By Iain Todd

Published: Tuesday, 02 November 2021 at 12:00 am

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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.

25 space and astronomy gifts

This decorative enamel pin shows the changing phases of the Moon as seen from Earth, as sunlight illuminates the lunar surface causing its appearance to change from new Moon through its waxing phase to full Moon, then back through the waning pahses to new Moon again.

The brooch is rust-proof and corrosion-resistant and measures 2.8cm in diameter, making for a decorative piece of jewellery that shows off the wearer’s love of our celestial companion. Perfect for your next moongazing session or star party.

 

 

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.

• Buy now from Chatty Feet

 

 

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.

• Buy now from Not On The High Street, Newton and the Apple

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.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

• Buy now from Royal Museums Greenwich

 

Price £10.99

A 54-card deck featuring the phases of the Moon, lunar eclipses and Apollo lunar modules.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

Price £12.99

This collection of 50 postcards features Chris Wormell’s illustrations of space and was produced in collaboration with astronomer and writer Raman Prinja. The illustrations feature the Sun, the Solar System, the planets, the Milky Way, planet Earth’s most famous ground-based and space telescopes, views of comets and incredible exoplanets.

Each postcard comes with a short description on the back so that you – and the recipient – know exactly what you’re looking at. These make for great decorative pieces that could be grouped together and framed, and come in handy when you need to pen a quick note to a friend or fellow astronomer.

 

 

 

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.

 

Price £10

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.

 

Price £15.99

Can you tell your Tycho crater from your Copernicus crater? 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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

A DIY-assemble mechanical music box that shows planets orbiting the Sun.

 

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.

 

Help your giftee keep up to date with the latest observing advice, astronomy guides and space news with a subscription to BBC Sky at Night Magazine.

• Buy now from Buy Subscriptions

 

 

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.

Price £31.14

Keep track of planetary motions with this armillary sphere kit, made from concentric cardboard rings and foam rubber planets.

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.

• Buy now from Harrison Telescopes

 

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.

• Buy now from Planets in Time

 

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.

• Buy now from Just Globes

 

 

These 3cm-diameter, 3D-printed worlds accurately depict the surface colouration of all eight planets plus Pluto.

• Buy now from AstroReality

 

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.

• Buy now from Landfall

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