solar system, because it shows and labels all of the planets for the builder. The puzzle is small (about 13in. X 19in.) once completed. Reviewers note that the puzzle can be hard for small children to put together. However, they also note that the puzzle is educational and that the children who can put it together find it a fascinating way to learn about the planets. As a result, it is a smart and appealing choice for anyone looking for a way to help their kids have fun and learn a little about astronomy at the same time.