Best astronomy and space gifts, 2021
Are you on the hunt for gifts for an astronomer in your life? Here's our pick of some of the best gifts for space fans and stargazers in 2021.
Published:
Are you on the hunt for a gift for the astronomy or space fan in your life? Get inspired with our gift guide, featuring some of the best bits of astro gear that’s caught our attention so far in 2021.
From astronomy gadgets to nifty space-related toys and memorabilia, this is our wish list for lovers of all things astronomy.
For more astronomy gifts and gadgets, from memorabilia and toys to accessories that will assist your practical observing, pick up a copy of BBC Sky at Night Magazine every month and flick to the back page for our Gear section.
Click here to subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
28 space and astronomy gifts
Mae Jemisox
Price £8
In September 1992, NASA astronaut Mae Jemison became the first African American women to travel into space as a mission specialist aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. Pay tribute to Jemison’s achievement and her contribution to human spaceflight with a pair of these bright and colourful socks.
Where to buy
Moon phase pin
Price £8.50
Birthday? Anniversary? Your favourite telescope’s first light? Whatever the occasion, commemorate your special date with a glow-in-the-dark pin depicting the phase of the Moon on that day. Comes with note card to write your loved one a message.
Where to buy
Moon phase pin at Not On The High Street
Moon phase pin at Newton and the Apple
Space Swirl Colour Pencils
Price £9.10
These 10 two-tone pencils are decorated with NASA images of deep space. Use them to draw the purple and pink Butterfly Nebula or the black and white clouds of the Milky Way.
Where to buy
Fizz Creations space string lights
Price £10
Decorate your room and discover the Solar System with this string of LED lights, which features the Sun, all eight major planets and Pluto. Requires two AA batteries.
Where to buy
Night Sky Underground Map Mug
Price £10
Navigate nebulae, constellations and planets with this mug that features a map of the London Underground with station names replaced by celestial features.
Where to buy
Night Sky Underground Map Mug at Royal Museums Greenwich
Moon playing cards
Price £10.99
A 54-card deck featuring the phases of the Moon, lunar eclipses and Apollo lunar modules.
Where to buy
Star mug
Price £12
While on the shelf, this mug shows a starry sky. But fill it up with hot tea or coffee to keep you going through the night and you’ll reveal six of the best-known constellations hidden among them.
Where to buy
Planetarium Postcards
Price £12.99
A collection of 50 postcards featuring Chris Wormell’s illustrations of space, feature int eSun and the Solar System to the Milky Way and beyond.
Where to buy
Celestial chart tote bag
Price £13.99
Take your love of astronomy to the shops with a tote bag decorated with a chart of the night sky and Milky Way. 100 per cent natural cotton.
Where to buy
NASA jigsaws
Price £14.99
Piece together the Universe bit by bit with these officially licensed 1,000-piece NASA jigsaws, which come in three designs, each depicting a different nebula as imaged using the Hubble Space Telescope.
Where to buy
Moon jigsaw
Price £15.99
Can you tell your Tycho crater from your Copernicus? Challenge your knowledge of the lunar surface by assembling this circular 100-piece puzzle of a high-resolution image of the full Moon, taken from NASA’s archives.
Where to buy
Cosmos mini bamboo trays
Price £14.99
Add some retro space chic to your home with these four bamboo mini trays, which commemorate some of the greatest achievements of the early Space Race.
Where to buy
Stars pinhole constellation cards
Price from £14.99
Knowing the constellations is vital for astronomers navigating around the night sky. These pin-hole cards, featuring 20 of the best constellations, will help you learn their shapes, while the accompanying book teaches you their mythology and history.
Where to buy
Star globe
Price £17.95
Assemble your own star globe to see the stars every night. The stylish black and white design looks good during the day, then at night the stars glow in the dark.
Where to buy
Build your own cardboard telescope kit
Price £19.99
With all the lenses, mirrors and other parts needed to build your own cardboard telescope, this kit is a great way to teach budding astronomers how telescopes work. Importantly, it also leaves you with your own scope to begin exploring the night sky.
Where to buy
Rocket bookend
Price £20
The perfect way to keep all your space and astronomy books together! But how does it work? It’s not rocket science…
Where to buy
Make Your Own Paper Rockets
Price £22.50
Ideal for the young or young at heart, this kit has everything you need to create your own paper rockets. Designs include the Vostok K, the Space Shuttle and a 60cm-tall Saturn V.
Where to buy
Haynes Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Edition
Price £22.99
2019 marked 50 years since humans first set foot on the surface of the Moon. Celebrate with this new edition of the classic Haynes Apollo 11 manual.
Where to buy
Galaxy Foldable Umbrella
Price £23.57
Even if the rain rolls in, you can still keep stargazing thanks to this umbrella, decorated with the image of a spiral galaxy.
Where to buy
Night Sky Star Chart Glasses
Price $29.95
One of these stemless wine glasses is decorated with a chart of the winter sky, while the other depicts summer’s stars. Bottoms up!
Where to buy
The Desktop Planetarium
Price £31.14
Keep track of planetary motions with this armillary sphere kit, made from concentric cardboard rings and foam rubber planets.
Where to buy
Lunt 6×30 mini sunoculars
Price £44
Take a safe look at the Sun using these 6×30 ‘SUNoculars’. Their small size makes them perfect for travel, allowing you to keep watch for sunspots from across the globe.
Where to buy
Planets in Time
Price £44
Every day is unique, so why not commemorate those most special to you with a custom print that captures the position of the planets on any given date? Planets in Time uses NASA data to work out the orbits, before creating a 50cm x 50cm print on high-quality art paper.
Where to buy
Airgo Mantua deluxe moon chair
Price £50.99
Spending hours on your feet during an observation session can be a strain. You can take the load off and sit in this folding chair, which is quilted for comfort. It comes with a carry bag for easy transportation.
Where to buy
Wooden Solar System Orrery kit
Price £63.72
Assemble your own orrery, depicting the motions of the Moon and Earth around the Sun with this kit. The pieces are laser cut from Baltic Birch plywood and assembly instructions are included.
Where to buy
Moon astronomical globe
Price £74
Learn your way around the Moon’s surface with the help of this lunar globe. It depicts all the major craters and mountains of the lunar surface, as well as the Apollo landing sites, and measures 30cm across.
Where to buy
Mini Solar System
Price $129 (£93.11*)
These 3cm-diameter, 3D-printed worlds accurately depict the surface colouration of all eight planets plus Pluto.
Where to buy
Landfall 3D moon images
Price £250
These 3D maps are created using the natural topography of the Moon to shape beautiful lunar images. Each is made to order, so you can choose your favourite lunar landmark to transform into a work of art.
Where to buy
Authors
Iain Todd is BBC Sky at Night Magazine's Staff Writer. He fell in love with the night sky when he caught his first glimpse of Orion, aged 10.
