Lets face facts: unless you live in a major urban centre, buying astronomy gifts for that special stargazer or budding astronomer is difficult. Start shopping now and use on-line resources to make sure Christmas night is a great observing night.
Telescopes
Buying Telescopes is always a tricky buy at this time of year, unless there is a specific model that the astronomer is pining for, and thus should not really be considered. Better is a promissory note for a telescope, tucked into an astronomy magazine and accompanied by a shopping trip if this is the gift to be given.
Avoid the impulse to buy a department store or big box store telescope that has a box load of fancy claims: what is theoretically possible in these claims and the reality of the telescope are about as far apart from each other as we are from the next galaxy.
For those want to give a telescope for Christmas the eight inch Dobsonian telescope is a good choice for the beginner and advanced astronomer.
Binoculars
Binoculars make a great gift especially for beginner stargazers. They are easy to use and provide wide fields of view. As a bonus they can just as easily be used during day time hours for birding or other pursuits.
- Avoid really big binoculars such as those in the range of 80 mm or more: these really cannot be hand held for any length of time. Going this route would require a tripod for mounting as well.
- For beginners, a binocular similar to Celestron's 8x56 are a good choice in a versatile, good quality instrument, that is easy to use at an affordable price.
Star Charts
Knowing where to look is most of the battle for astronomer. Star charts and sky atlases are gifts that will keep on giving for a long time.
- The "Pocket Sky Atlas" from Sky Publishing, is one of the most usefully formatted set of sky charts out there.Good for both beginner and advanced astronomers
- For advanced astronomers, "Uranomertria 2000.0" from Willmann-Bell Inc. , will be a lifetime gift.
Books
- Rod Mollise's "The Urban Astronomer's Guide" Springer-Verlag London Limited. is chock full of ideas on telescopes and observing from within urban areas.
- Few books will be as well received by any level of astronomer than volumes one and two of "The Night Sky Observer's Guide" from Willmann-Bell Inc. , now with an added third volume for astronomers in the southern hemisphere.
The Little Things
Not necessarily expensive these next ideas make life a little easier for Stargazers:
- Hand warmers are always welcomed, even in warmer climates;
- Green laser pointer Useful but use caution: this is an item for the mature, responsible astronomer.
Best Gift of All
This one does not cost much and is most appreciated: the gift of time. Starting out in astronomy has a really steep learning curve, so giving the astronomer time to go out now and then when the moon is new and the sky is clear, can be the best gift of all.
John Kulczycki - I've been a freelance writer for more than 20 years, but I've been an amateur astronomer for longer than that. Astronomy is the one ...
Join the Conversation