1Sky-Watcher Heritage 150 tabletop Dobsonian
The Heritage is the telescope astronomy clubs recommend to beginners again and again. This 150mm version gathers plenty of light for the Moon, planets and brighter galaxies. The tube collapses for storage and it sits on a table or garden wall, so there's no tripod to set up.
Pros
- Big 150mm mirror.
- Quick to set up.
- Collapses for storage.
Cons
- Needs a sturdy table outside.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Sky-Watcher product details on Amazon UK ↗
2Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 binoculars
Big binoculars are the easiest way to tour the night sky, and many stargazers use them more than a telescope. The SkyMaster 15x70 gathers plenty of light for star clusters, the Moon and the Andromeda Galaxy. A tripod adapter is included because they're heavy to hold for long, and they come with a case and limited lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Wide, bright views of the sky.
- Tripod adapter included.
- Limited lifetime warranty.
Cons
- Heavy to hand-hold for long.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Celestron product page ↗
3SEGA Toys Homestar Original planetarium, black
On cloudy nights, the Homestar puts the stars on the bedroom ceiling instead. It's a home planetarium that projects about 60,000 stars, with adjustable focus and angle, an optional shooting star and a timer that switches it off. It's a lovely night light for a stargazer of any age, and other star discs can be bought for it.
Pros
- Projects about 60,000 stars.
- Timer switches it off.
- Shooting star mode.
Cons
- Needs a dark room.
- Expensive for a night light.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Amazon UK listing ↗
4Celestron NexYZ smartphone adapter
Everyone who sees the Moon through a telescope wants a photo of it. The NexYZ clamps a phone over the eyepiece, and three knobs line the camera up exactly, so they can take photos of the Moon and planets with the phone they already have. It fits telescopes, binoculars and spotting scopes.
Pros
- Turns a phone into an astro camera.
- Precise three-way adjustment.
- Fits binoculars and telescopes.
Cons
- Very wide phones may not fit.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Celestron product page ↗
5Celestron night vision red torch
White light ruins night vision, so stargazers use red light to read charts and find their kit. Celestron's torch has two red LEDs with a thumbwheel to dim them right down, a lanyard to wear it round the neck and a square shape so it won't roll off the table.
Pros
- Keeps night vision intact.
- Dimmable red light.
- Won't roll away in the dark.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Celestron product page ↗
What to buy someone who loves the night sky
Stargazers range from curious beginners to keen amateurs, so think about what they already own. The best gifts for stargazers help them see more, find objects or keep their night vision. A beginner telescope or big binoculars make a great first step. A home planetarium or a red torch suits anyone.
How we picked these gifts for stargazers
We picked each product for what stargazers enjoy and because it makes sense as a present. The order is our own choice. The pros and cons come from published product details, not customer reviews.
Amazon shows the current price and delivery. Where we've checked that the US listing is the same product, the US link goes there. Otherwise you'll get the UK listing, labelled as such. More about our research.
