If you’re like many others, you feel like your gift list gets longer every year, and the items on people’s wish lists are getting bigger. I’ve been thinking about how to give the gift of nature to family and friends this year, inspiring them to find moments of awe. So, I’ve curated a list of things I would love to receive as an amateur stargazer to make me more comfortable, knowledgeable, and equipped for many great nights under the stars.
PEEL & STICK FOOT WARMERS
Someone should win an award for inventing these. They have a chemical that is activated as soon as you peel the backing off and it’s exposed to air. They stick to the bottom of your sock, from your toes to the middle of your foot, and you can’t feel a thing when you put on your shoes. My feet stay warm for hours. When you’re done using them, you pull them off your socks and dispose of them. Easy and amazing.
HAPPY EARTH SWEATPANTS & HOODIE
I’m not a sweatpants kind of person, but I recently bought the Stargaze Hoodie and Lunar Glow Joggers from Happy Earth Apparel, and now I’m hooked. The quality of the material is better than I’ve ever seen in casualwear like this, the design is gorgeous, and I feel like I’m tucked into a cocoon. I also respect their business philosophy: sustainable materials, made in Fair Trade factories, net zero emissions, and vegan and cruelty-free. Happy Earth is a B Corp company that gives back with every product sold.
https://www.happyearthapparel.com/
BINOCULARS
I struggle to hold binoculars still so I can enjoy whatever I’m looking at, especially when it’s out in space. But with a few tricks, such as propping my elbows on something, I’m better at keeping them steady. Binoculars are great for any stargazing scenario, but since I have a telescope at home, I keep my binoculars in the car so that I can always get a close-up look at a celestial object. The are many sizes and many brands. Mine are made by Celestron, a company that also makes telescopes.
https://www.celestron.com/collections/astronomy-binoculars
DOBSONIAN-STYLE TELESCOPE
Buying a telescope can be overwhelming, but I like to take all the pressure off of people who are buying their first telescope by recommending a Dobsonian. This is not a brand of telescope, but rather a type of telescope. It sits in a cradle-type base and can be set up and ready to go in a minute. No joke! With very little instruction, even an 8-year-old can have hours of enjoyment using one of these. My first telescope was a Dobsonian. I still use it to this day and even use it in my stargazing business. It’s so simple to use, yet you’ll never outgrow it. And they’re so affordable. Mine is an Orion, which went out of business in mid-2024, but you can find some great options at affordable prices at High Point Scientific.
https://www.highpointscientific.com/telescopes/dobsonian-telescopes
SKY VIEW TENT
This tent will revolutionize the way you stargaze while camping. The mesh screen is completely invisible, giving exceptional views of the night sky while laying in the warmth of your sleeping bag. It also has an innovate rainfly that can be activated from inside the tent. I’ve never seen another tent like it. At the time of this writing, the Sky View Tent is in pre-sale and will begin shipping in February 2025. Use the code “nightskytourist” when you check out to get a $50 discount.
(This is an affiliate link. Thank you for using it when you order.)
TICKETS TO A PLANETARIUM OR OBSERVATORY
I’ve visited dozens of planetariums and observatories in 2024, and I have a list of family and friends who would love tickets to visit one. It’s a unique way to get a more intimate look at the universe and can inspire a deep sense of awe. Do an online search…you might be surprised by what’s near you that you didn’t know about.
ROADTRIPPERS.COM MEMBERSHIP
Do you have a road tripper on your gift list? A one-year membership to Roadtrippers.com could take their 2025 travel plans to a new level. They can custom-design a road trip in the app and get recommended places along their route, along with lodging, food, and gas options. Use the code “NIGHTSKY24” for a membership discount when you sign up before May 31, 2025. You can listen to my conversation with Steven Hileman of Roadtrippers.com about the capabilities of the app in Episode 97 of the Night Sky Tourist podcast.
(This is NOT an affiliate link.)
RAND McNALLY ROAD MAP
Do you remember these? If your road-tripping friend or family member wants to really unplug, give them an analog travel gift of a paper atlas. I love maps and often pull my road map book out just for the enjoyment of looking at places I’ve never visited to see what’s there. If you’re really ambitious, you can mark all the certified International Dark Sky Places in it to inspire them to visit spots with gorgeous night skies.
BOOKS
I can never get enough books. I have an incredible library of books related to the night sky, and could always use one or twenty more. Here are some great selections from my bookshelf for this year:
ADULTS
- Sleepless: Unleashing the Subversive Power of the Night Self by Annabel Abbs-Streets: This book gave me a whole new perspective on going outside at night and how to use stargazing to cope with difficult times. Annabel was a guest on Episode 104 of the Night Sky Tourist podcast.
- Night Magic: Adventures among Glow Worms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Night by Leigh Ann Henion: Leigh Ann takes us on nighttime adventures near her home in Appalachia to show us what it’s like to interact with nature at night and the magic that we’ll find when we go looking under the moon and stars.
- The Darkness Manifesto: On Light Pollution, Night Ecology, and the Ancient Rhythms that Sustain Life by Johan Eklöf: As a devoted friend of the night, Eklöf takes us on a journey through light-polluted worlds that disrupt the natural rhythms of nature and both wildlife and humans. This is not a doom and gloom book. It’s a book that will inspire awe, hurt your feelings, and give you hope.
- Folk Tales of the Night: Stories for Campfires, Bedtime and Nocturnal Adventures by Chris Salisbury: Chris’s superb storytelling takes all ages on nocturnal adventures into the woods and around the campfire, often through the eyes of other cultures. These stories will thrill you, make your skin tingle, and make you shiver with delight. Chris was a guest on Episode 35 of the Night Sky Tourist podcast when we talked about his first book, Wild Nights Out, which I also highly recommend.
KIDS
- The Moon’s Tear: A Desert Night’s Dream by Sophie Sheppard: I instantly fell in love with this book because Sheppard has given us a brand new star story to love and cherish. In this story, Raven sets out to find a companion for the moon so it won’t have to travel the sky alone. Beautiful!
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- The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars are Made Of by Kristen W. Larson (author) and Katherine Roy (illustrator): Cecilia Payne started out as a curious young girl who grew up to unlock the mysteries of stars. This book inspires young girls, showing them that women in STEM can change history.
- Winter Solstice by Ellen Jackson (author) and Jan Davey Ellis (illustrator): This book takes young readers around the world to see how different cultures celebrate the shortest day of the year. This is my very favorite book about the Winter Solstice.
- Lights Out! by Marsha Diane Arnold: I have recommended this book before, and I will recommend it again and again. No other book so beautifully introduces young readers to the concept of light pollution and how it makes the animals feel. Follow a group of animals who help each other find natural darkness so they can see!
- Skywatcher by Jamie Hogan: Another book that I’ll always recommend. Children who grow up around city lights still crave the darkness where they can truly see the stars. Follow Tamen in this story as he longs for the sight of the stars.
